The CRTC has issued a warning to Telus regarding a new $15 SIM card fee scheduled to take effect on June 11, 2026, that iPhone in Canada first told you about. In a nutshell, Telus is making it mandatory that $15 SIM card fee be charged, even for eSIMs, for all new activations online or in-store. This cannot be waived this time around by dealers during promo periods, according to Telus documentation to employees.
The regulator is concerned that charging customers for both physical SIM cards and eSIMs may violate upcoming rules designed to remove barriers for Canadians looking to switch their cellphone plans.
In a letter sent to Stephen Schmidt, Vice-President of Telecom Policy & Chief Regulatory Legal Counsel at Telus, Scott Hutton, the CRTC’s Vice-President of Consumer, Analytics and Strategy, outlined why this fee appears to be in breach of the Telecommunications Act.
“A SIM card or eSIM is required for the delivery of the wireless service customers are purchasing,” wrote Hutton, in the letter dated June 9, 2026. “It would not appear that the SIM purchase fee falls under the exemption considered by the Commission for optional services and products.”
The CRTC points to Telecom Regulatory Policy CRTC 2026-43, which bans certain activation, modification, and cancellation fees starting June 12, 2026. Because a SIM is necessary to access wireless service, the regulator says that this charge could be classified as a prohibited activation fee.
Hutton concluded the letter by urging the company to address the matter immediately to avoid further intervention. “It is my hope that this situation can be resolved at this stage and will not require more formal regulatory action on the part of the Commission once the prohibition comes into effect.”
When Bell removed its $80 connection fee ahead of this Friday’s deadline, it introduced a new $40 device fee for customers when they buy a new phone. The CRTC subsequently warned Bell about that new fee in a letter as well, similar to what we’re seeing here with Telus.
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