Bell and Rogers have both released numbers today on how their networks held up during the FIFA World Cup.
Rogers says it carried 510 TB of wireless data across the 13 matches held in Toronto and Vancouver, along with surrounding watch parties and fan zones. The company puts that at roughly 102 million photos shared.
Bell reported 250 TB across the same 13 matches, covering stadiums, surrounding venues and official watch parties. Adding in official FIFA Fan Festivals and municipal fan zones in Toronto and Vancouver brings Bell’s total to 330 TB. The company compares that to sharing over 50 million photos or streaming 83,000 hours of HD video.
Spending was close between the two. Rogers put in $27 million on network upgrades in Toronto and Vancouver, while Bell invested more than $25 million, according to their separate press releases.
Rogers says its Toronto work included enhancing the in-stadium wireless system, which it describes as the equivalent of adding 16 cell towers downtown, deploying extra 5G+ spectrum inside the venue, and installing infrastructure at fan zones, hotels and transportation hubs including Pearson International Airport, Union Station and some TTC subway stations. Cells on Wheels and Cells on Light Facilities were also brought in for high-traffic areas.
“The excitement and energy across the country was incredible with fans cheering on Canada and their favourite teams. As Canada’s best 5G+ network, we invested $27 million and led upgrades in Toronto and in Vancouver to bring fans the best experience, whether they were at the stadium, watch parties, or fan zones,” said Mark Kennedy, Chief Technology Officer, Rogers, in a statement on Tuesday.
Bell nearly tripled capacity at Toronto Stadium, deployed four Cells on Wheels and upgraded more than 45 network sites across venues and fan zones. Bell also handled the connectivity infrastructure for the tournament itself in both cities, serving FIFA, broadcasters and media partners. Its command centre ran more than 10 hours a day with over 100 staff and more than 15 external partners, and the company says AI tools helped flag customer trends and potential issues in real time.
Bell also ran 5G+ Advanced network slicing trials during the tournament for broadcast-grade field reporting and public safety communications.
“Hosting FIFA World Cup matches in Canada was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to position our country on the world stage, and Bell was honoured to deliver the connectivity and broadcast experience for fans, visitors, businesses and communities across the country. As the official Canadian broadcaster of FIFA World Cup 2026, Bell Media brought the tournament to millions of viewers, while our 5G+ Advanced network helped keep Canadians connected throughout every match. At Bell, connection is everything, and we’re proud to have helped power this historic moment for Canadians,” said Mirko Bibic, President & CEO, BCE and Bell Canada, in a statement to iPhone in Canada.
How did you find both the Bell and Rogers networks during World Cup matches?
Want to see more of our stories on Google?
P.S. Want to keep this site truly independent? Support us by buying us a beer, treating us to a coffee, or shopping through Amazon here. Links in this post are affiliate links, so we earn a tiny commission at no charge to you. Thanks for supporting independent Canadian media!
I was at the beach watching the final 45 minutes of Spain vs Argentina–the only World Cup game that actually mattered, thanks Rogers for providing LTE out in the middle of nowhere.