Bell’s Ultra Unlimited with U.S./Mexico roaming plan advertises unlimited calling, texting and data in Canada, the U.S. and Mexico, with 5GB per day of full-speed roaming data before speeds drop to 512 Kbps for the rest of that day. The plan is listed at $90 CAD per month on a bring-your-own-phone promo.
But a recent change this week now shows revised fine print that states maximum data usage per user may be capped at 10GB per billing period while roaming. That note also requires the subscriber to remain a Canadian resident, with the majority of overall usage in Canada. The full text is below (emphasis ours):
Subscriber must remain a Canadian resident and the majority of your usage must be in Canada. Max. data usage per user may be capped at 10 GB/ billing period while roaming. Applies to outgoing calls and texts to a Canadian, U.S. or Mexican phone number or incoming calls and texts received from any number, while you are in Canada, the U.S. or Mexico. Excludes roaming outside of the U.S. and Mexico, texts sent to a landline or international phone number, sent or received texts with a messaging application, premium texts (short codes) and alerts. Pay-per-use charges apply to outgoing calls or texts to a non-Canadian, non-U.S. and non-Mexican phone number.
On a Mexico trip, two days at about 5GB each of full-speed roaming would reach 10GB. The daily 5GB allowance resets each day at midnight, then speeds fall to 512 Kbps until the next day. The 10GB figure is per billing period and follows your bill date. Crossing a renewal date mid-trip starts a new billing period count.
So what does this mean? Bell is not saying it will cut you off at 10GB data usage, but that it could do so. This wording suggests it is targeting users who go through a lot of roaming data or are possibly abusing, more than the average user. Bell would likely notify customers while roaming that they have reached or are near a limit before implementing any hard caps.
Alternatives for data roaming beyond your carrier’s plans include eSIM options from the likes of Saily or Airalo, which you would manage yourself.
How do you usually manage data when you travel to the U.S. or Mexico on a Canadian plan?
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