Want Bell’s New Priority 5G Access? Here’s What It Costs

Bell’s new Priority Network Access perk has appeared on its website, but there is a catch: in the bring-your-own-device lineup shown today, it is reserved for the carrier’s most expensive $100-per-month plan.

The feature is listed under its Ultra plan, rather than the cheaper $70 entry plan or $75 Select or $90 Ultra U.S./Mexico options. Those advertised prices include Autopay and promotional credits and apply to new BYOD activations.

It follows Bell’s announcement earlier this week of Priority Network Access and expanded coverage. At the time, Bell said the priority feature would reach eligible premium plans by the end of the week. The website now makes the distinction between its currently displayed tiers much clearer.

What does priority network access actually do?

The idea is to give eligible customers higher data priority when a local Bell network is busy, such as at a stadium, festival or other crowded event. It is about how traffic is handled during congestion, not a promise that every speed test will suddenly be faster.

Bell’s fine print says the feature remains subject to its network-resource management practices. It applies on Bell’s own 4G LTE, 5G, 5G+ and 5G+ Advanced networks, with a notable geographic exception: Saskatchewan and Manitoba are excluded, apart from Winnipeg and Brandon.

That also makes this different from Extended Coverage, the separate upgrade announced for Bell and Virgin Plus customers. Extended Coverage uses partner networks to help fill coverage gaps. Priority access is a Bell-network feature, not a promise of preferential speeds when roaming abroad or using an extended-coverage partner.

What else does the $100 plan include?

The international Ultra plan bundles unlimited data at advertised speeds up to 2 Gbps, roaming in 83 countries and territories, international calling to 83 destinations, and 50 GB of hotspot data before reduced speeds apply. Roaming has its own daily high-speed allowance, so “unlimited” does not mean unlimited full-speed use in every situation.

For someone who mainly uses a phone in Canada, the key question is whether the higher-priced bundle is worth buying for congestion priority.

Do Rogers and Telus offer it?

Rogers already includes Priority Network Access with its 5G+ Ultimate plan, which debuted back in April of this year.

Its explanation is similar: eligible data traffic receives higher priority when a tower is busy, with the feature enabled automatically on qualifying plans. Rogers also cautions that prioritization does not guarantee a particular speed and that congestion can still affect customers.

Equivalent premium wireless plans from Telus do not mention or offer priority network access. But you can expect Telus to match Rogers and Bell soon at some point.

For a broader look at plan changes from Rogers, Telus and Bell, see our November comparison of Canadian wireless plans.

Would priority access in crowded places convince you to pay for a more expensive plan?