Canadian wireless providers Bell (BCE) and Telus (T) are each raising the fees they charge consumers for cell phone roaming rates in foreign countries.
Telus and Bell said they will each increase their daily roaming rates to $16 effective March 8. The increased charge applies to foreign countries outside of Canada and the U.S.
In America, Telus will charge customers a new roaming rate of $14 per day, up from $12 previously. Bell users will face a daily charge of $13 when roaming in the U.S., also up from $12.
Critics said that the increase in roaming rates at both Bell and Telus show that Canada’s wireless providers collude on prices and that Canadian consumers have little choice or options in the marketplace.
Studies continue to show that Canadians pay among the highest cell phone bills in the world. Tefficient, a Swedish firm that analyzes the global telecommunications market, issued a study last year that showed Canadian data rates are the highest among 45 countries it surveyed.
The high prices are generally blamed on a lack of competition in the Canadian marketplace.
Bell’s stock is down 12% over the past year and trading at $60.21 per share. Telus’ stock has declined 17% in the last 12 months to reach $27.02 a share
Related Stories
