Canada’s broadcast regulator has delivered a Christmas gift to consumers in the form of cheaper cell phone plans.
The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) has ordered the country’s big three wireless providers – Bell, Rogers and Telus – to provide low-cost data-only plans to Canadians nationwide by March 2019.
Specifically, the CRTC is mandating that all three companies offer at least one plan that charges $30 per month, or less, for one gigabyte of data (1,000 megabytes). The federal regulator, based in Ottawa, said it will monitor the implementation and availability of plans by Bell, Rogers and Telus over the coming months to ensure that the wireless providers honour the agency’s order. The plans are to be available to Canadian consumers within 90 days.
Telus says it will offer two $30-per-month plans with one gigabyte of data through its Koodo and Public Mobile brands, while Rogers will offer a similar one gigabyte plan for $30 through Fido and Bell's Virgin Mobile will offer the same amount of data for $28 per month.
Previously, the three large wireless carriers had offered $30 a month plans for 500 megabytes of data. The CRTC ruling effectively doubles the amount of data Bell, Rogers and Telus must provide to Canadians for $30 a month.
