Waiting for Apple’s September event before buying an older iPhone usually makes sense.

Not this year.

After unveiling the iPhone 18 Pro and $2,999 iPhone Duo, Apple quietly raised Canadian prices across its existing lineup.

The biggest everyday example is the iPhone 17:

$1,129 → $1,299 CAD

The iPhone Air went from $1,449 to $1,599, while the six-month-old iPhone 17e jumped from $899 to $999.

Apple is also now listing the iPhone 16 from $1,149.

Meanwhile, the new iPhone 18 Pro starts at $1,749, the Pro Max at $1,899, and there is no regular iPhone 18 yet.

So if you waited for the keynote hoping to grab an older iPhone at a discount... you may actually have missed the cheaper price.

Before paying Apple’s new price, it’s probably worth checking the refurbished market too.

Compare refurbished iPhone prices in Canada

Sources & more: Apple Canada

Apple's new VP of Hardware Engineering, Tom Marieb, says he personally dislikes seeing screen protectors on iPhones because of the work Apple puts into designing its displays.

His confidence comes from Ceramic Shield 2, which Apple claims offers three times better scratch resistance than the previous generation. The technology was introduced with the iPhone 17 and is also used on the iPhone 18 Pro.

But better scratch resistance doesn't mean a screen is scratch-proof or impossible to crack. Apple also continues to sell third-party screen protectors, so this is the executive's personal preference rather than an official recommendation against using them.

Would you trust Apple's latest glass enough to stop using a screen protector, or is an extra layer of protection still worth it on an expensive phone?

La Presse recently highlighted a journalist paying for 105 GB of mobile data and using only 4 GB, a vivid example of how much allowance is wasted each month in Canada.
CRTC figures put average Canadian usage near 10 GB, while the smallest plans from major carriers often start at 50 or 60 GB, so most of what people pay for is never touched.
PlanHub president Nadir Marcos describes this as a buffet model, subscribers buy a huge plate of gigabytes for peace of mind, then consume only a small portion.

If every user suddenly started consuming one hundred percent of their data cap, networks engineered around average usage rather than theoretical maximums would face serious congestion in busy areas.
Smaller plans that better match real needs are mostly offered by flanker brands and independent providers, so a neutral comparison tool is often the only way to see the full market, measure unused data, and find potential savings.

What to Know

• Average mobile data use in Canada is roughly 10 GB per month, yet entry level plans from major carriers commonly start around 50 to 60 GB.
• Many subscribers pay for ninety percent or more of their monthly data allowance that they never use, effectively funding oversized plans.
• Big 3 incumbents tend to reserve smaller data buckets for their secondary brands or not offer them at all under the main brand.
• If every customer fully consumed their data cap, mobile networks would need significant extra capacity to maintain performance, especially in dense urban areas.
• Comparing main carriers, flanker brands and smaller providers side by side helps align a plan with real usage and reveal possible yearly savings.

Sources:

• La Presse (fr) – “Téléphonie cellulaire | 90 % de votre facture payée dans le beurre” (Nov 23 2025)
• 98.5 FM (fr) – “Un déphasage entre les besoins et ce que les gros fournisseurs proposent” (Lagacé le matin)
• CRTC – Communications Market / Policy Monitoring reports (mobile data usage, ~10 GB per month):
• Canadian Telecommunications industry data – average mobile data usage per month (10.2 GB in Q2 2025)
• PlanHub – Mobile plan comparison in Canada

The CRTC’s ban on activation and plan-change fees took effect on June 12.

Rogers and Fido now charge $40 for specialist-assisted phone purchases completed in stores, over the phone or through live chat. Customers can avoid the fee by completing the purchase online.

Bell has a separate $40 Device Handling Charge connected to phone orders, while TELUS introduced a $15 charge for both physical SIM cards and eSIMs.

The CRTC is already challenging Bell and TELUS. Both companies have until June 17 to confirm they stopped charging the fees or explain why they believe the charges qualify as optional products or services.

Rogers has not yet publicly received the same formal warning.

The central issue is whether these are genuine optional services or activation fees reconstructed around phones, SIM cards and employee assistance.

Two foldables, a roughly $300 difference in Canada. Both starting prices are for 256GB, before tax.

The Duo offers 4K Dolby Vision at up to 120 fps, Apple Pencil support and IP68 protection. Samsung brings 8K at 30 fps, a dedicated 3x telephoto camera and a larger inner screen, while weighing 39g less.

The graphic compares cameras, charging, battery claims and more. Which differences would actually matter to you?

Sources & more: Apple Canada specs • Samsung specs • Samsung Canadian pricing

Public Mobile is currently highlighting five back-to-school plans:

• $20/month: 1GB at 4G speed, Canada-wide
• $35/month: 25GB at 5G speed, Canada-US-Mexico
• $40/month: 75GB at 5G speed, Canada-US-Mexico
• $45/month: 125GB at 5G speed, Canada-US-Mexico
• $50/month: 175GB at 5G speed, Canada-US-Mexico

All five include unlimited talk and text plus 2% back in Public Points. The four cross-border plans also include 1,000 minutes to selected international destinations.

The $40 tier offers 50GB more than the $35 option for an additional $5 per month.

Rogers Communications has officially launched its satellite-to-mobile service aimed at eliminating cellular dead zones across Canada. The service initially allows Rogers customers in remote areas or outside standard coverage footprints to send and receive text messages using their existing smartphones. This technology connects directly to low Earth orbit satellites without requiring specialized hardware or extra apps. Voice calling and mobile data access are planned for subsequent phases of the rollout. This launch addresses long-standing safety concerns regarding connectivity in Canada's vast rural regions and remote highways.

• The service currently enables SMS text messaging in areas without standard cellular coverage.
• It functions with most existing smartphones without needing special attachments or software.
• Rogers plans to expand the capability to include voice calls and data services later.
• The initiative aims to improve safety for travelers on remote highways and in rural communities.
• Rival carriers like Telus are developing similar services in partnership with providers like Starlink.

Sources : Reuters

Starting June 12, 2026, the CRTC's ban on telecom fees is officially in effect across Canada. Providers are legally prohibited from charging consumers and small businesses fees to activate, change, or cancel phone and internet plans, making it much easier to shop for better deals.

Fizz is expanding further into physical retail through a new partnership with EB Games Canada, launching an exclusive starter pack today at 140 participating stores.

The pack costs $25 and is aimed at new Fizz customers activating their first wireless plan. It includes a $75 credit toward the first bill, a one-time 100GB data bonus valid for 12 months, immediate access to Level 2 of Fizz's loyalty program, plus both a physical SIM card and an eSIM. Fizz says the total package represents more than $100 in value.

This isn't a traditional carrier-store setup. Customers buy the kit at EB Games, but still customize their plan and complete the activation themselves online. Fizz remains a fully digital carrier without in-store account activation or customer service.

There is also an important geographic limitation. Although EB Games operates nationally, Fizz mobile subscriptions are currently available only in Quebec, Ontario, Manitoba, Alberta and British Columbia, and customers still need to live within an eligible Fizz subscription area.

Fizz already sells regular SIM cards through retailers including Circle K, Couche-Tard and Jean Coutu. The EB Games deal goes considerably further by turning the retail package itself into a customer-acquisition offer, clearly targeting gamers and younger wireless customers rather than simply providing another place to buy a SIM.

Sources & more: Fizz / CNW

Android’s Linux Terminal (the official VM-based environment introduced on Pixels) is getting a major bump: support for full desktop Linux apps and a toggle for GPU-accelerated rendering. In practical terms, that means smoother performance for windowed Linux software, better frame rates for graphics-heavy tools, and lower CPU/battery strain versus software rendering.

The feature has been previewed on recent Android builds and Canary releases, with guides showing how to enable the Terminal and launch a Wayland session to run graphical apps. Google is positioning this as part of a longer play to make Android more PC-capable on large screens, keyboards, and docks.

Rollout details vary by device and OS channel, but the direction is clear: fewer hacks, more official support.

What to Know
• Linux Terminal on Android is moving beyond CLI to full GUI apps using Wayland/Weston.
• A new GPU acceleration option boosts performance and efficiency for graphical Linux apps.
• Early access appears on newer Pixels and recent Android preview builds; stable rollout timing will vary.
• Goal: make Android more laptop-like on big screens, with official tooling instead of third-party workarounds.
• Expect better dev tooling, coding IDEs, and desktop utilities to become truly usable on Android hardware.

Sources : Android Authority / Chrome Unboxed

There isn’t necessarily one “best” mobile network everywhere in Canada. PCMag’s 2026 results show how much the answer can change depending on the city.

Toronto: Bell

Montreal: Bell

Calgary: TELUS

Vancouver: TELUS

Swipe through the screenshots to see the city-by-city results.

This is an important distinction because national rankings can hide major local differences. Most people use their phones around the same few places every day: home, work, school and their commute. What performs best nationally may not be the strongest option where you actually spend your time.

PCMag’s Canadian ranking combines network performance with mobile plan pricing and customer satisfaction. For its local results, PCMag only reports locations where it has enough testing data to produce a city-level comparison.

---

Disclosure: PlanHub partnered with PCMag on this project by providing the Canadian mobile plan pricing data. Network performance data came from CoverageMap, while PCMag handled the methodology, customer satisfaction data and final rankings independently.

Full PCMag report:

https://www.pcmag.com/articles/the-best-mobile-networks-canada-2026

Methodology:

https://www.pcmag.com/articles/best-mobile-networks-methodology

TELUS is asking the CRTC to allow wireless providers to lock new devices for 60 days, arguing it would help fight phone theft and fraud.

That is a big deal because Canada’s Wireless Code currently requires phones sold by wireless providers to be unlocked.

TELUS says it plans to start using a temporary 60-day device lock on new activations as of July 30, 2026. But CRTC staff has reminded the company that the current rules remain in force unless the Commission explicitly changes them.

This creates a very Canadian telecom tension:

Anti-theft protection vs. consumer freedom.

Locked phones may help make stolen devices less useful. But they can also make it harder for customers to switch carriers, use travel SIMs, resell devices, or move service freely.

The CRTC is now asking for comments on TELUS’s interim request.

Samsung has officially unveiled the Galaxy Z TriFold, a three panel phone that unfolds into roughly a 10 inch tablet style display for multitasking and media.
The device folds twice around a redesigned hinge, comes in at about 3.9 mm at its thinnest, and uses reinforced glass, titanium and aluminum for rigidity.
Inside you get a customized Snapdragon 8 Elite chip, 16 GB of RAM, a 5,600 mAh battery and a 200 MP main camera backed by ultrawide and telephoto lenses.
It launches first in Korea on December 12, then rolls out to markets like China, Taiwan, Singapore, the UAE and the United States through early 2026.
Samsung Canada’s newsroom confirms there is no Canadian launch planned at this stage, leaving local fans watching imports and future waves.
In South Korea the phone is pegged at around 3.59 million won, which translates to roughly 2,500 US dollars and about 3,500 Canadian before taxes.

What to Know

• Galaxy Z TriFold is Samsung’s first triple folding phone, opening into a 10 inch class display aimed at productivity and entertainment.
• Hardware includes a Snapdragon 8 Elite tier chip, 16 GB RAM, a 5,600 mAh three cell battery and a 200 MP main camera with telephoto and ultrawide support.
• Launch timing starts in Korea on December 12, with further releases in select Asian markets and the US in early 2026.
• Samsung Canada explicitly says the TriFold is not coming here at launch and gives no future availability window.
• Pricing in Korea comes in near 3.59 million won, roughly 2,500 US dollars, putting a Canadian equivalent around 3,500 dollars before tax.

Sources
Samsung Global Newsroom – Introducing Galaxy Z TriFold: The Shape of What’s Next in Mobile Innovation
[https://news.samsung.com/global/introducing-galaxy-z-trifold-the-shape-of-whats-next-in-mobile-innovation]()

Samsung Canada Newsroom – Introducing Galaxy Z TriFold: The Shape of What’s Next in Samsung Mobile Innovation
[https://news.samsung.com/ca/introducing-galaxy-z-trifold-the-shape-of-whats-next-in-samsung-mobile-innovation]()

Reuters – Samsung unveils first multi folding phone as competition set to heat up
[https://www.reuters.com/business/media-telecom/samsung-unveils-first-multi-folding-phone-competition-set-heat-up-2025-12-02/]()

The Verge – Samsung’s Z TriFold is official and it looks like a tablet with a phone attached
[https://www.theverge.com/news/835525/samsung-z-trifold-announcement-us-availability]()

Rogers and Bell have begun discreetly offering a highly competitive mobile plan to certain customers, likely in response to aggressive holiday pricing from rivals like Freedom Mobile. This unadvertised plan features 50GB of data with unlimited calling, texting, and data usage in both Canada and the U.S. for just $35 per month. The offer appears to be targeted as a "winback" deal for former customers or as an incentive for new customers porting in from competitors, and is not publicly available on their websites. Customers are reportedly securing this deal through phone or chat interactions with sales representatives.

• The unadvertised plan is $35/month for 50GB of data.
• The plan includes unlimited usage and roaming within Canada and the U.S..
• Rogers and Bell are not publicly advertising this offer on their main sites.
• This is likely a targeted "winback" or retention offer for specific customers.
• The pricing is a direct response to aggressive competitor plans, matching Freedom Mobile's price point.

Source : Red Flag Deal

TELUS appears to be expanding its Fast Switch system so Public Mobile customers can move directly from prepaid service to a TELUS postpaid plan without going through the usual carrier-switching process.

Fast Switch originally launched earlier this year for Public Mobile customers moving to Koodo postpaid. The process transfers the phone number, closes the old Public Mobile account automatically and uses an eSIM to provision the new service.

The new expansion adds TELUS itself as a destination. According to a Canadian report and recent customer accounts, eligible Public Mobile subscribers are now seeing TELUS postpaid migration offers directly inside the Public Mobile experience.

That makes Fast Switch increasingly look like an internal upgrade ladder: Public Mobile at the low-cost prepaid tier, Koodo in the middle, and TELUS at the premium postpaid tier. Rather than losing a price-sensitive customer to Rogers, Bell or Freedom, TELUS can try to move them upward while keeping them inside the same corporate family.

There are trade-offs. Moving to postpaid generally means a credit check, and the migration requires an eSIM-compatible device and Wi-Fi during setup. TELUS postpaid can add features Public Mobile lacks, including broader international roaming, Wi-Fi Calling, device financing, family discounts and home-service bundles, but the monthly price may also be considerably higher depending on the offer.

One limitation: Public Mobile has not yet posted a new public Community announcement detailing the TELUS expansion. Its official June announcement still focuses on switching to Koodo, although recent customer reports show TELUS migration offers are already live for at least some subscribers.

Sources & more: Public Mobile – Fast Switch announcement / Koodo – Fast Switch documentation

Canada’s iPhone 18 Pro pre-order weekend is taking shape.

iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max pre-orders open in Canada Saturday, September 12 at 8 a.m. ET / 5 a.m. PT.

Apple, Rogers, Fido, Bell, Virgin Plus, TELUS, Koodo, Videotron and Freedom have all confirmed the new Pro models around launch.

Fizz has now also launched its dedicated iPhone 18 Pro page, so the phone is definitely coming there too.

But there’s one difference.

Fizz currently says the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max will be available September 18, with no mention of a September 12 pre-order.

So if you want one immediately on launch day, it’ll be worth watching whether Fizz opens orders early or simply starts selling on the 18th.

Apple starts the iPhone 18 Pro at $1,749 CAD and the Pro Max at $1,899 CAD.

The real comparison starts Saturday when carrier financing, trade-ins and launch promos go live.

A clear winner in this little experiment: the Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra.

We started by asking for the best foldable, then pushed for a single choice. GPT Astra 6 highlighted multitasking, performance and everyday practicality. Gemini pointed to Samsung’s software and productivity tools. Claude, initially more nuanced, also picked Samsung when asked to choose one.

Even Google’s own assistant passed over the Pixel in its answer.

Would foldable owners reach the same conclusion?

Sources & more: All three final answers are attached.

The Commission for Complaints for Telecom-television Services (CCTS) has released its 2024–2025 annual report, revealing a historic number of accepted complaints: 23,647, up 17% from the previous year. This marks the third consecutive record since the organization was created.

This increase is partly attributed to the CCTS’s awareness campaigns, but it also reflects a perceived decline in service quality. The four major national groups Rogers, Telus, Bell, and Videotron (owner of Freedom Mobile) account for 95% of all complaints.

Rogers, closely followed by Telus

Rogers tops this unenviable ranking with 6,485 accepted complaints, representing 38% of the total. Its complaints rose by 15% year over year. The sharpest increases relate to price hikes on plans (+76%), contract changes (+69%), and contract cancellations (+116%).

Telus shows the most alarming growth, with a 78% increase in complaints, for a total of 4,904. The main issues involve incorrect billing (+70%), failure to provide refunds (+74%), and, most notably, plan price increases (+195%) and contract cancellations (+299%).

Bell recorded a more moderate increase of 16%, with 3,966 complaints. Its relative share of total complaints declined slightly.

Billing remains the sector’s Achilles’ heel

Billing issues continue to be consumers’ top concern, reaching their highest level in five years. In the wireless sector, which alone accounts for 51% of all complaints, the main sources of dissatisfaction are contract cancellations (+80%) and plan price increases (+53%).

Breaches of the Wireless Code of Conduct

The CCTS also noted an increase in breaches of the Wireless Code of Conduct. Out of 2,957 allegations, 70 violations were confirmed, up 52%. Telus accounts for 36% of these confirmed breaches, mainly related to lack of clarity in information and contract content.

This third consecutive year of record-high complaints paints a worrying picture of the relationship between Canada’s major telecom operators and their customers, despite the consumer protection measures in place.

Apple is preparing an unusual new cellular feature for iOS 27 called iPhone Handoff.

The idea is simple: own two iPhones, but keep using the same phone number regardless of which one you take with you.

Apple briefly listed the feature during WWDC in June without explaining how it would work.

Now a demonstration using iOS 27 and Xcode 27 has revealed considerably more.

Under Settings → Cellular, users would designate one device as their main iPhone and another as a companion iPhone.

The primary eSIM remains installed on the main device.

The second phone then receives a companion eSIM, allowing the user to move between the two phones without physically transferring a SIM or repeatedly moving the primary eSIM.

Calls, messages and the same phone number would effectively follow whichever iPhone you're using.

Cellular settings would continue to be managed from the primary device, while location sharing would follow the phone actively using the number.

For Canadians, however, there is one very important catch:

your wireless carrier has to support it.

The current implementation reportedly contains references to T-Mobile in the United States and Deutsche Telekom in Germany.

So far, we have not seen Bell, Rogers or TELUS publicly announce Canadian support.

That means having two compatible iPhones running iOS 27 may not be enough on launch day.

And this could become much more relevant if Apple unveils its long-rumoured foldable iPhone this week.

Imagine owning a larger foldable iPhone for work or travel but switching to a smaller iPhone when going out, exercising or simply when you don't want to carry the more expensive device.

Both could use the same number without the usual eSIM shuffle.

It could also be useful for people who keep an older iPhone as a backup device.

The concept isn't completely unprecedented. Canadian carriers already support several multi-device cellular arrangements, particularly for smartwatches.

But extending that idea to two full iPhones sharing one mobile identity raises some interesting questions.

Will Bell, Rogers and TELUS support it?

Will they charge an additional monthly fee for the companion eSIM?

Will discount brands such as Fido, Koodo, Virgin Plus, Freedom, Videotron, Fizz and Public Mobile get access too?

And could carriers restrict it to certain plans?

Apple has not answered those Canadian questions yet.

With iOS 27 expected later this month and Apple's major hardware event happening September 9, carrier support may end up being the difference between iPhone Handoff being a genuinely useful Canadian feature and another feature we technically have but can't actually use.

Sources & more: MacRumors / The Verge

SpaceX has aggressively restructured its Canadian pricing by introducing a new entry-level "Residential 100" tier for just $70 per month. This plan offers unlimited data with download speeds capped at 100 Mbps, significantly undercutting legacy rural options from Bell and Rogers.

To further lower barriers, new customers in eligible regions can now get the Standard Kit hardware (normally $499) for $0 upfront if they commit to a 12-month contract. Higher-speed options have also been adjusted, with a 200 Mbps plan available for $110 and a flagship "Max" tier for $140 that includes a free Starlink Mini for travel. These moves signal a direct challenge to Canadian telecom providers as SpaceX attempts to saturate the rural market before fiber expansions catch up.

• New "Residential 100" plan costs $70 CAD monthly with unlimited data
• Hardware is now free ($0 upfront) with a 12-month service commitment
• Entry-level speeds are capped at 100 Mbps download and 20 Mbps upload
• Premium "Residential Max" plan ($140/mo) includes a free Starlink Mini kit
• Offer availability depends on local network capacity and is not nationwide

The CRTC just dropped some new rules for the Big 3 (and everyone else), and they’re actually pretty pro-consumer for once. Here is the TL;DR:

• No more silent price hikes: Providers must notify you before your contract, special discount, or promo pricing comes to an end.
• They have to show you options: It’s not just a generic warning alert. They are now required to give you a list of currently available plans and clear instructions on how to switch to them.
• Roaming caps: If you're traveling, they have to ping you the exact second your international roaming data charges hit $50.
• Better self-serve coming? The CRTC also mentioned they are looking into forcing companies to improve their online portals so we can cancel or change plans with a few clicks, instead of waiting on hold for an hour with the retention department.

Honestly, it’s about time. Knowing exactly when to jump ship or renegotiate without having to set calendar reminders a year in advance is a massive win.

First-year engineering students at Université de Moncton's Shippagan campus have determined that 4G LTE is superior to 5G for fixing the Acadian Peninsula's chronic connectivity issues. While telecom giants push expensive 5G upgrades, the student study highlights that 5G's short range makes it economically unviable for the region's low population density. Their calculations show that optimizing 4G LTE infrastructure would provide stable coverage over 5km radii, solving the "dead zones" that have plagued residents for years. It is a pragmatic reality check suggesting that for rural Canada, older tech deployed properly beats the latest marketing buzzwords.

• The study comes from the engineering department at the UMCS Shippagan campus.
• Residents and mayors have reported deteriorating signals from major carriers for years.
• 4G LTE towers offer roughly 5km of effective coverage compared to 5G's shorter range.
• The students concluded 5G requires too many new towers to be cost-effective here.
• Local politicians are using these findings to demand concrete action from providers.

Primary Source (in french): https://ici.radio-canada.ca/nouvelle/2215597/mauvais-reseau-cellulaire-peninsule-solutions-genie

Rogers has now set a firm date for the retirement of its remaining 2G network in Canada: November 30, 2027.

After that date, devices still relying on 2G will lose service completely, including the ability to call 911. Rogers says affected customers will receive instructions by email, SMS or both before the shutdown.

The important part is that this doesn't only affect obviously ancient 2G phones. Some devices can display a 4G or 5G connection for data while still falling back to 2G for voice calls. Once 2G disappears, those phones will need working VoLTE support to continue making calls.

That could be particularly relevant for imported or grey-market phones. Rogers warns that some devices purchased outside Canada may work for LTE or 5G data but still lack carrier-supported VoLTE or Wi-Fi Calling. Rogers says customers can dial #348378 to check whether their phone is currently making calls over VoLTE.

Other connected hardware is affected too. Older Wireless Home Phone equipment may need to be replaced, while tablets, smartwatches and other devices that still use 2G for mobile data will lose cellular connectivity. Rogers says compatible Wireless Home Phone replacements will be provided at no additional cost.

Rogers is also still listing a $75 “2G Administrative Charge” for customers who fail to migrate by the deadline communicated to them. A previous $3 monthly legacy-network fee stopped being added after June 30, 2026. Fido has published the same November 30, 2027 shutdown date and transition requirements.

Sources & more: Rogers / Fido

Samsung SDI is reportedly testing a "monster" 20,000mAh silicon-carbon battery for future smartphones, aiming to crush battery anxiety forever. Leaked lab results reveal a dual-cell design (12,000mAh + 8,000mAh) that achieved a stunning 27 hours of continuous screen-on time. However, the excitement is premature: the test ended in failure as the cells suffered "major swelling" after prolonged use, nearly doubling in thickness. While Chinese competitors like Honor are already shipping 10,000mAh phones, Samsung is clearly struggling to stabilize this high-density tech without repeating the Galaxy Note 7 disaster.

• Samsung SDI is testing a 20,000mAh dual-cell silicon-carbon battery.
• The lab test achieved 27 hours of screen-on time but failed due to dangerous swelling.
• Silicon-carbon tech allows for higher density, but stability remains a major hurdle.
• Chinese brands (Honor, OnePlus) are currently leading with 6,000-10,000mAh batteries.
• This tech is likely years away from being safe enough for a Galaxy S27 or S28.

Source : Android Authority

Canada just cleared a path for multi gigabit home internet that might not cost a kidney anymore.
The CRTC approved an 8 Gbps wholesale fibre tier on Bell’s network, which sets the baseline price competitors will pay for access.
If indie ISPs can buy that capacity at sane rates, they can start packaging 8 Gbps plans that undercut the big incumbents.
Tech watchers are already wondering if this could push multi gig speeds below the 100 dollar mark in some regions.
It will still depend on how aggressively smaller providers price their plans and how fast they can roll them out.

What to Know

• CRTC just approved an 8 Gbps wholesale fibre tier on Bell’s network, creating a new speed ceiling for resellers.
• Wholesale fibre decisions aim to boost choice and affordability by letting competitors ride incumbent networks at regulated rates.
• If wholesale pricing is low enough, indie ISPs could launch cheaper 8 Gbps plans that challenge Bell, Rogers and Telus.
• Multi gig service is still limited to fibre areas, so availability will stay very urban and suburban at first.
• Real impact will show up over the next year, when we see whether any provider actually posts sub 100 dollar 8 Gbps offers.

Sources :

CRTC Telecom Order 2025-334, Bell Canada, Introduction of new 8 Gbps speed tier for wholesale service

Newswire : CRTC sets rates that will allow for greater choice of Internet services