View source for List of mobile network operators in Canada

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{{Use mdy dates|date=November 2017}}
<!-- DO NOT publish unverified numbers! ONLY use CWTA numbers or those from a reliable source! Thanks!  --True Tech Talk Time. Total is 30,045,817 as of Q3 2016--->

As of March 2021, there are over 33 million wireless subscriptions in Canada.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Subscribers Stats EN 2021 Q1|url=https://www.cwta.ca/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Sub_Stats_2021_Quarter_1_EN_Web.pdf|access-date=2021-06-06|publisher=CWTA}}</ref> Approximately 90% of Canadian mobile phone users subscribe to one of the four largest national [[telecommunication]] companies ([[Rogers Wireless]], [[Telus Mobility]], [[Bell Mobility]] and [[Freedom Mobile]]) and [[Micro Mobile]] or one of their [[subsidiary]] brands. These four [[mobile network operator]]s own and operate transmission facilities that cover most of the country, though they sometimes share each other's networks in certain geographical regions in order to reduce costs and reach more customers.

The remaining 10% of subscribers are served by smaller, regional providers, [[mobile virtual network operator]]s (MVNOs), and resellers.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.crtc.gc.ca/eng/publications/reports/PolicyMonitoring/2015/cmr.pdf|title=Communications Monitoring Report 2015|publisher=CRTC}}</ref> Regional providers own and operate transmission facilities that cover a limited area and rely on partnerships with national service providers to connect their customers across Canada. In contrast, MVNOs and resellers do not own spectrum or network infrastructure and are required to lease network capacity from other providers at wholesale rates. While MVNOs have their own facilities to package and support their mobile services, resellers rely on the host network provider to package, market, bill, and deliver mobile services.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.crtc.gc.ca/eng/comm/fourprov.htm|title=Mobile Service Providers|date=February 16, 2016}}</ref>

All wireless service providers in Canada are regulated by the [[Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission]] (CRTC), which has been blamed by some for the concentration of wireless service subscribers to only three large national carriers. Though measures have been taken to encourage more competition, critics suggest that more should be done to address the issue, e.g. by mandating wholesale network access for MVNOs.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.thestar.com/business/2015/05/08/crtc-falls-short-on-true-wireless-competition-geist.html|title=CRTC falls short on true wireless competition|last=Geist|first=Michael|website=[[Toronto Star]] |date=May 8, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://ca.news.yahoo.com/blogs/dailybrew/no-room-for-low-cost-mvno-smartphone-plan-providers-in-canada-141011577.html|title=No room for low-cost MVNO smartphone plan providers in Canada|last=Chin|first=Brian|date=May 8, 2015 }}</ref>

==Mobile network operators (MNOs)==
This is a list of [[mobile network operator]]s, which includes national and regional service providers. Where applicable, this list will also include any subsidiary "extension" brands associated with a mobile service provider. While primary brands, such as Rogers Wireless or Bell Mobility, account for roughly 82% of wireless revenue, extension brands allow wireless service providers to differentiate service offerings and reach broader market segments.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.crtc.gc.ca/eng/publications/reports/PolicyMonitoring/2015/cmr.pdf|title=Percentage of revenues and subscribers derived via primary brands, extension brands, and resellers/rebillers, 2014|website=Communications Monitoring Report|publisher=CRTC}}</ref>
{| class="wikitable sortable toccolours" cellpadding="3" border="1" style="border-collapse:collapse"
! Operator
! data-sort-type="number" |Subscribers<br />(in millions)
!Coverage<br />(excluding roaming)
!Ownership
|-
|[[Bell Mobility]]
* [[Virgin Plus]]
* [[Lucky Mobile]]
| 11.100 (Q2 2024)
|Nationwide
|[[BCE Inc.]]
|-
|[[Eastlink Wireless]]
|0.075 (Q4 2015)
|NB, NL, NS, ON, PE, AB
|[[Eastlink (company)|Eastlink]]
|-
|[[Iristel]]
* [[Ice Wireless]]
|
|NU, NT, YT, QC
|[[Iristel]]
|-
|[https://mobile.knet.ca K-Net Mobile]
|
|Ontario
|Keewaytinook Okimakanak
|-
|[[Rogers Wireless]]
* [[Fido Solutions|Fido Mobile]]
* [[Chatr|Chatr Mobile]]
|12.510 (Q2 2024)
|ON, QC, NS, NB, MB, BC, PE, SK, AB, NL
|[[Rogers Communications]]
|-
|[[SaskTel]] Mobility
* [[Lüm Mobile]]
|0.670 (Q2 2023)
|Saskatchewan
|Saskatchewan Government
|-
|[[Sogetel]] Mobilité
|
|Quebec
|[[Sogetel]]
|-
|[[SSi Canada]]
*[[Qiniq (company)|Qiniq]]
*[[Eeyou Mobility (company)|EEYou Mobility]]
|
|Nunavut, Quebec Eeyou Istchee and James Bay Communities only
|[[SSi Canada]]
|-
|[[Thunder Bay Telephone|TbayTel]] Mobility
|
|Ontario
|[[Thunder Bay]] Municipal Government
|-
|[[Telus Mobility]]
* [[Koodo Mobile]]
* [[Public Mobile]]
|10.123 (Q2 2024)
|Nationwide
|[[Telus Corporation]]
|-
|[[Vidéotron Mobile|Vidéotron Mobility]]
* [[Fizz Mobile]]
* [[Freedom Mobile]]
|4.100 (Q2 2024)
|QC, ON, BC, AB, MB
|[[Québecor]]
|-
|}
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{{Reflist|group="note"|refs=<ref group="note" name="Bellus">Bell Mobility and Telus Mobility have a multiple operator core network agreement to provide a common radio network to the customer (distinct from a roaming arrangement, where the radio networks are separate).  Bell builds most of its towers in [[Eastern Canada]], while most of Telus' towers are in [[Western Canada]].</ref>}}
-->

==Mobile virtual network operators (MVNOs) and resellers==
{| class="wikitable sortable toccolours" cellpadding="3" border="1" style="border-collapse:collapse"
!Operator
!Network
!Ownership
!Type / Info
|-
|[[7-Eleven Speak Out Wireless]]
|Rogers Wireless
|Ztar Mobile
|Reseller<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Wideman |first=Alex |title=What is an MVNO? List and Status in Canada |url=https://cansumer.ca/mvno-canada/ |access-date=2022-09-26 |website=Cansumer |date=July 14, 2021 |language=en-CA}}</ref>
|-
|DCI Wireless
|Telus Mobility
|DCI Telecom Inc.
|Reseller<ref name=":0" />
|-
|Fongo Wireless
|Rogers Wireless
|Fibernetics Corporation
|Data only plans
|-
|[[PC Mobile]]
* [[No Name Mobile]]
|Bell Mobility
|[[Loblaws]]
|Reseller
|-
|Good2Go Mobility
|Rogers Wireless
|[[Ztar Mobile]]
|Reseller<ref name=":0" />
|-
|Wundle Mobile
|Rogers Wireless
|Wundle United Co-Op/Fabricate INC
|Reseller
|-
|PhoneBox Canada
* [[Eyesurf]]
* [[CIK Telecom]]
|Rogers/Telus
|Connex Telecommunications Inc.
|Reseller
|-
|Canadiansim.com
|Rogers Wireless
|Canadiansim.com
|Reseller
|-
|Execulink Mobility
|Bell Mobility
|[[Execulink Telecom|Execulink Telecom Inc.]]
|Reseller/Wiresless Carrier
|-
|Quadro Mobility
|Bell Mobility
|Quadro Communications Co-operative Inc.
|Reseller/Wiresless Carrier
|-
|Wightman Mobility
|Telus Mobility
|Wightman Telecom Ltd.
|Reseller/Wiresless Carrier
|-
|CTExcel Canada
|Telus Mobility
|[[China Telecom ]]
|Reseller
|-
|Always Mobile
|Various
|Always Mobile
|Reseller eSIM Data Plans
|-
|[https://simforcanada.com/ SimforCanada]
|Fido/Rogers
|SimforCanada
|Reseller eSIM Data Plans
|}
{{Dynamic list}}

==Push-to-talk networks==
{| class="wikitable sortable"
! Operator  !! Ownership !! Coverage !! Technology !! Frequency !! Status !! Notes
|-
| [[Airtel Wireless]] || Airtel Wireless Ltd. || [[Calgary]] || [[iDEN]] || [[Specialized Mobile Radio|SMR]] || Active || 
|-
| [[Fleetcom]] || Fleetcom Inc. || [[Toronto]] || [[iDEN]] || [[Specialized Mobile Radio|SMR]] || Active || 
|}

== Former MVNOs ==
{| class="wikitable sortable toccolours" cellpadding="3" border="1" style="border-collapse:collapse"
!Operator
!Network
!Ownership
!Notes
|-
|[[Amp'd Mobile]]
|colspan=2 rowspan=3 style="text-align:center"|[[Telus Mobility]]
|Launched on March 14, 2007. Discontinued on August 1, 2007 and eventually replaced by Koodo.
|-
|[[Clearnet (Telus Mobility)|Clearnet]]
|Started as second Clearnet incarnation as MVNO on April 5, 2011 by Telus. Discontinued as of June 2, 2012.
|-
|[[Clearnet (Telus Mobility)|MiKE]]
|Launched in 1996 by Clearnet on iDEN platform from Motorola. Clearnet acquired by Telus in 2000. Shutdown on January 29, 2016.
|-
|[[Shaw Mobile]]
|[[Freedom Mobile]]
|[[Rogers Wireless]]
|Discontinued as of December 21, 2023.
|-
|[[Solo Mobile]]
|[[Bell Mobility]]
|Bell Canada
|Discontinued for new customers, but still active for current ones.
|-
|[[Sprint Canada]]
|Fido
|Rogers Wireless
|Had 31,000 customers in Q3 2005 before being acquired
|-
|Petro-Canada Mobility
|Rogers Wireless
|[[Ztar Mobile]]
|Discontinued, customers migrated to Good2Go Mobility
|-
|[[Xplore Inc.|Xplore Mobile]]
|[[Bell Mobility]]
|[[Xplore Inc.]]
|Xplore Mobile brand was announced August 1, 2018. Discontinued August 2022.
|-
|[[Cityfone]]
|colspan="2" rowspan="5" style="text-align:center"|[[Rogers Wireless]]
|rowspan="5"|As of November, 15, 2023 the company stopped accepting new activations.  All customers will be transitioned to Rogers Wireless by December 1, 2024
|-
|[[Cityfone|Primus Wireless]]
|-
|[[Cityfone|Sears Connect]]
|-
|[[Cityfone|Simply Connect]]
|-
|[[Cityfone|Zoomer Wireless]]
|}

== Defunct, merged and acquired operators ==
Some operators listed below may still function as a separate brand but they no longer own any infrastructure (towers, network, etc.).
{| class="wikitable sortable toccolours" cellpadding="3" border="1" style="border-collapse:collapse"
!Operator
!Ownership
!Voice technology
!Data technology
!End date
! class="unsortable" |Notes
|-
|[[CityWest]]
|[[CityWest]]
|[[GSM]]
|[[EDGE (telecommunication)|EDGE]]
|December 13, 2013
|Wireless services discontinued; mobile customers transitioned to Telus<ref>{{cite web|title=About TELUS|url=https://about.telus.com/community/english/news_centre/news_releases/blog/2013/12/13/telus-and-citywest-partner-to-bring-world-class-wireless-service-to-prince-rupert|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131216182855/https://about.telus.com/community/english/news_centre/news_releases/blog/2013/12/13/telus-and-citywest-partner-to-bring-world-class-wireless-service-to-prince-rupert|archive-date=December 16, 2013|access-date=May 20, 2015|website=about.telus.com}}</ref>
|-
|[[Bell Aliant]]
|[[Bell Aliant]]
|[[CDMA]]
|
|2006
|Wireless services discontinued, migrated to Bell Mobility.
|-
|[[Bell MTS|Bell MTS Mobility]]
|[[Bell MTS]]
|[[CDMA]]
|
|October, 2018
|Wireless services discontinued, migrated to Bell Mobility.
|-
|Clearnet
|[[Clearnet Communications]]
|[[CDMA2000]]
|[[Ev-DO|EV-DO]]
|2000
|Network merged with Telus
|-
|[[Dryden Municipal Telephone Service]]
|[[Dryden Municipal Telephone Service]]
|[[GSM]], [[CDMA2000]]
|[[EDGE (telecommunication)|EDGE]], [[Ev-DO|EV-DO]]
|December 21, 2012
|Wireless customers migrated to Tbaytel<ref>{{Cite web|title=DMTS Notice to Customers " Dryden Municipal Telephone System|url=http://dmts.biz/dmts-notice-to-customers/|access-date=October 21, 2015|website=Dryden Municipal Telephone System}}</ref>
|-
|[[Fido Solutions|Fido]]
|Microcell
|[[GSM]]
|[[EDGE (telecommunication)|EDGE]]
|November 8, 2004
|Network merged with Rogers; continues to operate as an MVNO.
|-
|[[Freedom Mobile]]
|Shaw
|[[GSM]]
|[[LTE (telecommunication)|LTE]]
| December 21, 2023
|Network merged with Videotron; continues to operate as an MVNO.
|-
|Kenora Municipal Telephone Service (KMTS)
|Kenora Municipal Telephone Service
|[[CDMA2000]]
|[[Evolution-Data Optimized|EV-DO]]
|February 2008
|Acquired by [[Bell Aliant]].
|-
|Lynx Mobility
|Lynx Mobility
|[[GSM]]
|[[EDGE (telecommunication)|EDGE]]
|March 2018
|Ceased operations.
|-
|[[Mobilicity]]
|DAVE Wireless
|[[UMTS]]
|[[HSPA+]]
|2016
|Acquired by [[Rogers Wireless]]; customers transitioned to Chatr Mobile.
|-
|[[NorthernTel Mobility]]
|[[NorthernTel Mobility]]
|
|
|July 19, 2015
|NorthernTel Mobility wireless subscribers moved to Bell Mobility.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://support.bell.ca/Mobility/NorthernTel-Mobility-and-Telebec-Migration | title=Bell Mobility Support Centre &#124; Bell Canada }}</ref>
|-
|[[Northwestel]]
|[[Northwestel]]
|
|
|June 19, 2014
|Wireless services discontinued, sold to Bell Mobility.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.bce.ca/news-and-media/releases/show/northwestel-wireless-moves-to-bell-mobility | title=Northwestel Wireless Moves to Bell Mobility }}</ref>
|-
|[[Public Mobile]]
|[[Public Mobile]]
|[[CDMA2000]]
|[[Ev-DO|EV-DO]]
|August 8, 2014<ref name="PubMobCDMA2">{{cite web|title=Public Mobile|url=http://www.publicmobile.ca/pmconsumer/promotions/detail?lang=en&id=promo_whatsnew|website=www.publicmobile.ca}}</ref>
|Acquired by Telus; CDMA network decommissioned, continues to operate as a Telus MVNO<ref name="PubMobCDMA2">{{cite web|title=Public Mobile|url=http://www.publicmobile.ca/pmconsumer/promotions/detail?lang=en&id=promo_whatsnew|website=www.publicmobile.ca}}</ref>
|-
|Superior Wireless
|Superior Wireless
|[[CDMA2000]]
|[[Ev-DO|EV-DO]]
|August 2006
|Merged with TBayTel
|-
|[[Télébec Mobilité]]
|[[Télébec]]
|
|
|February 2007
|Télébec Mobilité wireless subscribers moved to [[Bell Aliant]].<ref>{{cite web|title=About Télébec > History|url=https://www.telebec.com/english/general/propos_telebec/asp/historique.html}}</ref>
|-
|TNW
|Investel Capital
|[[3G]]
|
|
|
|}

== eSIM networks in Canada ==
The adoption of [[eSIM |eSIM (embedded SIM)]] technology has increased among Canadian mobile network operators, enabling users to activate cellular service without the need for a physical SIM card. 
Major carriers, including [[Bell Mobility]], [[Rogers Communications|Rogers]], and [[Telus Mobility|Telus]], have integrated eSIM support into their postpaid and select prepaid plans, facilitating greater flexibility for consumers. 

Additionally, several MVNOs, such as Lucky Mobile, Fido, and Virgin Plus, commercial companies Ohayu<ref>{{cite web |title=Mobile Networks in Canada - Coverage and Statistics |url=https://ohayu.com/blog/best-mobile-networks-canada/ |website=Ohayu |access-date=11 December 2024}}</ref>
, [[Airalo]], Maya have introduced eSIM functionality, expanding accessibility to a broader user base. The implementation of eSIM technology offers significant advantages, including enhanced convenience for international travelers, improved support for [[Dual SIM|dual-SIM]] functionality, and the potential for streamlined device provisioning in enterprise settings. As eSIM adoption continues to grow, it is expected to play a critical role in the evolution of Canada’s telecommunications infrastructure. According to the Canadian Telecommunications Association<ref>{{cite report |title=Accelerating 5G in Canada |url=https://canadatelecoms.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Accelerating-5G-in-Canada-V11-Web.pdf |publisher=Canada Telecoms |date=March 2023 |access-date=11 March 2025}}</ref>
, by 2026, the country will be close to investing  $6B in 5G scaling.  

==See also==
* [[Internet in Canada]]
* [[Mobile country code#Canada - CA]]
* [[List of Canadian electric utilities]]
* [[List of Canadian telephone companies]]
* [[List of telephone operating companies]]
* [[List of mobile network operators]]
* [[List of mobile network operators of the Americas#Canada]]
* [[List of United States wireless communications service providers]]

==References==
{{reflist}}
{{portalbar|Canada|Companies|Lists}}
{{Canadian mobile phone companies}}
{{Americas topic|List of companies of}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Canadian mobile phone companies}}
[[Category:Mobile phone companies of Canada| ]]
[[Category:Mobile virtual network operators]]
[[Category:Lists of mobile phone companies|Canadian]]
[[Category:Lists of companies of Canada|Mobile phone]]