List of Canadian mobile phone companies


This is a list of mobile telephony providers in Canada.
As of Q3 2016, there are over 30 million wireless subscriptions in Canada. Approximately 90% of Canadian mobile phone users subscribe to one of the three largest national telecommunication companies or one of their subsidiary brands. These three mobile network operators 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 operators, and resellers. 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.
All wireless service providers in Canada are regulated by the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission, 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.

Mobile network operators

This is a list of mobile network operators, 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.
This list is ordered from largest to smallest by the number of current subscriptions.

Mobile networks

Mobile virtual network operators (MVNO) and resellers

Push-to-talk networks

Former mobile networks

This list includes legacy network terminations as well as defunct network operators.
OperatorTypeOwnershipPurchased byCeased operationsFate
Bell MobilityCDMABellApril 30th, 2019
CityWestCityWestDecember 13, 2013Wireless services discontinued; mobile customers will be transitioned to Telus
ClearnetCDMAClearnet CommunicationsTelus Mobility2000Network merged with Telus
Dryden Municipal Telephone ServiceGSM, CDMADryden Municipal Telephone ServiceWireless sold to Tbaytel, Wireline to Bell AliantDecember 21, 2012Wireless customers migrated to Tbaytel
FidoGSMMicrocellRogers CommunicationsNovember 8, 2004Network merged with Rogers; Fido operates as MVNO
Kenora Municipal Telephone ServiceCDMAKenora Municipal Telephone ServiceWireless sold to Bell AliantFebruary 2008 & July 19, 2015Wireless customers sold to Bell Aliant. KMTS wireless subscribers moved to Bell Mobility.
Lynx MobileCDMALynx MobileDecember 31, 2015CDMA network replaced by GSM Network
MobilicityAWS, HSPA+DAVE WirelessRogers Communications2015Rogers will transition some Mobilicity retail locations and all its customers to Rogers sub-brand Chatr Mobile. As of August 16, 2016, Rogers will stop activating new Mobilicity lines.
MTS MobilityHSPA+Manitoba Telecom ServicesBell Mobility2016
NorthernTel MobilityNorthernTel MobilityBell AliantJuly 19, 2015NorthernTel Mobility wireless subscribers moved to Bell Mobility.
NorthwestelNorthwestelBell MobilityJune 19, 2014Wireless services discontinued, sold to Bell Mobility.
Public MobileCDMA with Ev-DOPublic MobileTelus MobilityAugust 8, 2014Telus MVNO
SaskTelCDMASaskTelJuly 5, 2017CDMA network's EVDO support ended on September 30, 2014
Superior WirelessCDMASuperior WirelessTBayTelAugust 2006Merged with TBayTel
TbaytelCDMATbaytelDecember 31, 2014.
Télébec MobilitéTélébec MobilitéBell AliantJuly 19, 2015Télébec Mobilité wireless subscribers moved to Bell Mobility.
Telus MobilityCDMATelusMay 31, 2017
Telus MobilityiDENTelusJanuary 29, 2016
MikeiDEN over SMRTelusJanuary 29, 2016

Former subsidiaries

Travel SIM cards and specialty services