The Canadian Mobile Market has 57 licensed operators (national and/or regional coverage), however 11 are the Main leading Mobile Network Operators(MNO)s and 30 MVNO Companies. The mobile network operators generated $15.94 billion in revenues and the wireless communications services industry directly contributed $16.3 billion to Canadian GDP. The greatest contribution to the national GDP from the wireless communications services industry comes from the mobile operators and the support services sector. Rogers has 15 MVNO Agreements, while Bell Mobility has 12 MVNO Agreements and Telus Mobility has 2 MVNO and finally Microcell has 1 MVNO Agreement. This page is an updated and fairly comprehensive listing for MVNOs (Mobile Virtual Network Operators) in Canada today. We have listed most known and Active Canadian MVNO companies (where possible). If you have updated information about the companies listed below, or are not listed then please send an email to: mvnolist (at) prepaidmvno (dot) com.

View a Brief Overview on the Canadian Telecommunications Market or; Download
Ovum’s “Canadian Presentation“, or “Canadian Study“, published in, 2010.

Canadian Wireless Companies (+1)
Bell Mobility – Including: Solo & Virgin Mobile
Mobilicity
MTS Mobility
Public Mobile
Rogers Wireless Inc – Including; Fido & Chatr
SaskTel Mobility
Shaw Mobility
Telus Mobility Including Mike & Koodo Mobile
Videotron Cellulaire
Wind Mobile

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Current Canadian MVNO/MVNE Companies

This is an updated and fairly comprehensive listing for MVNOs (Mobile Virtual Network Operators) in Canada today. We have listed most known and Active Canadian MVNO/SP & MVNE companies (where possible). If you have updated information about the companies listed below, or are not listed then please use the following form.

7-Eleven Speak Out Wireless
7-Eleven Speak Out Wireless is an MVNO owned by 7-Eleven . The service was introduced in the U.S. in April 2004 and operates on the AT&T Mobility’s GoPhone network via “MVNE” Ztar mobile. In Canada the operation began November 2005 on the Rogers GSM network.
MVNO; Networks: Rogers: MVNE: Ztar mobile; Services: Prepaid; Status: Active

Chatr
Chatr is a Canadian MVNO targeting price-conscious customers. It is the third wireless service (GSM/HSPA) network owned by Rogers Communications, after Rogers Wireless and Fido. The provider is expected to launch their network in Toronto, Ottawa, Calgary, Edmonton, Vancouver and now Montreal (September 16, 2010) and later expand to more markets. Chatr launched its service on July 28, 2010. It claims to have better wireless coverage than new providers.
MVNO; Networks: Rogers; Services: Pre+postpaid; Status: Active

Cityfone
Cityfone is a Canadian GSM MVNO targeting price-conscious customers.
MVNO; Networks: Rogers; Services: Pre+postpaid; Status: Active

CityWest
CityWest, formerly known as CityTel, is a city-owned corporation that provides wireline and cellular telephone and internet services in Prince Rupert, British Columbia. CityWest also purchased Monarch Cablesystems’ assets, which were split between the former CityTel and Shaw Communications.
MVNO; Networks: Bell Canada CDMA; Services: Pre+postpaid; Status: Active Active

DCI Wireless
MVNO; Networks: Rogers GSM ; Services: Pre+postpaid; Status: Active

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Fido
Fido Solutions is a Canadian MVNO owned by Rogers Communications. Fido does, however, have its own customer service center, headquarters, CEO, and separate servers. It was formerly owned by Microcell Telecommunications. Fido was the first carrier in Canada to launch a GSM-based network and the first wireless service provider in North America to offer General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) on its network. Fido is now testing their LTE (4G) network in Ottawa, and is predicted to launch it sometime in the coming year. Fido now offers unlimited calls and texts from anywhere in Canada (as long as the call is placed while customer is on the Fido network) to Canada and the U.S. You may also add a 6GB data option for smart phones.
MVNO; Networks: Rogers GSM/HSPA; Services: Pre+postpaid; Status: Active

Freedom-Wireless
Freedom Wireless, a subsidiary of TMT Capital Corp., has acquired an MVNO “license” to sell cellular voice, data and messaging services in the U.S. and Canada. The main target for its service is the prepaid cellular, affiliate and non-profit markets. No Updated & Recent Information can be found on the mobile service other than what has been listed above. If you have information on the status of this company, and the services that it offers, please send an email to: mvnolist (at) prepaidmvno (dot) com.
MVNO; Networks: Rogers; Services: Pre+postpaid; Status: Active

good2go Mobile Canada
Available at Quickie Convenience Stores, Avondale Food Stores and Shell gas stations.
MVNO; Networks: Rogers GSM; MVNE: Ztar mobile; Services: Pre+postpaid; Status: Active

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KMTS Mobility
MVNO; Networks: Bell Canada CDMA; Services: Pre+postpaid; Status: Active

Koodo Mobile
Koodo Mobile is an MVNO in Canada started by Telus in 2008. Koodo differs from its parent Telus by not requiring a fixed term contract. Koodo offers all its services on a month by month basis. Koodo uses the concept of a Tab which allows customers to build credit towards new phones or accessories. Being a subsidiary of TELUS, Koodo has been able to offer extensive coverage and a strong presence in mobile retailers. This has allowed the young company to gain a respectable presence nationwide.
MVNO; Networks: Telus CDMA/HSPA; Services: Prepaid; Status: Active

KORE Wireless aka Kore Telematics
KORE Telematics is the world’s largest specialised M2M wireless service provider focused exclusively on the rapidly-expanding machine-to-machine (M2M) communications market.
MVNO; Networks: Microcell; Services: Pre+postpaid; Status: Active

Microcell
Inukshuk Wireless (aka Microcell) is an equally owned partnership between Bell Canada and Rogers Communications created to build and manage a Canada-wide wireless broadband network licensed by Industry Canada. Inukshuk Wireless’s network footprint will cover 45 cities and over 100 un-served rural and underserved communities across Canada by the end of 2008.
MVNO; Networks: Bell Canada CDMA & Rogers GSM; Services: Pre+postpaid; Status: Active

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Latitude Wireless
Northwestel Inc., is the incumbent local exchange carrier (ILEC) and long distance carrier in Northern Canada. The company name is a portmanteau, sometimes spelled NorthwesTel, for Northwest Telecommunications. Northwestel is now in a joint venture with the Dakwakada Development Corporation (an arm of the Champagne and Aishihik First Nations) in Latitude Wireless deployment of cellular in 17 to 19 Yukon communities (with local number blocks in Dawson, Haines Junction, Old Crow and Watson Lake). Latitude Wireless service is also available in eight communities in the Northwest Territories and six in Nunavut, and roaming is available between the Latitude and Bell Mobility networks.
MVNO; Networks: Bell Canada CDMA; Services: Pre+postpaid; Status: Active

Mike
Mike is a Canadian MVNO company using Motorola’s proprietary iDEN technology. Telus acquired the Mike network from Clearnet Communications when Telus purchased the company in 2000. Telus markets the Mike service to business users because of iDEN’s push to talk services which allow users to avoid long distance charges as well as airtime. Compared to other wireless plans in Canada, Mike has some competitive US roaming options, and includes Call Display, Voicemail, and Call Forwarding. Some handset models also feature built-in GPS devices. Possibly due to software problems, these built in GPS receivers have been argued to be mere advertising stunts, as their ability to actually acquire a GPS fix in any reasonable amount of time is very limited. IDEN Phones have access to mobile data, at speeds similar to GPRS, or 2G.
MVNO; Networks: Telus & iDEN; Services: Pre+postpaid; Status: Active

NMI Mobility
Bell Mobility is a CDMA and HSPA+ based wireless network (named Bell Cellular up until 1993) and the division of Bell Canada which sells wireless services in Canada. Bell Mobility has over 6,833,000 subscribers as of the end of Q4 2009. In July 2006, Bell Mobility assumed responsibility for the former Aliant wireless operations in Atlantic Canada as part of a larger restructuring of both Bell and Aliant, and continued to do business there as Aliant Mobility until rebranding as Bell in April 2008. Bell-owned Virgin Mobile Canada and Solo Mobile, as well as Loblaw’s PC Mobile, operate as MVNOs on the Bell Mobility network. Some of Bell Canada’s regional subsidiaries continue to operate their own wireless networks separate from (but generally allowing for roaming with) Bell Mobility; these are Northwestel (NMI Mobility and Latitude Wireless), Télébec (Télébec Mobilité), and NorthernTel (NorthernTel Mobility). In addition to running its own retail operation, Bell partners with multi-carrier retailers like those run by throughout Canada by Glentel.
MVNO; Networks: Bell Canada CDMA; Services: Pre+postpaid; Status: Active

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Northwestel
Northwestel Inc. is the incumbent local exchange carrier (ILEC) and long distance carrier in Northern Canada. The company name is a portmanteau, sometimes spelled NorthwesTel, for Northwest Telecommunications. The cellular operations were, soon after, spun off as Northwestel Mobility Inc. (NMI Mobility). In 2003, NMI Mobility was sold to Bell Mobility, leaving Northwestel as strictly landline and VHF manual mobile provider. However, it appears to have been since re-acquired by Northwestel.
MVNO; Networks: Bell Canada CDMA; Services: Pre+postpaid; Status: Active

NorthernTel
NorthernTel (formerly Northern Telephone Limited or NTL) is a telephone company in Ontario, Canada. NorthernTel began in April 1905 in New Liskeard, Ontario, as the Temiskaming Telephone Company. It grew by buying other regional telephone providers and became the Northern Telephone Company Ltd. in 1928. Over the years, the company expanded into Northwestern Ontario and Northwestern Quebec. These assets were later sold to Bell Canada;1969) and Télébec (Télébec Mobilité) (1976), respectively. The company changed its name to NorthernTel in 2003. Today, NorthernTel is the local telephone provider in several Northeastern Ontario communities, notably Timmins. Since January 30, 2007, NorthernTel is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Bell Aliant.
MVNO; Networks: Bell Aliant CDMA; Services: Pre+postpaid; Status: Active

Polar Wireless
Polar Wireless is a new mobile virtual network operator (MVNO) that works in conjunction with established major mobile service providers.  The Company’s patent-pending mobile solution will provide carrier quality service and significantly reduced mobile roaming charges worldwide for customers with GSM compatible mobile handsets which account for over 80% of the global handset market.  Its carrier quality service is operable in 213 countries through extensive partner networks.  The breakthrough service provides the first global network solution for mobile users to dramatically reduce roaming surcharges while allowing users to maintain their current mobile number, handset and carrier relationship.

PC Mobile aka President’s Choice
PC Mobile started in the summer of 2005 as another President’s Choice product, owned by Loblaw’s who resell’s Bell Mobility‘s services as an MVNO in Canada.
MVNO; Networks: Bell Mobility CDMA; Services: Pre+postpaid; Status: Active

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Petro-Canada Mobility
Petro-Canada Mobility is a Canadian MVNO company created in late 2006 by gasoline firm Petro-Canada as a competitor to other store based MVNOs like PC Mobile. Pre-paid plans are offered, with calls in the coverage area at a rate of 25c/minute. Customers are charged for outgoing text messages and receive free incoming text messages. Incoming text messages are free and outgoing starting from 10c/msg up to 35c/msg. Online refill is available starting March 03 2009. On-Device mobile browsing is also available at $10/month Starting June 2010, Petro-Canada Mobility started offering monthly service plans targeted to teenagers and young adults.
MVNO; Networks: Rogers; MVNE; Ztar mobile; Services: Pre+postpaid; Status: Active

Primus Canada
Primus Canada is a Canadian telecommunications company. Primus operates as a CLEC — buying services at wholesale rates and reselling them to consumers. The company offers long distance, wireless, VoIP, DSL Internet, and POTS to both the residential and business markets.
MVNO; Networks: Rogers GSM; Services: Prepaid; Status: Active

Roam Mobility
Roam Mobility is a local, and International Roaming Service with coverage in over 200 countries with free incoming calls in 65 countries and free incoming SMS worldwide.
MVNO; Networks: Bell Canada CDMA/GSM; Services: Pre+postpaid; Status: Active

Rogers Quebecor
MVNO for this cable operator providing “quadruple play” services.
MVNO; Networks: Rogers GSM; Services: Prepaid; Status: Active

SearsConnect Wireless
SearsConnect Wireless is a Canadian MVNO provider that uses the GSM network for coverage. Like MoreMobility and SimplyConnect SearsConnect service can either be charged monthly where the customer pays full price for the phone, or under contract in exchange for a free or discounted phone. Currently SearsConnect Wireless does not charge new customers an activation fee, 911 fees or monthly system access fees.
MVNO; Networks: Rogers; GSM; Services: Prepaid; Status: Active

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Solo Mobile
Solo Mobile is a mobile phone company which uses CDMA/HSPA technology. They are known as one of Canada’s “value-minded” mobile carriers and offer more minutes for less than other mobile companies, such as Bell Mobility. Solo is now offering unlimited calling plans.
MVNO; Networks: Bell Canada CDMA/HSPA; Services: Pre+postpaid; Status: Active

Talk & Earn
A Joint Venture MVNO Service in co-operation with the Bank of Montreal and Cityfone
MVNO; Networks: Rogers GSM; Services: Prepaid; Status: Active

Talk & Save Wireless
A Joint Venture MVNO Service in coperation with the Royal Bank of Canada and Cityfone
MVNO; Networks: Rogers GSM; Services: Prepaid; Status: Active

Télébec Mobilité
Télébec Mobilité is the division of Télébec which sells wireless services in several (mostly rural) areas of Quebec, Canada, including the James Bay territory area, the Abitibi-Témiscamingue region, parts of central and southern Québec and parts of the Outaouais region. Created in 1996 Télébec Mobilité is closely linked with Bell Mobility; Bell Nordiq Group Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Bell/Aliant Telecom Mobility holds a 63.4% interest in Télébec. The Bell Nordiq Income Fund owns the remainder.
MVNO; Networks: Bell Canada CDMA; Services: Pre+postpaid; Status: Active

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uWho Wireless
See Previous Canadian MVNO Companies

Vidéotron
Vidéotron Limited is a Canadian integrated Telecommunications company active in cable television, interactive multimedia development, video on demand, cable telephony, wireless communication and Internet access services. Currently, the company primarily serves Quebec, as well as the francophone communities of New Brunswick and some parts of Eastern Ontario. It is a subsidiary of Quebecor Media. Yes, Rogers Communications for 2G / No for 3.5G HSPA+
Used to be MVNO with the Rogers network, however Videotron launched its own HSPA+ network in the Province of Quebec on September 9th, 2010

Virgin Mobile Canada
Virgin Mobile launched in Canada on March 1, 2005 as an MVNO, in conjunction with services provided by Bell Mobility, Telus and Rogers Wireless though at the time, Virgin Mobile was operating solely as a prepaid service. In February 2008, Virgin Mobile Canada launched postpaid wireless service, referred to as ‘myPlan’, offering a multitude of options, including the ability to set one’s own timeframe for unlimited calling, as opposed to the windows generally offered by competing mobile companies. On May 7, 2009, Bell Mobility acquired 50% of Virgin Mobile Canada for $142 million and entered into a long-term agreement to use the Virgin brand.
MVNO; Networks: Bell Canada CDMA/HSPA; Services: Pre+postpaid; Status: Active

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uWho Wireless
No Updated & Recent Information Can be found on the mobile service other than what has been listed above. If you have information on the status of this company, and the services that it offers, please send an email to: mvnolist (at) prepaidmvno (dot) com.
MVNO; Networks: Rogers GSM; Services: Prepaid; Status: Active

Canadian Telecommunications Overview

Brief: Phillip Huang put the report together and he says that “Quebecor (Videotron) remains our Industry Top Pick” and beleives the “market currently underestimates the value of the company’s wireless investment”. Videotron is targeting the Summer of 2010 to launch theit HSPA network. It’s interesting to see another analyst report on the top 10 trends and forecasting Rogers, Bell and TELUS still competing against each other with little or no impact from the new carriers.

In the report Huang stated “In 2010, we expect all three incumbent players (Rogers, BCE, and Telus) to have wireless plans and marketing aimed at wireline replacement. We believe all three incumbents will have wireless plans and marketing”…”We expect Bell and Telus to drive harder on smartphone penetration in 2010, and regain some share of wireless data growth. However, we expect competition on wireless data to remain relatively rational between the three incumbent players encouraged by their common need to offset declining voice revenues. Although we believe new entrants will help accelerate the commoditization of voice services in Canada, we currently do not believe they will be a significant driver of competition in data services because of their narrower handset line-up, smaller coverage, less mature networks, and slower connection speeds. We believe the market structure for wireless data will remain oligopolistic for at least the next several years.”

1. Canadian market is ripe for wireless substitution – the percentage of wireless-only household in Canada has remained low at ~8% (vs. ~20% in the US) mainly due to relatively expensive big-bucket minute plans and the lack of unlimited voice plans. This is rapidly changing, and we expect wireless substitution to accelerate in 2010. We believe BCE has the greatest exposure to this risk because it has the most residential lines.

2. Acceleration in wireless data penetration – with more HSPA operators, faster data connection speeds, more affordable data plans, and growing selections of 3G handsets/devices at increasingly competitive prices, we estimate data penetration growth for the industry will accelerate from 6% to 7-10% this year. However, we do not believe new entrants will be a significant driver of competition in wireless data in 2010 because of their narrower handset offerings, smaller coverage, less mature networks, and slower connection speeds.

3. Increasing prominence for prepaid service – we believe the entry of new wireless players will be a catalyst for the emergence of more attractive prepaid plans that offer big bucket minutes at affordable prices. We believe this will drive higher prepaid subscriber and ARPU growth, and prepaid services will increase in importance for the incumbents.

4. Declining wireless margins – as the wireless industry matures and growth shifts from postpaid to prepaid services, we project margins will decline. In 2010, we estimate wireless margins will contract for all three incumbents (Rogers, Telus, BCE) mainly driven by their focus on smartphone penetration, higher acquisition and retention costs, and the growing mix of lower ARPU subscribers.

5. New entrants face pressure to consolidate – in order to compete with the three well-capitalized incumbents, we believe the new entrants must be prepared to sustain operating losses for an extended period of time. We believe the growing need for funding may drive consolidation among the new entrants sooner than expected. We continue to believe Shaw would have the most interest and financial flexibility to acquire spectrum from other new entrants if the opportunity arises.

6. TV competition ramping up – we expect Bell and Telus to shift greater focus towards their VDSL/ADSL2+ footprint expansion and IPTV product in 2010, bringing greater competition to the cable companies in the urban markets. Relative to Shaw, we believe Rogers and Quebecor are in better positions given Bell’s smaller competitive IPTV footprint in their markets.

7. Enterprise to recover in 2010 – we project enterprise activities will resume to a more normalized level and return to growth in 2010 as the economy recovers.

8. Cost reductions to continue – with overall growth slowing and margins contracting given increasing competition in the industry, we believe cost cutting initiatives will continue in 2010. We see expanding wireline margins for Bell and Telus, and moderately expanding cable margins for Rogers.

9. More stable capital spending – after significant investments over the past two years, we look to 2010 as a year of more stable capital spending. We estimate capital intensity will remain relatively flat for BCE, and decline for Rogers and Telus.

10. Greater focus on returning capital – as growth for the industry continues to slow, we believe there will be greater scrutiny on the industry’s capital spending and the amount of capital returned to shareholders will become an increasingly important part of Canadian telecom stocks’ investment theses. We believe Rogers will provide the most rapid growth in dividends and have the most significant share repurchase program among its peers over the next several years.

Related:
It’s 2010 and Canadians pay the highest cell phone bills in the world
Canadian Subscriber Stat’s Q3’10
Canada’s telecom market is fragmenting

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