New low-cost data only plans to be in market within 90 days
GATINEAU – The CRTC announced today it has accepted the revised low-cost data only mobile wireless plans offered – at the demand of the Commission on the impetus of federal government – by Rogers, Bell and Telus.
Further to a public proceeding launched in March, where the big national players responded by initially offering plans the Commission told them were not good enough and to try again, the wireless providers came back with better offers in September which the CRTC said today it has accepted.
The companies will introduce, within 90 days, a variety of lower-cost data-only plans (which we’ve dubbed skinny wireless after the CRTC’s mandated skinny basic TV package) which the companies did not previously offer. The plans will range from as low as $15 for 250 MB to $30 for 1GB of monthly data, with a mix of prepaid and postpaid options, on both 3G and LTE networks.
“While the new lower-cost data-only plans represent a step in the right direction and provide more choice for Canadians, we remain concerned by the overall condition of the market.” – Ian Scott, CRTC
There won’t be time to breathe though for the Big Three. The Regulator will soon be demanding more. “While the new lower-cost data-only plans represent a step in the right direction and provide more choice for Canadians, we remain concerned by the overall condition of the market,” said CRTC chair Ian Scott in today’s press release. “To this end, the review we will launch next year will look at the state of mobile wireless competition more broadly.”
This is what each company offered back in September as their second take on the Commission demand:
Rogers proposed five new skinny wireless plans, as follows:
- $15/month pre-paid and post-paid 250 MB LTE plan from Fido with unlimited text and picture messaging
- $25/mo pre-paid and post-paid 500 MB LTE plan from Fido with unlimited text and picture messaging
- $30/mo pre-paid and post-paid 1 GB LTE plan from Fido with unlimited text and picture messaging
- $15/mo prepaid 250MB at 3G speeds plan from chatr with 100 Canada-wide voice minutes, unlimited incoming calls and unlimited Canada-wide text and picture messaging
- $25 prepaid 1 GB at 3G speeds plan from chatr with unlimited incoming calls and unlimited Canada-wide text and picture messaging
Bell's new LCDO plans were:
- A $28/mo. pre-paid or post-paid 1GB LTE plan from Virgin Mobile
- $15/mo. pre-paid 500 MB on 3G plan from Lucky Mobile.
Telus proposed:
- a $30 postpaid data-only wireless offering through its Koodo brand that will provide 1GB of data at 4G speeds.
- $30 prepaid data-only wireless offering through its Public Mobile brand that will provide 1GB of data at 4G speeds.
Telus also noted in September it also offers other lower-cost plans, as low as $20/month, but for less data and on its slower 3G network.
“The CRTC will monitor the implementation and availability of these plans over the coming months to ensure that the national wireless providers honour their commitments,” says the CRTC press release.
Innovation, Science and Economic Development Minister Navdeep Bains said he, too, would be watching. “This is a step in the right direction, but we know more must be done to make prices more affordable for Canadians," said Minister Bains in a release. “Connectivity is not a luxury in today’s digital age. And greater affordability for Canadians will come from more competition.
“As such, our government will continue to monitor market dynamics and promote greater competition in the telecom sector to make sure all Canadians can benefit from quality services at a better price.”
