Canada’s telecommunications regulator told Bell, Rogers and Telus in October 2024 to offer more affordable and flexible international roaming options. A CRTC review found that travellers often paid a flat daily fee of $10 to $16 even when they used their phone only briefly.
The regulator identified limited choice
The large carriers primarily offered “roam like home” products that let a customer use domestic plan allowances abroad for a daily charge. The model was convenient for heavy use but expensive for someone sending one message or checking a map.
CRTC research found Canadian fixed roaming plans were generally more costly than comparable options in the countries studied. Foreign providers also offered a wider mix of multi-day passes and limited-use packages.
Carriers had to explain concrete action
The CRTC directed the three national companies to report by November 4, 2024, on steps to address the concerns. It warned that inadequate progress could lead to a formal public proceeding.
The request was regulatory pressure, not an immediate price order. Customers did not automatically receive a lower rate on the day of the announcement, and each carrier’s terms still governed existing service.
Retail and wholesale roaming are different
International retail roaming is what a Canadian customer pays to use a phone in another country. The home carrier arranges access through a foreign network and adds its own pricing structure.
Domestic wholesale roaming concerns what one Canadian provider pays another when a subscriber travels outside the first provider’s coverage. The CRTC also changed that framework, but a lower wholesale rate does not guarantee an identical or immediate reduction on every retail bill.
The Wireless Code limits data bill shock
Canadian providers must notify customers when they roam internationally. Under the Wireless Code, data roaming charges cannot exceed $100 in a monthly billing cycle unless the customer expressly agrees to pay more.
The cap is not a promise that every roaming bill will remain below $100. Voice, text or daily-plan rules may be treated differently, and customers should verify current terms before travel. A phone can also activate a daily pass through background data.
Travellers have alternatives with trade-offs
Wi-Fi, a local SIM, a travel eSIM or a fixed-duration package may cost less. Each option requires checking device compatibility, unlocking status, coverage, emergency calling, authentication texts and whether the user must retain a Canadian number.
Public Wi-Fi can expose unencrypted activity, while disabling data roaming may not prevent every charge for calls or texts. The safest plan is to configure the device before departure and obtain written pricing from the provider.
Follow-up continued beyond 2024
The CRTC later said it was encouraged by some new choices but wanted more progress, particularly on affordable pay-per-use service and clear promotion. It required additional reports on offerings, prices and customer uptake.
That monitoring mattered because announcing a travel pass is not enough if it is difficult to find, serves few destinations or leaves occasional users with the same high daily charge.
Competition should be measured at the bill
Consumers benefit when providers compete on total trip cost rather than a headline daily rate. Useful comparisons include the billing trigger, maximum charged days, destinations, data allowance, speed reductions and taxes.
The CRTC’s intervention correctly identified inflexibility as part of the problem. A fair roaming market should let a traveller choose light, predictable or high-volume use without accidental charges—and should provide warnings clear enough that the final bill is not the first time the customer understands the product.
