The Canadian Press
Large companies such as BCE, Rogers Communications and Telus have until November 4 to inform the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunication Board (CRTC) of the "concrete action" they are taking to address concerns about the high cellular phone charges that Canadians face when traveling abroad.
If the CRTC considers that progress is not enough, it will hold a formal public hearing, the regulator said in a statement on Monday. After obtaining and analyzing confidential information from Canadian companies, the CRTC found that roaming charges for travellers are often "high" and "inflexible."
"Routing charges are often inflexible for Canadian travelers, which requires consumers to pay a fixed rate of $10 to $16 per day, regardless of their cell phone usage," the surveillance agency said.
Last year, Industry Minister Franois-Philippe Champagne asked the regulator to review wireless roaming charges, saying he feared that companies would increase their rates while phone bills in other jurisdictions are generally falling.
This happened after Telus and Bell both increased their roaming rates in the United States and abroad in March 2023, with Telus customers paying $14 per day for roaming in the United States, compared to $12 before, and those visiting other destinations being charged $16, which represents an increase of $1.
Bell users must pay $13 per day for roaming in the United States, compared to $12 before, and $16 in other countries, compared to $15 before. Rogers charges $12 and $15 respectively for daily roaming in the United States and elsewhere in the world.
In addition, the CRTC has already taken action on wholesale national roaming charges. He required suppliers to set new tariffs as part of negotiations, and if these failed, he could establish the fees through an offer arbitrage. The CRTC expects this process to lead to price declines.