Bell and Telus have increased their roaming charges abroad

Starting March 8, Telus and Koodo will charge $14 a day in roaming charges in the United States and $16 abroad, compared to the current $12 and $15, respectively.

On the Bell and Virgin side, roaming charges will drop on March 9 from $12 to $13 in the United States and from $15 to $16 overseas.

Rogers and its subsidiaries Chatr and Fido have not yet indicated that they intend to raise their prices. Currently, their roaming charges are $12 in the US and $15 abroad.

Videotron currently charges $10 a day in the United States and $14 abroad, according to information posted on its website.

Bell told the CBC that cellular rates have fallen over the past year and roaming charges have increased as bill increases demanded by its overseas partners. Telus has yet to respond.

Can’t afford it?

Gerry Wall of the firm Wall Communications, Canada says it has “relatively affordable” basic cellphone plans.

However, he adds, prices can add up quickly for add-ons and if you use your phone abroad. Suppliers know that Canadians travel a lot, he noted.

” Three to four years ago the big three were roaming charges [Bell, Rogers et Telus] Fewer in Canada and the United States. »

He predicts that roaming charges will increase in the next few years with the revival of overseas travel.

Keldon Bester is a competitive analyst who founded the group Canadian Anti-Monopoly Project, it is unclear whether Canadian phone companies should pay their international partners more for using their network, which would justify higher roaming charges. He claimed that these agreements were secret.

Based on information provided by CBC’s Pete Evans