Bell, Rogers, Telus vs virgin, Fido and Koodo vs PC Mobile

[Kavvy]

Hey all,

Random question.

Does the service quality (calls and data) differ between the Big 3 (Rogers, Telus and Bell) vs their little bros (Virgin, Koodo and Fido)?

I had Rogers and Bell people both on 4 separate occasions give me 2 different answers:

1- There is NO difference at all

2- In congested areas, customers on the big 3 get a higher priority service access, aka faster data. Implying your 4G on fido isn't equal to your 4G on Rogers when times are busy.

Lastly, PC Mobile uses the big 3 networks, what happens to them - any lesser service?

Thank you!

[GoinAllTheWay]

I can only speak on my experience but recently I switched to Public Mobile which I guess is now owned by Telus. I have noticed absolutely zero difference between being with them vs being with Telus. Other than the bill being a hell of a lot better obviously.

[DownhillGoat]

Switched to Virgin a few months ago. No change in coverage, but any reps I talked to mentioned #2.

Thus far I haven't noticed any loss of data speed.

[Kavvy]

Originally Posted by kunkstyle

Switched to Virgin a few months ago. No change in coverage, but any reps I talked to mentioned #2.

Thus far I haven't noticed any loss of data speed.

I would love to know how this actually works

[OldDutch]

Originally Posted by Kavvy

I would love to know how this actually works

Traffic prioritizing aka bandwith throttling? Fairly simple technology these days.

[keratosis]

With Koodo/Telus, never had a problem with throttling.

[ken0042]

My son is on Koodo and I'm on Bell. Telus and Bell share towers, and there is zero difference in signal quality and speed.

[Anduril]

Have never heard anything about favoritism with the larger brands either professionally or anecdotally.

[Stealth22]

Switched to Koodo (Telus) from Bell on Black Friday. Haven't noticed any difference whatsoever.

I had the same question, but every source I turned to said there is no difference.

[Iceman90]

I just found PC Mobile's site, and the plans look quite good. Does anyone know which network they're using?

[Kavvy]

Originally Posted by Iceman90

I just found PC Mobile's site, and the plans look quite good. Does anyone know which network they're using?

PC Mobile telephone products and services operate on Bell or TELUS infrastructures, for prepaid and postpaid respectively, but use proprietary branding of the President's Choice supermarket store brand. PC mobile monthly plans operate over a 4G network that extends to 97% of the Canadian population.

https://www.google.ca/webhp?sourceid...bile%20network

[btimbit]

Anyone know what Wind/Freedom's coverage is like outside of the city?

[DoubleF]

I've never noticed a significant difference between Rogers and Fido. In fact I used to notice better coverage and speed than my wife who was on Rogers. So I switched her to Fido.

I have never heard of the throttling thing regarding high traffic. I would have assumed this would be extremely obvious to everyone when they were playing Pokemon Go in the summer. There probably would have been significant complaints if the big 3 were getting pokemon first and the others took back seat due to priority.


Personal non scientific anecdotal evidence after chatting with friends, but I've always understood the coverage quality being the following:

Telus = Koodo = PM > Bell > Fido = Rogers >>>>Virgin and other misc carriers >> Wind


Telus and Bell will have nearly identical coverage in city. These two also seemingly have better coverage outside of the city.

Fido and Rogers seems to have about 95% similar coverage within the city and the only time I've noticed significant differences are during heavy weather such as snow storms, fog or thunderstorms/rain or sometimes in basements or certain concrete buildings. Previously I was told Fido and Rogers maintained different towers. Fido could hop on Rogers towers if it was out of range, but not vice versa. I assume this has been changed and the two are identical now.

Virgin/Misc and Wind give ok coverage in the city after they signed some better agreements to piggy back on other carrier's towers, but are completely abysmal outside of the city.

I am on Fido and I don't mind it. It actually seems to operate in a way that's not similar to Robbers, I mean Rogers. I cannot comment on performance outside of province.

Customer service on the other hand is a completely different order.

[Kavvy]

Originally Posted by DoubleF

I've never noticed a significant difference between Rogers and Fido. In fact I used to notice better coverage and speed than my wife who was on Rogers. So I switched her to Fido.

I have never heard of the throttling thing regarding high traffic. I would have assumed this would be extremely obvious to everyone when they were playing Pokemon Go in the summer. There probably would have been significant complaints if the big 3 were getting pokemon first and the others took back seat due to priority.


Personal non scientific anecdotal evidence after chatting with friends, but I've always understood the coverage quality being the following:

Telus = Koodo = PM > Bell > Fido = Rogers >>>>Virgin and other misc carriers >> Wind


Telus and Bell will have nearly identical coverage in city. These two also seemingly have better coverage outside of the city.

Fido and Rogers seems to have about 95% similar coverage within the city and the only time I've noticed significant differences are during heavy weather such as snow storms, fog or thunderstorms/rain or sometimes in basements or certain concrete buildings. Previously I was told Fido and Rogers maintained different towers. Fido could hop on Rogers towers if it was out of range, but not vice versa. I assume this has been changed and the two are identical now.

Virgin/Misc and Wind give ok coverage in the city after they signed some better agreements to piggy back on other carrier's towers, but are completely abysmal outside of the city.

I am on Fido and I don't mind it. It actually seems to operate in a way that's not similar to Robbers, I mean Rogers. I cannot comment on performance outside of province.

Customer service on the other hand is a completely different order.

Thanks for the info!

I think Virgin = bell being the same company and all but I do not know.

[DoubleF]

Originally Posted by Kavvy

Thanks for the info!

I think Virgin = bell being the same company and all but I do not know.

I think you're correct. I didn't realize Bell owns Virgin.

Bell = Virgin if that's the case.

I don't think I have run into many people on Virgin Mobile.

[billybob123]

Originally Posted by btimbit

Anyone know what Wind/Freedom's coverage is like outside of the city?

If you mean in their home zone, none that I have experienced in 5 years with Wind. Crossiron Mills apparently has service now but nothing in Airdrie, or past 12 Mile Coulee RD in the NW.

They have roaming ("away") everywhere, though.

[RedHot25]

Originally Posted by DoubleF

I think you're correct. I didn't realize Bell owns Virgin.

Bell = Virgin if that's the case.

I don't think I have run into many people on Virgin Mobile.

Yup Bell = Virgin.

We just switched my wife's phone from Bell to Virgin.

No difference, in fact seems a bit better. Bell would do not much of anything to keep us, which makes sense as its ultimately the same company. Best line was someone from Bell telling me how I would be losing switching off their network...Except when I told him we were likely going to Virgin. Then there was this awkward dead air space for some reason .

[RedHot25]

Originally Posted by btimbit

Anyone know what Wind/Freedom's coverage is like outside of the city?

I subscribe to Wind's $60 plan which lets me use it outside their home networks as per normal. I've had zero issues - well to be honest about the same as my wife when she was on Bell. Best example we went camping at Crimson lake (just outside of rocky mountain House). Bell could get zero reception; with wind if I walked out of my campsite a min I could get reception enough to have a short phone call. Wind phone worked normal 5 min down the road. Bell phone wouldn't work until we got into rocky mountain House basically.

That said wind is not without its issues either. E.g. downtown here can be a bit slow at times Internet wise.

[pseudoreality]

I am very tempted to switch my Bell phone over to PC Mobile. I just want to make sure it will work in the remote northern communities that only have Bell.

[keratosis]

PC mobile is Telus, so if Telus works so will PC.