3G/HSPA network changes across Canada
In an ongoing effort to evolve the network and enhance the customer experience Bell is making changes to our wireless network across Canada. As part of this change, our 3G/HSPA network will be no longer be available starting as of the below dates:
Manitoba: December 31, 2025
Nationally: March 1, 2027
This change will affect older 3G/HSPA and 4G LTE non-VoLTE mobility and IoT devices that rely on 3G/HSPA technology resulting in loss of voice (including access to 9-1-1 emergency services), data and/or text connectivity.dates:
To ensure proper service continuity, we recommend you upgrade to a device that supports 4G/LTE or 5G and, at minimum, 4G/LTE VoLTE capabilities for phone calls.
Read the frequently asked questions for further details
How devices and services will be affected
Once the 3G/HSPA network is discontinued, the following devices and services
will be impacted:
3G/HSPA-only devices
-
Voice (including emergency calls to 9-1-1) and text
services will no longer work if you’re travelling in areas where 3G/HSPA
services are no longer offered.
-
Data services (e.g. connecting to the Internet, using mobile apps and
email) will no longer work if you’re travelling in areas where 3G/HSPA
services are no longer offered.
-
IoT devices operating on the 3G/HSPA network (including modems, sensors
and other devices and solutions – e.g. alarm panels, point of sale
machines, vending machines, fleet and tank monitoring solutions etc.) will
no longer work in areas where 3G/HSPA services are no longer offered.
4G/LTE devices that do not support VoLTE services
-
Voice (including emergency calls to 9-1-1) and text services will no
longer work if you’re travelling in areas where 3G/HSPA services are no
longer offered.
-
Data services (e.g. connecting to the Internet, using mobile apps and
email) however, will continue to work if you’re
travelling in areas where 3G/HSPA services are no longer offered.
3G/HSPA network changes across Canada
Technology, devices and usage have changed significantly since Bell launched
our 3G/HSPA network. In an ongoing effort to improve the customer experience,
Bell is upgrading our wireless network across Canada.
As part of this process, parts of our 3G/HSPA network will be upgraded to
4G/LTE, which will improve network speed and capacity, with increased
throughput and decreased latency on our LTE network (for VoLTE capable 4G/LTE
and 5G/5G+ customers).
This will affect older wireless devices that rely solely on 3G/HSPA technology
on our HSPA 850 MHz band (B5), resulting in the loss of data and/or voice
connectivity services (including access to 9-1-1 emergency services).
3G/HSPA coverage will remain available on the HSPA 1900 Mhz band (B2), for
devices that support HSPA 1900 Mhz (outside of Manitoba).
To ensure proper service continuity, we recommend you upgrade to a device that
supports 4G/LTE or 5G and, at minimum, 4G/LTE VoLTE capabilities for phone
calls.
Read the
frequently asked questions
for further details