IoT connectivity in Canada
Updated
In Canada, no law we found restricts permanent roaming; mobile operators set the terms. Of the 4 mobile operators we track there, 3 have switched off 2G and 1 3G, as of 26 October 2026. Sources are listed below each table.
Permanent roaming
No law found; set by operators. No Canadian regulator rule on permanent roaming of foreign IoT SIMs was found, but Canadian operators restrict permanent roaming on their networks.
Sources: help.onomondo.com, iot-now.com, counterpointresearch.com. Confidence: medium.
2G and 3G shutdowns by operator
| Operator | Network | Status | Date | Sources |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bell | 2G | Switched off | 30 April 2019 | telecomtv.com, wirelesslogic.com Bell never ran GSM; its 2G/3G CDMA network was phased out from 2017 and Bell announced final shutdown on 30 Apr 2019 (remaining areas in Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec, Atlantic). Tracker lists 2G closed in 2019. |
| Bell | 3G | Planned | 1 March 2027 | business.bell.ca, canadatelecoms.ca 3G/HSPA ended in Manitoba on 31 Dec 2025; national shutdown 1 Mar 2027. Older 4G LTE devices without VoLTE are also affected. |
| Rogers | 2G | Planned | 30 November 2027 | rogers.com, mobilesyrup.com Rogers' support page says the 2G network retires on 30 Nov 2027; non-VoLTE phones still use 2G for voice. Conflict: older reports (MobileSyrup 2024, trackers) said GSM/GPRS was decommissioned in 2020-2021, apparently only a partial shutdown. |
| Rogers | 3G | Switched off | 7 August 2025 | mobilesyrup.com, mobilesyrup.com Phased retirement began 7 Aug 2025 (Quebec and Ottawa first) after slipping from 31 Jul 2025; a June 2026 article refers to last year's 3G shutdown. Exact completion date not published; date shown is the start. |
| SaskTel | 2G | Switched off | 5 July 2017 | mobilesyrup.com, wirelesslogic.com SaskTel's 2G was CDMA; announced complete switch-off on 5 Jul 2017; tracker lists 2G closed in 2017. |
| SaskTel | 3G | Planned | 1 October 2027 | canadatelecoms.ca, wirelesslogic.com 3G network in Saskatchewan to be shut down on 1 Oct 2027; Lum Mobile subscribers also migrate to 4G/5G. |
| Telus | 2G | Switched off | 2017 | mobilesyrup.com, wirelesslogic.com Telus never ran GSM; its 2G layer was CDMA, which Telus planned to turn off completely on 31 Jan 2017 (MobileSyrup). Tracker lists 2G closed in 2017; exact completion day not confirmed in an opened source. |
| Telus | 3G | Planned | 1 March 2027 | canadatelecoms.ca, mobilesyrup.com 3G discontinued in Manitoba on 14 Apr 2026 (earlier announced in two Manitoba phases, Dec 2025 and Mar 2026); national shutdown 1 Mar 2027 per the Canadian Telecommunications Association. |
What it means for IoT devices in Canada
- 2G still runs on some networks, but plan new devices on 4G-based technologies (LTE Cat-1bis, LTE-M or NB-IoT where available): 2G is being closed across the region.
- 3G is already gone on 1 network: devices that fall back to 3G will lose service there.
- Private delivery works the same from Canada: device data reaches your cloud over private links. See private delivery.
Other countries in North America
Full tables: permanent roaming rules by country and 2G and 3G shutdown dates.
Frequently asked questions
Is permanent roaming allowed for IoT SIMs in Canada?
No Canadian regulator rule on permanent roaming of foreign IoT SIMs was found, but Canadian operators restrict permanent roaming on their networks.
When is 2G switched off in Canada?
Status by operator, as of 26 October 2026. Bell: switched off (2019-04-30); Rogers: planned for 2027-11-30; SaskTel: switched off (2017-07-05); Telus: switched off (2017).
When is 3G switched off in Canada?
Status by operator, as of 26 October 2026. Bell: planned for 2027-03-01; Rogers: switched off (2025-08-07); SaskTel: planned for 2027-10-01; Telus: planned for 2027-03-01.