By Ahmad Hathout
Videotron’s Freedom Mobile announced Thursday all monthly plans will now include access to its 5G network and roaming in the United States and Mexico – including new low-cost options starting at $5 per month after a digital discount is applied.
With the $5 monthly digital discount applied across all plans, Freedom subscribers can now start at a mere $5 per month to get access to the next-generation network and roaming in the U.S. and Mexico with 100 MB of data, two hours of talk and unlimited texting. At $20, they can get 3 GB of data with two hours of talk and unlimited texting. On the $29 and $35 plans, they can get 10 GB and 50 GB, respectively; and for $45 and $55, they respectively get 75 GB and 100 GB per month plus roaming in 92 international destinations.
Subscribers to the $55 plan can also receive free plans – a $25 per-month value – for their tablets and Apple watches.
“A year ago, Freedom made waves with the introduction of its top-notch 5G network and its first ever wireless plan covering Canada, U.S. and Mexico,” Pierre Karl Péladeau, president and CEO of Freedom parent Quebecor, said in a press release. “Now we’re bringing these benefits – and more! – to all our wireless offerings as we continue to deliver on our promise to increase competition in the telecom market.
“In addition to providing better service and meaningful cost savings to Canadians, we have also been making major improvements to Freedom’s wireless network to make sure all our customers enjoy the best possible experience wherever they are,” Peladeau added. “And we’re not stopping there.”
The announcement comes ahead of the hotly contested back-to-school and holiday seasons, which other industry executives have said is when the highest concentration of subscriber activity occurs.
And like clockwork, Freedom is right there in the midst of it. Freedom also announced an 18-month special that provides 50 GB of data for $35 after the digital discount for the new school session.
The telecom had launched the $50 unlimited plan with 40 GB of LTE data and U.S. roaming last May. It later launched a $65 global roaming plan covering 73 destinations.
The news comes two days after Freedom launched in 50 more communities across British Columbia and Alberta, and three weeks after the telecom, which was purchased last year from Shaw, declared that it had fulfilled all its commitments to transform Freedom into a competitive mainstay in the industry.
Telecom analysts have expressed concern about how Freedom can maintain a low average revenue per user (ARPU) relative to its peers. But Quebecor executives said they are comfortable with making the right pricing moves to bring customers in and then locking them in with affordable bundles.
As such, this spring, Freedom launched internet and TV in all major markets in which it operates. Subscribers can purchase a plan with 30 Mbps download speeds for $39 per month after the application of a $6 monthly credit for 12 months. Or they can purchase 100 Mbps download speeds for $49 per month after a $21 credit for 12 months. The plans include free rental equipment and no activation fee. Adding Freedom TV will cost just $10 per month extra after a $9 per month credit.
All of this comes after Quebecor said it would need to re-evaluate its pricing strategy after the CRTC said the telecom must use the rate Telus is offering to roam on the telco giant’s wireless networks.
Photo via Freedom Mobile
