A new survey from Abacus Data on Tuesday has found 26 per cent of Canadians have changed their wireless plans in the past 12 months, and an “overwhelming” 86 per cent of those who had switched “felt they were getting a better deal with their new plan compared to their previous one.”
Among the survey respondents who switched wireless plans over the past year, 47 per cent said they switched to a different service provider, while the other 53 per cent said they changed to a different plan offered by their current service provider, according to the report.
Of those who switched plans, 79 per cent cited better pricing as the primary reason. In addition, 49 per cent said they changed plans to obtain more data.
When asked to describe the cost of their current plan and the services/features they receive now compared to their previous plan, 63 per cent of those who have switched plans said the cost of their current plan is lower than their previous one while receiving the same or more services. An additional 17 per cent indicated they are paying the same as before but are receiving more services.
In addition to improved pricing, 88 per cent of survey respondents who switched wireless plans said they are receiving the same or more services after changing their plans. Furthermore, among those who reported paying less for their monthly plan, 84 per cent said they are receiving the same or more services than previously.
Among the respondents who noted they are receiving additional services, 74 per cent reported an increased data allotment and 49 per cent reported higher data speeds, according to Abacus Data.
Survey respondents who have not switched their wireless plans in the past year were asked whether they expect to do so in the next 12 months. According to the survey, 19 per cent of those respondents expect to change their wireless plan over the next year, while 29 per cent are uncertain. Price is an important factor for 85 per cent of those anticipating a change in their wireless service plan, according to the report.
“Canadian consumers are reaping the rewards of a highly competitive telecom industry by getting plans with more services and lower prices,” Robert Ghiz, president and CEO of the CTA, said in a press release accompanying the CTA-commissioned Abacus report. “Statistics Canada data shows wireless prices have fallen by 26% and internet access services by more than 9.5% over the past year alone. This is in stark contrast to the rising costs of other vital goods and services, highlighting the telecom sector’s role in delivering better value to Canadians.”
The Abacus report was based on a nationwide survey of 5,000 Canadians aged 18 and over, between May 16 and 24, 2024. The survey was commissioned by the Canadian Telecommunications Association (CTA) to evaluate perceptions of cell phone rates and service offerings, examining how frequently Canadians switch wireless plans, their views on the service provided by new plans, and comparing costs between new and previous plans.
Front cover image of Abacus Data’s report
