Article Summary
Southern and Central Alberta, Calgary and Edmonton feature exceptional coverage by Telus, Bell and Rogers in both urban and rural areas. Calgary and Edmonton also get coverage by Freedom Mobile.
Northern Alberta has great coverage along the highways, but areas more than 200km north of Edmonton have spotty service. Most highways through the Rockies have advanced LTE network service, including around Banff and Jasper.
Alberta is home to two of Canada's largest cities by population, but nearly 20% of Albertans live in rural areas. As a result Alberta has one of the largest coverage areas anywhere in the country. All three national carriers have excellent service from the US border to north of Edmonton. From Saskatchewan to the foothills you'll find nearly full coverage by Telus, Bell and Rogers.
Entering the Rockies, service can continue to be excellent along most highways but can disappear for Rogers customers once you cross into British Columbia.
If you're one of the 1.8 million people who live in Edmonton or Calgary then you might consider regional carrier, Freedom Mobile. They offer competitive high data plans for a low price. When you leave the city your phone will switch over to roaming partner networks. Some Freedom plans include minutes, text, and data for when that happens.
Coverage in Alberta
Coverage in Alberta earns a respectable coverage score of 75 out of 100. Expect the best coverage in and around cities and towns. Here's a guide to coverage in Calgary and Edmonton.
What we love
- Rural coverage from Telus and Bell is strong, Rogers is a close third
- Freedom Mobile service available in Edmonton and Calgary with roaming packages for when you leave town
What could be improved
- Freedom needs more rural service to compete here
- Some highways in the Rockies have no service
75/100
Network Coverage in Alberta by Carrier
The top four major carriers are represented throughout Alberta, as are a multitude of smaller carriers that run on their networks.
Telus, Bell and Rogers generally provide the best coverage in Alberta, while Freedom coverage is exclusive to Edmonton and Calgary.
Best Coverage in Alberta, Canada by Network
| Network | Covered Area % |
|---|---|
| Bell | 69.11% |
| Rogers | 60.61% |
| Freedom | 0.78% |
| Telus | 69.11% |
Cell Phone Coverage in Alberta by Region
Alberta is vast and beautiful. There are a lot of rural subscribers who need mobile coverage and a wireless company that understands their needs. Just over two-thirds of the province is covered, but how good is the service in your region? WhistleOut looks into how strong signal is in your area.
Calgary and Southern Alberta
Calgary has consistent high-speed LTE service in and around the city from national carriers Bell, Rogers, and Telus. Regional carrier Freedom Mobile has service here too, offering Calgarians a low-cost, high-data alternative. Their coverage extends about 30 km in every direction from the downtown core. WhistleOut Canada has a more in-depth guide for cell phone coverage in Calgary.
Southern Alberta also features exceptionally good service from Bell, Rogers and Telus. Service can be spotty towards the southern border but otherwise you should have full LTE service everywhere you can drive. If you're stationed at CFB Suffield then stick with Telus or Bell. Rogers mobile phones lose signal around the base.
Edmonton and Central Alberta
Central Alberta has almost perfectly spotless high-speed LTE service throughout the region by Telus and Bell. Rogers service is nearly as complete, although signal drops earlier in the foothills as you approach the Rockies.
Edmonton also has signal from regional carrier Freedom Mobile. LTE service is available for a 25 km radius around downtown Edmonton, and their 3G signal reaches another 5-10 km past that. Freedom Mobile's signal also extends a bit further south just past Leduc. Read our guide on cell phone coverage in Edmonton and find out more details on who has the best coverage.
Banff, Jasper and the Rockies
Mountains are the enemy of good cellular signal. Most of the Canadian Rockies have poor to no service at all. Telus, Bell and Rogers have built high-speed LTE networks along most major highways, but there are still some dead zones you should be aware of when travelling through the region.
A modern and comprehensive cell network is available along the Trans-Canada Highway from Calgary through Banff so you can get full LTE coverage from Telus, Rogers and Bell. Once you cross into BC the signal gets spotty for Bell and Telus customers but Rogers completely loses service for half of the trip to Kamloops.
Towards the south, Highway 3 will get you into British Columbia with full coverage. Further up north, Jasper has signal from all three carriers as does the drive along Highway 16 from Edmonton. There is absolutely no signal along Highway 93 from Banff from any carrier.
Northern Alberta
Coverage by all three national carriers is strong for the first 200 km north of Edmonton. After that Telus and Bell will experience small drops to 3G service (or dropouts altogether) but should remain reliable on the major highways. Rogers has strong LTE signal all the way up Highway 35 to High Level. If you're driving to Fort McMurray, you'll have strong LTE signal for the whole drive from Bell, Rogers and Telus all the way there.
Geographic Coverage Data
The Province of Alberta encompasses 663,254 square kilometers and the three national carriers, Rogers, Bell and Telus, cover a good majority of it with high-speed LTE service:
Geographic Area Covered in Alberta
Alberta Network Coverage Maps
Numbers on a page are one thing, but the coverage maps tell the full story. Fortunately, you don't have to go to all of the carriers' websites to get this information--you can see what the coverage is like from the four majors below:
The map clearly shows that Telus and Bell lead the way when it comes to coverage. Rogers has wide coverage, but doesn't cover much area that's not already served by Telus and Bell. Freedom Mobile has excellent coverage for a 30 km radius around Edmonton or Calgary, but service elsewhere in Alberta is provided by roaming on partner networks.
Big Carriers vs. Small Carriers in Alberta
Just a reminder, the top providers in Alberta also have smaller carriers that piggyback off of their network. These carriers, known as MVNOs, are typically much cheaper than the network they run off of. If you're looking to save a buck or two, it might be worth checking into an MVNO. MVNOs purchase network service from the major providers at wholesale prices, then pass the savings on to consumers.
If you're interested in the Telus network but are looking for a better deal, you should check out PC Mobile, Koodo, Public Mobile, and PhoneBox. These carriers all run off of the Telus network but have rates at a lower cost.
Getting the Best Plan & Coverage
WhistleOut's coverage check feature give customers an idea of what coverage is like at your location. Checking your coverage is easy. When you enter in your address, we'll show you what the coverage looks like in your area from every carrier in Canada. You'll be able to select a plan with a wireless carrier you know will give you the best coverage for your home.
Now that you've got the coverage map at your hands, getting the right cell phone plan has never been this easy. Let WhistleOut Canada help you find the best cell phone plan that perfectly fits your needs.
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