We’ve been studying the wireless industry since 2008. In that time, we’ve watched speeds get faster and coverage maps spread across the map. In Canada, we’ve seen both of those things happen at the same time, with long-sought-after 5G networks popping up from coast-to-coast. British Columbia is certainly no exception.
In this guide, we’ll break down the carrier with the best overall coverage in British Columbia. We’ll also highlight the best bets for your phone (and your wallet) in the province’s regions, so you can know what to expect before activating a new plan.
How we picked the best coverage in British Columbia
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Coverage map
We analyzed each carrier’s footprint in the province, keeping an eye out for dead zones. -
5G and 5G+
High speed is the future, so we focused on carriers that offer the newest technology. -
Network reliability
We scoured trade publications and customer feedback reviews to determine whose coverage is both widely available and reliable.
You can read more about our detailed methodology below.
Best overall coverage in British Columbia
Telus has the best overall coverage in British Columbia. The carrier shares much of its network with Bell, though Telus’ footprint is slightly bigger, especially in Northern B.C.
If you want access to the Telus network but don’t want to pay Telus’ high prices, you should consider a flanker brand. Flankers are MVNOs operating on larger networks, selling cheaper plans to budget-minded consumers. Telus is home to Koodo and Public Mobile, which offer 5G and 4G LTE plans and low prices on smartphones.
Public’s Unlimited Canada-US plan offers cheap 5G service throughout the major metro hubs of British Columbia, including Vancouver, Port St. John, Penticton, Prince Rupert, and more. 4G LTE service expands even further, with service throughout most of the province’s populated areas. It’s the best phone plan in British Columbia and continually one of the best cell phone plans in Canada.
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Public Mobile
$30 Unlimited Canada-US Talk + Text + 20GB
$30
+ $5 Upfront
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Before activating a new plan, though, you’ll need to make sure your neighborhood is covered by a given network—both in where you live and where you often travel to, such as your workplace. You can find your neck of the woods on the interactive map below or enter your address into the WhistleOut search to complete the most precise coverage check.
Cell phone coverage in British Columbia by region
Most British Columbians live in the province’s greater metro areas, along the US and Alberta borders, where they’re covered by the major wireless networks. Outside of those areas, though, coverage is sparse, with the major carriers mostly avoiding building towers in the province's more remote stretches.
The best carrier overall might not be the best carrier for your neck of the woods. Before you activate a new plan, be sure to read our breakdown of coverage in each of the province’s regions.
Victoria and Vancouver Island
The Big Three of Bell, Rogers, and Telus provide 5G coverage throughout Victoria up through Duncan, Port Alberni, and Courtenay, stopping just north of Campbell River, along with high-speed service around Port Hardy and on the southwestern coast. In addition to their 5G coverage, Bell, Rogers, and Telus also provide extensive 4G LTE coverage to the island.
Freedom Mobile is also available, though its coverage map is smaller than that of any Big Three network, and its 5G service is not yet available in the region.
Vancouver Coast
Vancouver is the biggest city in British Columbia, which means it’s also got the best coverage in the province. Bell, Rogers, and Telus offer 5G to the city, but the high-speed network also snakes out beyond Powell River in the west, Pemberton in the north, and Chilliwack in the east. Those carriers’ 4G networks are even larger, covering nearly all of the region.
Freedom Mobile also offers 5G. The network is a lot smaller than the Big Three and concentrated mostly in the more populous urban areas, though it does stretch as far east as Maple Ridge, Langley City, and White Rock.
Thompson-Okanagan
Telus provides the best 5G in the Thompson-Okanagan region, including 5G+ in Pinticton, Kelowna, and Lake Country. Bell and Rogers also provide 5G throughout the region, most of it tracing Highway 97. Additionally, every Big Three network has extensive 4G LTE service throughout the region, providing coverage to most residential areas.
Freedom does not provide 5G in the region, though its 4G LTE coverage is solid, with most of concentrated in Kamloops, Vernon, Kelowna, and Penticton. Freedom customers who wander out-of-network will still have service through partner networks, though users often report significantly slower speeds.
Kootenay
The Big Three’s 4G LTE coverage is similar in Kootenay, though Rogers offers the best 5G. A belt of coverage runs from the southern edge of the province up through Cranbrook, Kimberley, and then up through Highways 93 and 95.
Freedom’s coverage in Kootenay is minimal and lacks 5G. The carrier’s 4G network is limited to Kimberley and Cranbrook, with a thin band connecting the two coverage areas.
Cariboo and the Chilcotin
The Big Three provides extensive 5G and 4G LTE coverage throughout Cariboo and the Chilcotin region. Bell and Telus have especially good coverage, with 5G+ in the areas around Quesnel and Valemount. Coverage is harder to come by the further east you travel, though Rogers provides solid 5G coverage near Porcher Island.
Northern British Columbia
5G is widely available from the Big Three along Highways 16, 97, and 29. The further north you go, the harder it is to find that same high-speed service, with most 5G falling out near Murdale. Bell and Telus provide a mass of 4G LTE north of there, but Rogers and Freedom do not. The northeastern quadrant of the province is largely without coverage, aside from some LTE coverage near Watson Lake.
How to get better phone coverage in rural B.C.
Most of Northern B.C. is not covered by any wireless network. Even the rural areas within Bell and Telus’ networks can feature pockets with spotty coverage. Luckily, there’s a solution if you’re willing to invest a few hundred dollars. Cell phone coverage boosters, like SolidRF’s 5-Band Booster, can improve a wireless signal by drawing it from an open area (like your driveway) into an enclosed area (like your living room).
Unfortunately, coverage boosters don’t work for areas that lack nearby towers. If you’re in one of the rural areas of Northern B.C. that’s completely outside the carriers’ coverage maps, we recommend leaning on your internet connection. By turning on your phone’s Wi-Fi calling option, you can send and receive calls without having to bother with a cell phone carrier.
How we picked the best coverage in British Columbia
WhistleOut evaluates coverage based on the following criteria:
- Coverage map: The breadth of each carrier’s 4G LTE and 5G networks determines your reception and service. Particularly in the case of 5G, some carriers offer far more robust coverage than others, which affects how their phone plans perform in different parts of the country.
- 5G and 5G+: Unleashing the full potential of your smartphone requires high-speed service. We only considered carriers that offer 5G (and its cousin, 5G+), which is the newest generation of wireless technology available in Canada.
- Network reliability: Coverage is only good if it’s reliable. We scoured user reviews and third-party whitepapers to evaluate whether or not a carrier’s network provides consistent coverage.
Our mobile experts leveraged proprietary data and real-world customer feedback to evaluate the best coverage in British Columbia. We compared the plans from 23 carriers by analyzing their coverage maps, network reliability, cost, and plan options. After performing hands-on testing and extensive research, including customer feedback, we picked the plans we feel meet the needs of most people.
Visit our guide to choosing a phone plan to evaluate a cell phone carrier or plan and find the one that best meets your specific needs.
Cell phone coverage guides by province:
- British Columbia Wireless Coverage
- Alberta Wireless Coverage
- Saskatchewan Wireless Coverage
- Manitoba Wireless Coverage
- Ontario Wireless Coverage
- Quebec Wireless Coverage
- New Brunswick Wireless Coverage
- Nova Scotia Wireless Coverage
- Prince Edward Island Wireless Coverage
- Newfoundland and Labrador Wireless Coverage
Cell phone coverage by city:
- Vancouver Cell Phone Coverage
- Edmonton Cell Phone Coverage
- Calgary Cell Phone Coverage
- Toronto Cell Phone Coverage
- Ottawa Cell Phone Coverage
- Montreal Cell Phone Coverage
- Quebec City Cell Phone Coverage
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