Bell is one of Canada’s largest wireless carriers, with a nationwide network that reaches over 99% of the population. Bell's network coverage 5G service to 70% of Canadians, though that coverage is mostly limited to metropolitan areas of the country. The Bell network is also home to several MVNOs, including Virgin Plus and Lucky Mobile, which are flanker brands that offer access to Bell’s reliable coverage at discounted rates.
In this guide, we’ll break down everything you need to know about the Bell service map, including where to find 5G and how Bell’s network ranks against competitors like Telus, Rogers, and Freedom Mobile. In addition, we’ve got plans from Bell MVNOs to help you save on your monthly bill.
Bell coverage at a glance
Bell is one of Canada’s largest wireless carriers, with a 4G LTE network spanning 36% of the country’s land mass and providing coverage to over 99% of the population. Bell’s 5G network is also large, reaching over 70% of Canadians, and continues to expand.
What we love
- Large (and growing) 5G coverage
- 99% 4G LTE coverage
- Low-cost coverage through MVNOs and flankers
What could be improved
- 5G limited to metropolitan areas
- Limited options for rural areas
90/100
Bell coverage map
The Bell service map reaches over 99% of Canadians, with 70% of the country receiving 5G speeds. The Bell network only covers 36% of the country’s land mass, though that’s not out-of-line with their competitors. Only Telus covers more ground than Bell, with a network footprint that spans 37% of the country. The reason for these geographically small networks is practical: the overwhelming majority of Canadians live near the country’s urban centres, so the Big Three have largely ignored the sparsely populated stretches of the of Canada’s northern wilderness.
Want to see if the Bell service map reaches your neck of the woods? Use the interactive map below to find your neighborhood and see if Bell 5G or 4G LTE is available.
Bell 5G coverage map
Bell’s 5G network is the fastest mobile network in Canada, according to a September 2022 study by PC Mag. It’s available to over 70% of Canadians, though coverage is mostly limited to urban centres in the southern half of the country.
Bell began offering 5G+, the fastest mobile technology ever, in 2022. The service provides users high-speed connection, even in crowded areas like sports arenas and music venues. For now, Bell 5G+ is only available in select areas–including Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton, Winnipeg, Toronto, and Montreal–but Bell continues to roll out the service in new areas.
Bell offers dozens of 5G cell phone plans, including the Ultimate 50GB Canada-US Plan, with 50GB of full-speed 5G data for $75/month, and the Ultimate 150GB Canada-US Plan, with 150GB of full-speed 5G data for $105/month. Bell also offers international roaming through its Roam Better program.
Interested in seeing more? Check out the most popular Bell 5G phone plans below.
Bell coverage vs. Telus, Rogers, and Freedom Mobile
You’ve seen the Bell coverage map, but how does it compare to the competition? Let’s take a look at how it stacks up against the other major wireless networks in Canada: Telus, Rogers, and Freedom Mobile.
Network coverage in Canada
Carrier | 5G coverage | 4G LTE coverage | Total network coverage |
---|---|---|---|
Telus | 70% | 99% | 37% |
Bell | 70% | 99% | 36% |
Rogers | 70% | 97% | 28% |
Freedom | 31% | 33% | 1.34% |
Bell vs. Telus coverage
Telus has the largest network in Canada, with their 4G LTE service reaching over 99% of residents. Telus and Bell share cell towers, allowing the carriers to build the biggest wireless networks in Canada while maintaining independent companies. Telus’ network covers 37% of the country’s land mass, making their network slightly bigger than Bell’s. That’s most evident in the north: the Telus network is in rural stretches of Canada–like the Yukon, Northwestern Territories, and Nunavut–where Bell’s coverage is minimal.
Telus’ 5G service mostly matches Bell’s, with coverage primarily limited to metropolitan areas and, like Bell, their 5G service reaches 70% of the population. Unlike Bell, however, Telus does not currently offer 5G+ service.
Want to see if Telus coverage is available near you? Use the interactive map below.
Bell vs. Rogers coverage
The Rogers network is smaller than Bell’s in both land mass and reach, covering 28% of the map and 97% of the population. There are pockets of the Yukon and Northwest Territories where you can receive Rogers’ Extended Coverage if you’re traveling, though the carrier emphasizes that Extended Coverage is only for “limited and occasional use.”
Rogers was the first carrier to launch a consumer 5G network in Canada and now, like Bell and Telus, offers service to 70% of Canadians. The carrier also continues to expand high-speed wireless service throughout the country, including 5G+ in British Columbia, Alberta, Manitoba, Ontario, and Quebec.
If you want to get a better sense of what service Rogers offers near you, check out the interactive map below.
Bell vs. Freedom Mobile coverage
Freedom Mobile’s network is significantly smaller than Bell’s, with their 4G LTE reaching 33% of Canadians. In July 2023, Freedom began offering 5G coverage thanks to their recent partnership with Videotron, with service that reaches 31% of Canadians. Freedom Mobile does not currently offer 5G+ service.
Freedom Mobile’s 5G and 4G LTE networks are almost exclusively limited to major metropolitan areas, though they do offer coverage outside of the Freedom Network through partner networks. Buyer beware, though: these partner-powered connections are throttled, meaning you’ll experience speeds closer to 3G.
Want to see if Freedom Mobile’s 5G or 4G LTE service is available near you? Take a look at our interactive coverage map below.
Bell wireless network reliability
Umlaut, a telecom research company, named Rogers the most reliable wireless network in Canada for 2023. The total possible ascore was 573: Rogers earned 538, Telus earned 535, and Bell earned 526. With that being said, Bell received favorable ratings for their network’s low latency and high stability, so customers can expect reliable coverage across the Bell network, even if it ranks below Rogers and Telus.
Check Bell coverage in your area
If you’re looking to see how reliable Bell’s network is near you, you can find that in one of our geographic guides below.
- 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
Carriers that use Bell towers
MVNOs, short for Mobile Virtual Network Operators, offer customers affordable access to large wireless networks. Bell owns and operates three MVNOs on its nationwide network, including flankers Virgin Plus and Lucky Mobile and prepaid carrier PC Mobile.
If you’re looking for the reliability of the Bell network, but want more affordable monthly payments, a Bell MVNO is a great option. You can find the most popular plans from Bell MVNOs below.
Related Articles
Find Better Phones and Plans
Hundreds of cell phone plans unpacked. All the facts. No surprises.