The CRTC announced on October 2, 2026 that it is changing how providers report cellphone network coverage. The regulator says more detailed information will help Canadians compare service options and flag places where a map does not match their experience. The new reporting standard starts phasing in with the Annual Facilities Survey in early 2027.
This is a change to information collection, rather than a completed expansion of cellular service. For someone choosing a plan, its eventual value will depend on whether the resulting maps make the difference between predicted coverage and dependable everyday use easier to understand.
Where the information goes
The commission supplies provider coverage data to ISED for the National Broadband Map. Its announcement also describes a route for Canadians to report mismatches. That could give planners a more useful view of gaps, but it does not establish that each report will lead to a funded project or a particular repair date.
A useful gap report should describe the place, approximate time and type of problem: no connection, failed calls or intermittent data. Keep private account details out of a public submission. Reports from a consistent route or location are easier to investigate than a broad claim that an entire town has poor service.
Related sources: CRTC cellphone coverage announcement ↗ · ISED National Broadband Map ↗
Compare service where you actually use it
Before changing providers, identify the locations that matter to you: home, work and the trip between them. Ask how to verify service at those locations and inspect the provider’s cancellation and trial terms. A national coverage percentage is a weak substitute for a connection that works inside the building where you spend your day.
Keep the test conditions clear. A Wi-Fi call can succeed while the cellular connection is weak. A speed reading can also reflect device settings, congestion or the selected server. If you compare networks, use the same device capability and similar conditions, and record whether the test was actually using cellular data.
What progress should look like
Canadian readers should watch for published reporting instructions, revised map layers and an explanation of how conflicting consumer observations are handled. A meaningful update would tell users what a coverage category measures, when its data was collected and what uncertainty remains. Those details make the map useful for decisions.
AI Speed has not measured new local coverage from this announcement and is not assigning citywide provider rankings. Our analysis is that transparent definitions and dated evidence matter as much as visual detail: a more precise-looking map can still mislead if readers cannot tell what its colours promise.
Sources and editorial method
We use the linked original statements and reports to distinguish documented facts from our analysis. Company announcements describe their authors’ plans and claims; they are not independent verification of future outcomes. This article is dated and will be revised if material evidence changes. Read our editorial standards and corrections process.
- CRTC cellphone coverage announcement ↗ — Primary regulator release, October 2, 2026; reporting approach and early-2027 phase-in.
- ISED National Broadband Map ↗ — Official map identified by the regulator; coverage information is a planning resource, not an address-level service warranty.