Telus Coverage Map: How it Compares

Telus Mobility has the best coverage in the country. Its 4G LTE network covers 99% of Canadians—meaning you likely find your neighbourhood on the Telus cell coverage map. Additionally, more than 70% of Canadians can connect to the Telus 5G network while on a premium Telus phone plan. Under the Telus network, carriers like Koodo and Public Mobile support customers with great coverage on lower-priced plans.

WhistleOut’s data experts compiled coverage data, researched network reliability, and applied our unique expertise in plan data and availability to compare Telus with its competitors, analyzing each carrier's coverage map. Bell and Rogers closely match their nationwide wireless network coverage, so let’s look at what makes Telus different from other cellular brands.

Telus network coverage map

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As shown in the Telus coverage map, the carrier provides some of the best coverage in Canada, with a 4G LTE network that reaches 99% of Canadians in every province. The carrier is also one of the largest 5G networks in the country. The Telus network covers just 37% of the country’s land but is still the largest wireless network in Canada. As many residents in Canada live in the southern half of the country, Telus has prioritized cities and communities within that lower region. The more remote locations still wait for dedicated 5G and LTE coverage

Does Telus have good cell phone coverage?

Telus is the largest network in Canada, ahead of its primary competitors Bell and Rogers. Freedom Mobile presents a viable alternative in the country's urban areas, but outside of those metropolitan sprawls, the younger carrier does not have much of a footprint.

If Telus and Bell's numbers (and coverage maps) look remarkably similar, that’s because the two companies share real estate on the same cell phone towers. Rogers, on the other hand, built its own cellular network, which is why their coverage area is slightly smaller.

Telus 5G coverage

Telus was the last national carrier to launch 5G service—its cell towers launched the new radio technology in mid-2020. Today, Telus 5G reaches at least 70% of Canadians. Most of that coverage is in urban areas, already served by 4G LTE-A (LTE Advanced). What will make the real difference is that Telus plans to continue rolling out to more markets through 2025 in their effort to eventually reach all Canadians. 

Telus partners with tech industry leaders and invests in the 5G infrastructure within Canada. Partners like Google, IBM, and GM are helping to advance 5G connectivity from coast to coast. Telus also invests in 5G research at universities and colleges, including a partnership with the University of Ottawa.

Customers from other carrier brands like Koodo and Public Mobile use the Telus wireless network. While these mobile virtual network operator (MVNO) carriers were previously limited to 4G speeds, both Koodo and Public now offer a limited number of 5G plans for prices well below Telus' premium prices.

If you're interested in discovering more about Telus' 5G plans, check out our comprehensive Telus guide. You can also take a peek at some of the most popular plans below.

Telus 4G LTE coverage

As you can see above, Telus' rural coverage includes 4G LTE support. The network spans the Yukon, Northwest Territories, and Nunavut. Bell and Rogers have largely ignored these areas. Considering that, the Telus network is the best option for wireless coverage in those areas.

Telus coverage in my area

Telus cellular coverage is available in most of Canada’s biggest cities. Even 5G service is available throughout most urban and suburban regions, including Vancouver, Alberta, the Greater Toronto Area, and Montreal. However, Telus continues to expand its 5G footprint. In Canada, smaller towns and most major highways have 4G LTE service, covered by Telus.

Here's when WhistleOut's coverage check tool can help you. Using our comparison engine, you can find the cell phone plan, you can choose a new phone you want, pick your data requirements, and add your street address where it reads "Coverage Check." You can then see what plans and offers exist in your coverage area so you know which carrier is your best choice.

Compare cell phone coverage 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

Compare 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

Compare Telus coverage: Bell, Rogers, and Freedom Mobile

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Canada enjoys nearly complete cellular coverage everywhere Canadians live, from Telus, Bell, and Rogers. Regional carriers like Freedom Mobile, SaskTel, and Videotron mean that the largest cities enjoy coverage from four networks. However, rural markets at the edge of service areas are where you’ll see the biggest difference in coverage between the carriers.

Bell vs. Telus coverage

Telus and Bell share the same cell towers, so if your area supports Telus, there's a good chance Bell is available as well. Keep in mind, Telus has slightly more service area than Bell does in B.C. and Alberta. Bell has slightly better coverage across the remainder of Canada. Both networks have the same total coverage area within 1% of one another. So, the brass tax comes down to how reliable the connectivity is for customers.

Using the same cell towers, data travels on Telus hardware or Bell hardware on its way to the internet. It's easy to get lost in the technical differences between each carrier's hardware and connectivity. In 2021, PCMag ranked all mobile networks in Canada. In the rankings, PCMag determined that Telus and Bell were tied for first. Ultimately, Bell garnered the top spot as more points were allocated due to population in central Canada, especially within Toronto and Montreal. Additionally, Ookla gave Telus the “Fastest Mobile Network” title, while Bell took the honour for “Fastest 5G Mobile Network" in a 2021 study.

Telus and Bell essentially run neck and neck in both coverage and performance. What matters for you, the customer, is that the Telus network consistently performs quickly and reliably to connect your calls and data downloads.

Check out the interactive Bell coverage map to see where its coverage is available near you.

Rogers vs. Telus coverage

Rogers' coverage map is slightly smaller than Telus', covering 28% of the country's landmass. Compared to Telus, Rogers only reaches 97% of Canadians. Rogers' Extended Coverage reaches pockets of the northern wilderness, which is a huge benefit for those living remotely. Telus' coverage for rural areas is ultimately greater and more consistent.

Rogers was the first Canadian carrier to roll out a 5G network, but Bell and Telus have caught up. Now, all of the Big Three's 5G networks are reaching 70% of Canadians.

If you want to see what Rogers coverage is available near you, check out the interactive network map below.

Freedom Mobile vs. Telus coverage

Freedom Mobile's network has comparable coverage to Telus thanks to its latest expansion. Now offering coverage to 99% of Canadians, Freedom Mobile's 5G network does pale when compared to Telus. As you might expect, Freedom Mobile's 5G is offered within metropolitan areas such as Vancouver, Alberta, and the Greater Toronto Area. Freedom customers still receive coverage outside of those areas thanks to the use of partner networks. Unfortunately, speeds are throttled and are slower than the 5G and 4G LTE speeds customers experience when operating on Freedom Mobile's network.

If you're looking to see Freedom's coverage around your area, you can use the interactive map below to zoom in on your address and neighborhood.

Carriers that use Telus towers

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Koodo Mobile and Public Mobile are MVNOs (or at times "flanker brands") operating on the Telus network. Koodo and Public customers receive the same coverage as they would on a Telus plan. However, these carriers offer lower monthly bills for their plans. 

While lower monthly costs are a huge benefit, additional perks may disappoint if you want more than just phone service and messaging. For instance, Telus plans come with extensive customer service and a large selection of new smartphones you can obtain through your plan. Koodo and Public, on the other hand, have limited phone options. Customer service is largely automated with these MVNOs, with customers relegated to using live chat agents and forums. Coverage can also differ. You can check out Koodo's coverage map here for more details.

If you're comfortable with a less-than-premium experience, you can save hundreds annually by switching to a flanker brand like Koodo or Public. Interested? You can check out the most popular MVNO plans on the Telus network below.