Telus Coverage Map: How it Compares

Telus Mobility has the best coverage in the country, with 99% of Canadians covered by its 4G LTE network. More than 70% of Canadians can connect to its 5G network, but only with a premium Telus cell phone plan. Koodo and Public Mobile operate on the Telus network, giving those customers great coverage but with 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. Bell and Rogers closely match its nationwide wireless network coverage, so let’s look at what makes these companies different.

Telus network coverage map

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Telus provides some of the best coverage in Canada, with a 4G LTE network that reaches 99% of Canadians and one of the largest 5G networks in the country. The Telus network only covers 37% of the country, but that's still the largest wireless network in Canada. As you probably know, the country has a huge footprint, though its citizens primarily reside in the lower half. As such, wireless companies have mostly stayed away from expanding their networks into the remote northern wilderness.

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, with its cell towers to support the new radio technology going live 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 2024 in their effort to eventually reach all Canadians. 

Telus partners with tech industry leaders like Google, IBM, and GM to bring 5G-powered innovations to Canada. The company also invests in 5G research at universities and colleges, including a recent partnership with the University of Ottawa.

Customers from other carrier brands like Koodo and Public Mobile use the Telus wireless network. While these carriers (often called "flanker brands" or MVNOs) were previously limited to 4G speeds, both Koodo and Public now offer a limited amount of 5G plans for prices well below Telus' premium prices.

For more information on Telus 5G, check out our comprehensive guide. Looking for a new Telus 5G plan? You can check out the most popular below.

Telus 4G LTE coverage

The Telus 4G LTE network is the largest in the country and reaches over 99% of Canadians. As you can see above, it also expands into the remote regions of the Yukon, Northwest Territories, and Nunavut, areas that Bell and Rogers have largely ignored. Considering that, the Telus network is the best option for wireless coverage in Canada. 

Telus coverage in my area

Telus cellular coverage is nearly everywhere in Canada’s biggest cities. Even 5G service is available throughout most urban and suburban regions. Smaller towns and most major highways have 4G LTE service but will see more 5G coverage over the next couple of years.

That's where WhistleOut's address lookup feature comes in. When you use our comparison engine to find a cell phone plan you can choose a new phone, enter your data requirements, and add your street address where it reads "Coverage Check." 

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

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

If Telus cell phone towers pick up your phone call, Bell can probably pick it up just as easily. Telus has slightly more service area than Bell does in B.C. and Alberta, but Bell has marginally better coverage in the rest of Canada. In this case, “marginally” means both networks have the same total coverage area within 1% of one another. What matters is where your connection goes once you’re connected.

From the cell tower, your data connection travels on Telus hardware or Bell hardware on its way to the Internet. Minor differences in how each company builds its network get technical fast, so let’s just look at the results. In 2021, PCMag ranked all mobile networks in Canada, and Telus tied with Bell for the top spot. Bell earned the title since it received more points based on population in central Canada—namely, Toronto and Montreal. A similar study around the same time by Ookla gave Telus the “Fastest Mobile Network” title, while Bell took the honour for “Fastest 5G Mobile Network.”

Simply put, these two networks run neck-and-neck when it comes to both coverage and performance. What's important to know 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 their coverage is available near you.

Rogers vs. Telus coverage

Rogers' coverage map is slightly smaller than Telus', covering 28% of the country's landmass and reaching 97% of Canadians. Rogers' Extended Coverage reaches pockets of the northern wilderness, but Telus' coverage for rural areas is greater and more consistent.

Rogers was the first Canadian carrier to roll out a 5G network. Bell and Telus have caught up, though, with all of the Big Three's 5G networks 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 is small compared with Telus, covering just 1.34% of the country and reaching 31% of Canadians. As you might expect, the Freedom network is mostly confined to metropolitan areas of British Columbia, Alberta, and Ontario. Freedom customers still receive coverage outside of those areas, though, through partner networks, though speeds are throttled and, as such, are much slower than the 5G and 4G LTE speeds customers experience when operating on the Freedom network.

If you're looking to see what Freedom's coverage looks like in your neck of the woods, you can use the interactive map below to zoom in on your particular address.

Carriers that use Telus towers

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Koodo Mobile and Public Mobile are MVNOs (sometimes called "flanker brands") operating on the Telus network. Koodo and Public customers receive the same coverage as they would on a Telus plan, though their monthly bills are often much, much lower. 

So, what's the catch? Mostly, it's in the perks. Telus plans come with extensive customer service and a large selection of new smartphones you can pair with your plan. Both Koodo and Public have limited phone options and funnel most of their customer service through automated channels (like live chat agents) and forums.

If you're comfortable with a less-than-premium experience, you can stand to 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.