Rogers 5G in Canada: How To Get Access and What Phone You'll Need

By Stephen Clark

Last updated 21 January 2020

Article Summary

Rogers Wireless is the first to launch 5G wireless networks in Canada, with signal broadcasting in four major cities and at least 20 more regions to come. It isn't yet ready for public consumption, but once manufacturers release 5G-compatible devices in the Canadian market then Rogers will be ready.

For decades, Rogers has prided itself in being the first to market in next-gen telecommunications technologies. They introduced Canada's first cellular services, North America's first high-speed internet, and they were the first carrier in Canada to offer industry-leading cell phones like the Blackberry and the Apple iPhone. To start off 2020, Rogers has announced that they've launched the next generation of wireless with 5G cellular service.

The launch only includes downtown areas of Vancouver, Toronto, Ottawa and Montreal for the moment, but Rogers plans to add 20 more markets by the end of the year. However, there's one key problem with the service: there's no way for consumers to access it. In their effort to be "first," Rogers has launched before any compatible smartphones are available.

There are smartphones available in the U.S., Korea and China that allow access to 5G, but they won't work on the Rogers 5G network. When we asked them about out-of-market devices, Rogers replied that they don't currently have SIM cards ready for use with 5G. However, they should become available around the same time that 5G devices become available for purchase from Rogers directly.

Rogers has positioned itself to be an industry leader in 5G. Bell and Telus are the two largest competitors for Rogers in the wireless market. A potential government ban on HUAWEI networking products may have caused delays to their 5G rollout. According to a statement made to MobileSyrup, Bell is confident that 5G services will be available later this year. Rogers states that they have chosen to launch early so that businesses can make long-term plans for their own 5G network needs.

Last year, Rogers launched Infinite plans to help Canadians adopt next-generation 5G with their new phones. Mobile data consumption is set to skyrocket with faster download speeds and access to more smart gadgets like Internet of Things (IoT) devices. The new plans include large data caps with full-speed data access and throttled unlimited data access after that. Rogers customers can feel free to stream their favourite music without fear of data overage charges at the end of the month.

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Is 5G Safe? What Phones Will Work? Canadian Questions Answered:

WhistleOut Canada has answered many of your questions on our regularly-updated 5G Guides. Our 5G in Canada Guide answers most of your questions about this next-generation technology in one page. While there's a lot of news out there about 5G, this will help you understand how it's being used in Canada, where it will be found and how soon you can get it.

Text WhistleOut 5G Wireless Guide for Canada over image of a smartphone

When will 5G be available on other Canadian carriers like Bell, Telus, and Fido? This guide covers 5G-enabled smartphones that are already on the market but not yet available in Canada.

Text is 5G Available in Canada over image of a smartphone using 5G signal

Our goal at WhistleOut is to educate Canadian consumers so you can each get the best plan that suits your needs. Even so, new technology can be intimidating. There are a lot of Facebook posts and YouTube videos out there shouting that 5G is dangerous to humans. It's important to have all the facts and draw your conclusions from that. WhistleOut has looked into the dangers of electromagnetic frequencies (EMF) and helps you understand the truth.