CRTC requires cellphone providers to report coverage gaps across Canada
Service providers must disclose outdoor signal strength at various power levels, giving Canadians a way to identify where coverage maps don't match reality.
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The CRTC will require service providers to report on their mobile network coverage, starting a new standard designed to give Canadians clearer information about where they actually have signal.
The reporting requirement includes outdoor signal strength at various electrical power levels, letting the regulator identify specific areas where coverage maps don't reflect what people experience on the ground. The CRTC already collects some coverage data from providers and shares it with Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada for a national broadband map — the new standard aims to improve that accuracy and paint a clearer picture of connectivity needs across the country.
Vicky Eatrides, CRTC chairperson and CEO, said in an announcement that "by improving how cellphone coverage is reported and giving Canadians a way to flag gaps, it can lead to bolstered investment where it is needed." The measure follows a consultation process that began in 2026.
The reporting standard will make it easier for consumers to compare service options and identify locations where promised coverage doesn't match reality — a persistent complaint in rural and remote areas. What remains unclear is the timeline for when service providers must begin complying, the specific technical thresholds for reporting, and how the flagging mechanism for coverage gaps will actually work.
When must service providers begin reporting under this standard?
How will Canadians actually report coverage gaps, and to whom?
What enforcement mechanisms exist if providers don't comply?
We'll update this story as answers emerge.
By the numbers
What information must cellphone providers now report to the CRTC?
Service providers must report outdoor signal strength at various electrical power levels, enabling the regulator to identify specific areas where coverage maps don't reflect actual signal availability.
How could this reporting requirement benefit Canadian consumers?
The measure gives Canadians a way to flag coverage gaps and compare service options, making it easier to identify locations where promised coverage doesn't match reality — a particular issue in rural and remote areas.
