Quebecor expands discount wireless brand Fizz to four provinces – Business News

Quebecor Inc.'s Fizz is expanding into Ontario, Manitoba, Alberta and B.C. through a structure that allows regional cell phone providers to compete across Canada over networks built by their larger rivals.

Flanker — a term often used to describe discount brands owned by the major carriers — says it offers introductory plans starting at $14 a month in some areas of the four provinces.

Since launching as a discount carrier in Quebec in 2018, Fizz has served as an alternative to Quebecor's traditional wireless carrier, Videotron.

Expansion outside of Quebec will follow a four-month trial. Fies said new customers in the four provinces can keep their plans and rates as long as they want because the company promises there are “no expiration dates” and “no negotiations.” from his side.

It also aims to serve 90 percent of the Canadian population and plans to expand its reach to many cities and regions in these provinces within a few months.

The expanded service will operate in part using Quebecor's existing infrastructure in predominantly urban areas of Ontario, Alberta and BC.

In low-density areas of these provinces, as well as in Manitoba, where the company has not established its own network, service operates through the networks of competing carriers under the Canadian Mobile Virtual Network Operator (MVNO).

In 2021, the CRTC announced a policy that would allow regional providers to compete as MVNOs using networks built by larger companies. Then, in May of last year, the federal telecommunications regulator ordered the major carriers to negotiate agreements for access to their networks.

The CRTC said the move is aimed at increasing mobile phone competition, allowing regional carriers to gain a presence in previously underserved parts of Canada. Regional competitors are required to establish their networks in these regions within seven years as part of the framework.

Martin Gendron, general manager of Fizz, said the expansion trial allowed the company to test mobile phone coverage when switching from one network to another. He said Fizz made small adjustments to ensure the process was seamless.

“Outside the urban areas, we're using other incumbents' networks and it's working well,” Gendron said in an interview.

“It will definitely allow us to expand across Canada.”

He said based on the brand's success in “less urban markets”, Fizz will assess whether it makes financial sense to continue expanding within the MVNO framework.

“Because we have a commitment to build the network within seven years,” Gendron said.

“Then it's a question of economics. We want this and hope that the MVNO structure will continue to evolve.”

Fizz says its beta testers can keep deeply discounted fares for six months after signing up “as a token of appreciation”.

“We're grateful to the thousands of beta testers who were the first to experience Fizz outside of Quebec,” Pierre Carl Péladeau, Quebec's president and CEO, said in a statement.

“They have influenced the development of our plans, technologies and services, bringing Fizz to more consumers across Canada. I am grateful to our many testers for being a part of this exciting development in telecommunications.”

Along with its expansion, Fizz says it will make its SIM cards available at 139 Circle K locations in BC and Alberta.

Customers can order a SIM card online or pick it up at a store.