Canada's remaining 3G networks are being retired
Canada's transition away from 3G is underway. Rogers and Videotron retired 3G in 2025. Bell and TELUS plan to discontinue national 3G service on March 1, 2027, and SaskTel will shut down 3G in Saskatchewan on October 1, 2027.
The change does not affect only phones showing a 3G symbol. Some 4G LTE phones use LTE for apps and data, then switch to 3G, H or H+ when a call begins. After shutdown, data may continue working while regular calls and 911 access fail.
To retain full service, a phone generally needs:
- 4G LTE or 5G support
- Voice over LTE, usually called VoLTE
- VoLTE compatibility with the specific carrier
- a compatible SIM or eSIM
- current software and carrier settings
- VoLTE enabled or automatically active
The model name alone may not provide a complete answer. Regional versions of the same phone can use different firmware, frequency bands and carrier profiles.
Canadian 3G shutdown timeline
| Network | 3G retirement date | Customers who should check |
|---|---|---|
| Rogers | Retired in 2025 | Rogers, Fido and Chatr customers should already be using LTE or 5G with VoLTE. Rogers plans to retire its remaining 2G network on November 30, 2027. |
| Videotron | Retired July 31, 2025 | Videotron customers need a VoLTE-compatible phone and SIM, including partner-network compatibility outside home coverage. |
| Bell | Manitoba retired December 31, 2025; nationally March 1, 2027 | Bell customers and users of brands operating on its network should check the device, SIM and account. |
| TELUS | Manitoba retired April 14, 2026; nationally March 1, 2027 | TELUS, Koodo and Public Mobile customers should confirm that calls remain on LTE or 5G. |
| SaskTel | October 1, 2027 | SaskTel and Lüm Mobile customers need a certified LTE or 5G device, VoLTE and a compatible SIM. |
Regional and partner-network arrangements can differ. A phone that works on one carrier's home network may not have voice service while roaming on another.
Why a 4G phone can still be affected
VoLTE carries an ordinary phone call over the LTE network. Before it became common, many LTE phones used LTE for internet access but returned to 3G for voice.
After 3G is removed, the phone must place calls directly over LTE. A device can therefore have an LTE modem and still be unsuitable for voice service.
Some phones also label HSPA or HSPA+ as 4G even though carriers treat it as part of the retiring 3G network. LTE is the relevant network label.
A mobile plan advertised with "3G speed" is not necessarily using 3G radio service. Some plans use LTE with a speed limit. Device, SIM and VoLTE status determine compatibility, not only the plan name.
Phones with the highest risk
The main risk groups are:
- 3G-only phones: These cannot connect to LTE or 5G.
- Early LTE phones without VoLTE: Data may work while calls depend on 3G.
- Carrier-specific VoLTE phones: The hardware supports VoLTE, but the carrier has not certified the model or firmware.
- Imported phones: International versions may lack Canadian bands or carrier profiles.
- Phones using an old SIM: A compatible device can still have problems with a 3G-era SIM.
- Phones with VoLTE disabled: Some older operating systems expose a switch that may be off.
- Unsupported software: An older phone may lack a current carrier configuration.
The carrier's compatibility list or IMEI checker should take priority over a general model guide.
iPhones that could be affected
| iPhone model | General 2027 outlook |
|---|---|
| Original iPhone through iPhone 5s and iPhone 5c | High risk or incompatible. These models do not provide the current carrier-supported VoLTE setup. |
| iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus | Carrier-specific. Bell lists iPhone 6 and newer, while some other Canadian lists begin with iPhone 6s. Check the carrier and IMEI. |
| iPhone 6s, 6s Plus and first-generation iPhone SE | Broadly listed for VoLTE, provided software, SIM and carrier settings are current. |
| iPhone 7 through iPhone X family | Generally supported on major networks. Imported devices and phones receiving a carrier warning should still be checked. |
| iPhone XS/XR and newer | Generally compatible. A notice can still indicate a SIM, account or provisioning issue. |
On recent iOS versions, VoLTE may be automatic. On older versions, open Settings > Cellular > Cellular Data Options > Voice & Data, select LTE or 5G and turn on VoLTE if a switch appears.
The iPhone 5s illustrates why LTE support alone is insufficient: it can use LTE data but does not meet current Canadian VoLTE requirements.
Samsung Galaxy phones that could be affected
Samsung compatibility varies by model family, year and regional version.
| Samsung family | General 2027 outlook |
|---|---|
| Galaxy S5 and earlier | High risk. Continued carrier-supported VoLTE should not be assumed. |
| Galaxy S6 through S9 | Carrier-specific. Bell lists Galaxy S6 and newer, while some partner-network lists start later. |
| Galaxy S10 and newer | Broadly represented on current Canadian lists. Imported variants still need confirmation. |
| Galaxy Note 4 and older | High risk. These commonly rely on older voice-network arrangements. |
| Galaxy Note 5 through Note 9 | Carrier-specific and should be checked individually. |
| Galaxy Note10 and Note20 | Broadly listed when using supported regional models and software. |
| Galaxy A and J series | Check the exact model. Compatibility varies widely within each family. |
| Galaxy Z Flip and Z Fold | Generally supported when the exact model and software are approved. |
Find the complete model number under Settings > About phone. A Canadian Galaxy S9 can behave differently from a U.S. or international S9.
On older Galaxy devices, open Settings > Connections > Mobile networks, select a mode that includes LTE or 5G and turn on VoLTE calls if shown. Newer Samsung software enables it automatically.
Pixel and other Android phones
Pixel 1 and Pixel 2 models should be treated as high risk. Pixel 3 and newer appear on Videotron's current cross-network list, while SaskTel explicitly lists Pixel 6 and newer. Bell and TELUS customers should use the carrier's IMEI checker.
Recent Motorola phones sold by Canadian carriers are often supported, but older Moto G, Moto E and Moto Z models vary. LG devices need closer attention because many no longer receive updates. Selected Huawei models appear on some lists but not others.
OnePlus, Xiaomi, Oppo, Vivo, ASUS, Sony and other imported models may include VoLTE hardware without a Canadian carrier profile. Seeing a VoLTE toggle does not confirm that the phone can register for voice service.
For an imported Android phone:
- obtain the full model number
- check the carrier's current list
- use an official IMEI checker
- confirm Canadian LTE bands and VoLTE
- test a call with Wi-Fi off
- ask whether partner-network and VoLTE roaming are supported
On a Pixel or similar Android phone, VoLTE settings may appear under Settings > Network & internet > SIMs. Choose an LTE or 5G network and enable VoLTE or 4G Calling if available.
Flip phones and basic phones
A flip phone is not automatically a 3G device. Newer basic phones can support LTE and VoLTE, while older models are often 2G- or 3G-only.
Current carrier lists include selected TCL, Sonim and ZTE flip phones. An older device with a web browser or even a 4G label may still lack usable VoLTE.
People who prefer a basic phone do not need to move to a smartphone. They do need a model that the carrier confirms for VoLTE and a compatible SIM.
How to test for VoLTE
This test identifies many phones that still fall back to 3G:
- Turn off Wi-Fi.
- Confirm that the phone shows LTE, 4G LTE, 4G+, 5G or 5G+.
- Place an ordinary voice call.
- Watch the network indicator during the call.
If the phone stays on LTE or 5G, VoLTE is probably active. If it changes to 3G, H or H+, the call is using the network being retired.
The test is not a complete guarantee. Some phones hide the indicator, and a call on the carrier's home network does not prove partner-network compatibility.
Videotron customers can dial #TEST or #8378 at home on the Videotron network. Other carriers provide an IMEI checker or account notice.
Find an IMEI by dialling *#06#, under Settings > General > About on iPhone, or under Settings > About phone on Android. Share it only through an official carrier tool or support channel.
SIM cards and account settings
Replacing the phone is not always necessary. Bell and SaskTel warn that an old 3G SIM can prevent a compatible phone from working correctly.
Contact the carrier if:
- the phone appears on its list but received a shutdown notice
- LTE data works but calls fall back to 3G
- the VoLTE setting is missing
- the SIM was issued many years ago
- the phone came from another carrier or country
- VoLTE works at home but not while roaming
Ask the carrier to confirm that VoLTE is active on the account and that the IMEI is recognized. A SIM replacement may be free.
What can stop working?
A 3G-only phone can lose calls, SMS and MMS, data, voicemail access and 911 calling.
An LTE phone without VoLTE may keep data and sometimes messaging while losing calls. TELUS states that LTE-compatible business devices without VoLTE can retain data and text but cannot make calls after shutdown.
Do not keep an incompatible phone as an emergency device. If it cannot register for supported voice service, it may not be able to call 911.
The transition can also affect cellular equipment such as:
- wireless home-phone terminals
- monitored alarms and medical-alert devices
- vehicle emergency systems
- elevator phones and intercoms
- payment terminals
- GPS trackers, hotspots and older smartwatches
- industrial sensors and remote meters
Contact the company responsible for the equipment. Data-only hardware does not require VoLTE, but it still needs LTE or 5G connectivity.
What to do before March 2027
- Identify the network behind the wireless brand.
- Find the exact model number and IMEI.
- Use the carrier's compatibility checker.
- Update the operating system and carrier settings.
- Select LTE or 5G and enable VoLTE if shown.
- Test a call with Wi-Fi disabled.
- Replace an old SIM if recommended.
- Check imported phones and connected equipment separately.
- Replace unsupported equipment before the carrier deadline.
You do not need a 5G phone. A supported LTE phone with working VoLTE can continue calling after 3G closes.
Quick answer
Phones most likely to lose calling include 3G-only devices, early LTE phones without VoLTE, old flip phones, imported Android models without Canadian carrier support and compatible phones using an old SIM or incorrect settings.
iPhone 5s and older models are high risk. The iPhone 6 generation is carrier-specific, while iPhone 6s and later models are more broadly supported. Galaxy S5 and older phones are high risk; Galaxy S6 through S9 and older Note or A-series models need carrier verification.
Bell and TELUS plan to retire national 3G service on March 1, 2027. SaskTel follows on October 1, 2027. If a test call drops from LTE to 3G or H+, contact the carrier before the shutdown.
Sources:
- Bell: 3G/HSPA network discontinuation
- TELUS: Canadian 3G network shutdown
- TELUS Business: 3G network national shutdown
- SaskTel: 3G shutdown on October 1, 2027
- SaskTel: VoLTE-compatible devices
- Videotron: 3G phase-out in Canada
- Videotron: VoLTE-compatible devices
- Rogers: Check 4G and 5G compatibility
- Feature image: TELUS 3G shutdown support page