Canadians will be able to flag cellphone dead zones that carrier coverage maps say don’t exist
The CRTC is changing how mobile coverage will be reported in Canada.
Today, carrier coverage maps are largely based on each provider’s own predictive models. The new national standard is intended to make those maps more consistent and closer to what Canadians actually experience.
One of the biggest changes: Canadians will be able to flag locations where reported coverage doesn’t match the signal they actually get.
The CRTC launched the process after acknowledging a major disconnect: official data says 99.5% of Canadians have access to mobile service, while users continue to report dead zones across the country.
The new reporting system is expected to begin being integrated into the CRTC’s Annual Facilities Survey in 2027.
Want to compare networks where you live right now? PlanHub’s Coverage Map lets you explore mobile coverage and nearby infrastructure across Canadian carriers:
https://www.planhub.ca/planhub/coverage-map
Sources:
https://crtc.gc.ca/eng/archive/2026/2026-9.htm
https://crtc.gc.ca/eng/publications/reports/farrpoint2025.htm
https://publisherpt.substack.com/p/crtc-moves-to-make-cellphone-coverage