If you want to move to a new carrier in Canada, you may be wondering – Does Freedom Mobile work in Montreal?
The concern about Freedom Mobile coverage is valid. Freedom Mobile is the only nationwide carrier in Canada that does not offer nationwide coverage.
The system that this network uses is quite complex and that is why you must first understand it.
Freedom Mobile works in Montreal but is roaming. Now, this is quite different from roaming abroad. When roaming within Canada, you are exposed to relatively affordable service rates compared to roaming abroad. What Freedom Mobile uses are partner networks in Montreal.
Given that Freedom Mobile is the fourth largest carrier, it means that there is something they are doing right.
Keep on reading to find out how the carrier is used in Montreal.
Does Freedom Mobile Work in Montreal with Roaming
Besides the three largest carriers, there is no other carrier that covers almost the entire country. This explains why Freedom Mobile is a unique carrier.
If you were to compare Freedom Mobile to the other three carriers in coverage, it would not stand up.
Even so, it still manages to compete.
In Montreal, Freedom Mobile does not have coverage. This is unique considering that the provider is mostly focused on major cities. However, you can still use Freedom Mobile in Montreal on partner networks.
Essentially, you will not experience any difference using Freedom Mobile in Montreal from any other city. The difference lies in your packages.
Features of Freedom Mobile in Montreal
You will only enjoy Freedom Mobile to its maximum if you are in its strong zones.
Montreal is one of the major cities in Canada where you won’t find Freedom Mobile coverage. However, you will still enjoy Freedom Mobile services.
Key Features
- Access to full-speed data on your nationwide plan.
- Access to calls and messages across Canada on a Nationwide plan.
- Access to unlimited incoming calls on any plan
- Access to unlimited incoming messages on any plan
- Access to 2G, 3G, 4G and LTE coverages across Montreal with a few exceptions.
It is important to remember that, all the above features depend on the region of Montreal you may be visiting.
In most regions, coverage is strong on the Freedom partner networks.
How to Operate Freedom Mobile in Montreal?
The main question is does Freedom Mobile have coverage in Montreal? The answer is no, you will not find Freedom Mobile coverage in Montreal.
However, you will still have access to the network. While you will be roaming in Montreal, you are technically just operating on a sister network rather than roaming.
To enjoy this service, you must first get a nationwide plan. To activate a nationwide plan, visit the Freedom Mobile Add-ons page and buy a bundle.
What Are the Extra Charges to Roam in Montreal?
Roaming tends to attract extra charges in most cases. However, the type of roaming you do on Freedom Mobile is not that expensive.
You must also consider that Freedom Mobile packages are already way cheaper than the big three. Even if you have to undergo a little extra charge, there is no reason to complain.
The extra charges you may encounter mostly depend on the nationwide network you will switch to.
Below are your extra charge rates when roaming on Freedom Mobile.
- 15¢/min Canada and US Calling
- 5¢/Text to Canada and US
- 5¢/Text Global Texting
- 5¢/MB Data
How to Activate Roaming
Roaming Add-Ons are an important feature that can be used by Freedom Mobile users. These features help to cut your expenses whenever you are out of range.
With that said, there are some locations in Canada where you may want to activate roaming.
The Ready to Go South roaming add-on helps ensure that you do not undergo extra charges when you are not in coverage.
The main roaming add-ons for Freedom Mobile are:
- USA roaming- dial *134# to activate
- Ready to Go Roaming- dial *123# to activate
- World Traveller Roaming- dial *233# to activate
The World Traveller roaming option is the most expensive. This is an outside-Canada option and could be quite costly.
International Calling While Roaming in Montreal
If you are roaming in Montreal, you may have to make an international call. The Freedom Network accounts for international calling by reducing its calling rates.
If you are on the World Traveller add-on, you will be charged the World Traveller rate. Which is actually cheaper than the standard roaming charges for other providers.
The World Traveller rates will however only apply to calls from Canada or within Canada and the country you are in.
If you choose to call outside the territory of your residence, you have to pay normal international calling rates.
How roaming in Montreal is different from international roaming:
- You will enjoy international calling for as low as 1¢/min to more than 2000 countries.
- You have access to global texting
- You can make calls directly from your Freedom phone
- You can call any number both local and international including landlines
- You will not require a PIN to make calls
- There is no need for a calling card
- You will not need data to make international calls
- You do not have to get into a long-term commitment
Note: If you are buying Freedom plans, the roaming features mentioned above are not available on the Close to Home 25 plan.
You must be on the Close to Home 40 Plan or Big Gig+ to add on roaming plans.
Does Freedom Mobile Offer Discounts for Roaming Plans?
Freedom Mobile does not offer discounts for roaming plans but offers add-ons.
Now, the network recognizes that their customers may need to turn on roaming in many locations even within Canada. One such location is Montreal.
To cover up for this deficiency, Freedom Mobile offers you a chance to add roaming data to your normal plan.
With these add-ons, you are free to operate Freedom Mobile anywhere within Canada. The roaming add-ons come at a small fee.
If you are on a $ 45-monthly package, you may only add $5 a month to include nationwide roaming.
This makes it easy for an individual to operate on Freedom Mobile.
Why Use Freedom Mobile Network in Montreal
There are many reasons why people use Freedom Mobile. While it is the fourth largest carrier, Freedom Mobile shrinks when compared to the other nationwide carriers.
For instance, all the other three have more than 20% coverage of Canada by land and up to 100% coverage by population.
Freedom Mobile on its end, only commands 0.66% coverage by land. However, it covers up to 30% of the population.
This is because more than a third of Canada’s population is in major cities.
Even with all the disparities, Freedom Mobile still ranks among the best carriers in terms of customer satisfaction. As a matter of fact, it beats the big three in customer satisfaction.
Reasons, why Freedom Mobile stands out:
- It offers the cheapest plans; almost double the data provided by its competitors at half the price.
- It has fairly good coverage in major cities
- Reliable customer service
- Offers the best roaming rates across Canada
Note: While Freedom Mobile has many good features, it is not a good fit for permanent Montreal residents.
It is much better to opt for a local carrier that has full coverage in your city for convenience.
Summary
This post fully answers the question; does Freedom Mobile work in Montreal?
If you are considering getting a Freedom Mobile SIM card in Montreal, you have the good and the bad.
For one-time Montreal visitors, there is no need to worry. You will still be able to enjoy Freedom Mobile services.
Read Next: Is Freedom Mobile Good?
Finn Wheatley holds a Master’s Degree in Computer Science from UCL, London. He helped small data science consultancy firms, helping large corporations to grow their data capabilities, deploy advanced machine learning-based analytics and troubleshoot tech-related issues. Check out more about him here.