Hotspot Internet Access

Hotspot Wireless Internet Access allows users to connect to the Internet from various public locations. It is a collaboration by Canada’s 4 (really 3, Rogers bought Fido) mobile providers. Accessing the system requires a mobile phone with one of the carriers for billing purposes.

Bell, Telus and Fido (Rogers) offer an hourly rate, Bell $7.50, Telus $10, and Fido at $8. Rogers offers $0.15/minute which works out to $9 for an hour. For greater usage, Bell, Telus and Fido offer daily/24 hour rates of $13, $15 and $15 respectively. Rogers continues at $0.15/minute, for $216.

Now in their defense Rogers does offer a $4/month subscription, for 90 minutes, and $0.10/minute after. But, this is a very weak defense, it doesn’t take long for Rogers to become more expensive than Bell, Telus and themselves (Fido).

Rogers also offers monthly subscription for $24/month which nets the user 600 minutes and a per minute rate of $0.10. However both Bell and Telus offer an unlimited month for $25 subscription.

Telus and Fido both go a step further and offer a pay per use week of $25, and a month for $40. Neither of these requiring a monthly subscription.

One key point to remember here, other than the billing system, the 3 (4) providers are using the same infrastructure, with the same costs.

Hotspot Rates:

• Rogers
• Fido
• Bell
• Telus