Canadians first gained access to 5G in 2020, and since then, the rollout of the fifth-generation wireless mobile network has not been as fast as many people would have initially hoped.
However, although there are still huge differences in 5G coverage across the three Canadian territories and ten provinces, things are improving.
For example, 5G-ready device users don’t have anywhere near as good 5G coverage as people living in more populated urban areas, which was always to be expected, but it won’t be long before the harder-to-reach areas have 5G coverage.
Let’s dive straight in and take a closer look at the current state of 5G in Canada.
What has the 5G rollout been like so far in Canada?
Canada has four major 5G service providers: Bell Mobility, TELUS Mobility, Rogers Wireless, and Videotron. Others have also begun to roll out 5G, including Fido 5G, Virgin Mobile 5G, and Koodo.
The MTS, SaskTel, Freedom Mobile and EastLink service providers also enable 5G-ready mobile users to connect to the 5G network. However, they all use the same 4G LTE networks that Rogers Wireless, TELUS, and Bell provide.
The regions in Canada with the best 5G coverage today are Ottawa (the nation’s capital and second-biggest city) and Toronto (the largest city in the province of Ontario). 5G coverage is also now available in many other places, including Brampton, Hamilton, Mississauga, and various other small and large cities.
I have a 5G-ready smartphone and want to play today’s best games; which titles benefit most from the superfast 5G network?
Any triple-A, graphically demanding video game or cutting-edge live dealer online casino game looks really good on a 5G-enabled smartphone.
However, before you play games like Red Dead Redemption 2 from Rockstar Games, MONOPOLY Live from Evolution Gaming, Cyberpunk 2077 from CD Projekt Red, or Live Snakes & Ladders from Pragmatic Play, make sure you are of legal age to play these games in your province because most are age-restricted games.
For example, to play certain video games with a PEGI-18 age rating, you must be at least 18, and to play licensed casino games, including live dealer games, slots, video poker, table & card games, and any other games, in most Canadian provinces, you must be at least 19.
I want to get a 5G-ready smartphone; what should I go for?
Some of the best 5G-ready smartphones that money can buy right now are the following tried and tested mobile devices from various leading smartphone manufacturers. They include:
- Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra 5G
- Apple iPhone 14 Pro
- Apple iPhone 15
- Motorola Razr+
- Google Pixel 7a
- Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5
Others include the OnePlus Nord N20 5G, the Asus ZenFone 9, the OnePlus 10T, and the Motorola One Ace 5G, to name just a few trusted 5G-ready smartphones.
Final note
Regarding the rollout of 5G, Canada remains one of the leading countries with the best coverage. Vancouver, Toronto, Ottawa, and Montreal have the best coverage, and the connection speeds around the country will also continue as 5G continues to be rolled out in even more remote areas.
Not only will 5G improve every Canadian’s entertainment needs, but the higher capacity, low-latency network will also bring with it many other benefits for various other important sectors, including Education, Transport, Manufacturing, Agriculture, and Health.
It will also help with autonomous cars, remote surgery, smart cities, and more. 5G will soon become the standard wireless network across the globe, not just in Canada, and it will hopefully lead to a more sustainable, smarter, and safer future for everyone.