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Quebecor Adds Record Mobile Lines in Q3

The company's third-quarter mobile gains were its largest since launching mobile service in 2010, while rivals face scrutiny over new fees.

Updated on Nov. 5, 2026 in Telecommunications

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Quebecor added a record 136,700 net mobile lines in the third quarter as rivals Bell, Rogers and Telus face CRTC scrutiny over new fees. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Quebecor reported record third-quarter cellular subscriber additions of 136,700 net mobile lines for the quarter ended September 30, 2026, up from 113,800 a year earlier. The company said it did not raise prices for existing customers.

Why it matters

The gains come after the CRTC banned activation, cancellation and modification fees in June, and Bell, Rogers and Telus have introduced fees the regulator says could violate that ban. The CRTC is reviewing those fees and could impose penalties of up to $10 million.

Quebecor's third-quarter filing shows 136,700 net mobile line additions and 8,600 net internet subscriptions, down from 10,500 a year earlier, with mobile telephone services revenue of $492.2 million, up 9.6 per cent year-over-year. Freedom Mobile's 5G expansion in Alberta, British Columbia and Ontario is ongoing, though the extraction does not state its completion timeline.

The players

Quebecor

Quebec-based media and telecommunications company that operates the Videotron, Freedom and Fizz mobile brands.

Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC)

Canada's federal broadcasting and telecommunications regulator, which banned activation and cancellation fees and is reviewing rival carriers' new charges.

The details

Quebecor's Videotron, Freedom and Fizz brands contributed to the subscriber gains, with the company pointing to a pricing approach that avoids activation, cancellation and modification fees. Quebecor's net income was $302.6 million, or $1.33 per share, for the quarter.

Timeline

  1. June 2026: CRTC ban on activation, cancellation and modification fees took effect.

  2. September 30, 2026: Quebecor's third quarter ended.

  3. November 5, 2026: Quebecor reported third-quarter results and CEO comments.

The Tech Race

The CRTC's June 2026 ban on activation, cancellation and modification fees set the regulatory backdrop for the third-quarter results. Quebecor's gains contrast with Bell, Rogers and Telus, whose newly introduced fees are under CRTC review.

Customers of Bell, Rogers and Telus may face fees the CRTC is reviewing, and those charges could change if penalties are imposed. Quebecor's stated approach of not raising prices for existing customers and avoiding activation and cancellation fees is relevant to anyone comparing plans.

The takeaway

Compare mobile plans for any activation, cancellation or modification charges, since the CRTC's June ban is under enforcement review. Check whether a carrier's new fees fall within the regulator's current scrutiny before signing a contract.

Further reading

For more on the regulatory fight over wireless fees, see Telecommunications coverage.

Source note: This article includes information reported by Delta Optimist.

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