We have been getting a whole lot of questions from you and we want to try to address as many as we can. Below is a list of FAQs that we have gathered over the last little while, along with our answers. We love hearing from all of you and really appreciate your interest in unlimited talk with Public Mobile.
Q: Will your plan include long distance coverage?
A: Yes, we’ll certainly have options available around long distance– whether it is Canada, US or internationally. As we get closer to launch we’ll be sure to communicate the full details of our offer. Right now, we aren`t publicly discussing this information.
Q: Does $40/month include voicemail and call display?
A: We`re thinking of all types of options, including voicemail and call display. However, right now, we aren`t publicly discussing these plans. As we get closer to launch we’ll be sure to communicate the full details of our offer.
Q: Will you have roaming capabilities/US/over seas?
A: Public Mobile’s offer will be $40 flat rate unlimited talk and text. Initially we will not offer roaming but that may be added over time.
Q: I’m looking for a simple data plan along with talk & text.
A: While we are building our network to accommodate data transmission, our initial offer at launch will be an unlimited talk and text plan.
Q: Will you offer more rate plans in the future?
A: At launch, we’ll have our $40 unlimited talk and text plan, and we’re currently looking at more plans to follow.
Q: Definitely no contracts?
A: Definitely no contracts, no credit checks and no surprises.
Q: What will be your primary distribution method?
A: You’ll be able to purchase Public Mobile phones and service through corporate and dealer stores.
Q: Where and when can I purchase this service?
A: As we get closer to launch we’ll be sure to let you know where you can purchase Public Mobile phones and plans.
Q: Will I be able to bring a phone, or will I have to purchase a Public Mobile phone?
A: No, you will not be able to use an old CDMA phone on the Public Mobile network.
Q: Will the Public Mobile phones support other commercially available blocks of spectrum?
A: Our phones are also capable of supporting commercially available PCS (Personal Communications Service) blocks of spectrum, so if you ever need to make a 911 call outside the Public Mobile network footprint, the phone will still place the call.
Q: What regions do your licences cover?
A: Our licence covers southern Ontario and Quebec from Windsor to Quebec City – an area with 19 million Canadians.
Q: Will there be service in places other than Montreal and Toronto?
A: Our initial launch will take place in Montreal and Toronto, with plans for coverage from Quebec City to Windsor in the coming years.
Q: What phone models will you have at launch?
A: We currently have the ZTE C78 up on our website as a phone we’ll offer at launch. We’ll also offer a selection of phones from various manufacturers that we have yet to disclose.
Q: What is G – block spectrum anyway?
A: The spectrum that Public Mobile acquired in the 2008 Spectrum auction conducted by Industry Canada was known as G-Block. The letter is just a way of designating that particular block, and is no different than the A, B, C, D, E or F blocks that were also part of the auction
Q: Why did you go with CDMA technology?
A: GSM and CDMA describe the network technologies that mobile phones work on. Both have proponents that say one is superior to the other. In the case of Public Mobile, we’ll be building our network on CDMA technology because the network is able to handle a greater capacity
Q: Is G band going to work as well as GSM or CDMA?
A: Band (or G-Block) describes a block of spectrum that was auctioned by Industry Canada in 2008, with no difference between G-Band and A, B, C, D, E or F Bands that were also auctioned off. GSM and CDMA describe the network technologies that mobile phones work on. Both have proponents that say one is superior to the other. In the case of Public Mobile, we’ll be building our network on CDMA technology.
Montreal Network Update
By david | Posted June 26th, 2010
Thanks for all your feedback. We are reading all the comments, and trying to respond to you each via email. We are turning on new sites every day. We’ll post updates from our network team later this afternoon on the action plan for the next few days to improve our network. We apologize for the inconvenience and thank you for your patience.
**UPDATE – 10/06/26 at 6PM**
After speaking with the network team we can provide you with the following update. We currently have sites up and broadcasting across Montreal, and we will be adding more over the next three weeks to solidify and expand our coverage.
The following areas we’ll be adding sites in the next week – Côte-des-Neiges, Verdun, Papineau, and LaSalle to solidify the coverage of our network. We’ll also have a repair to one of our sites completed Monday which will also add to our coverage.
We appreciate your patience as we build our network and we’ll keep you updated as we add sites. Please keep sending us your comments, and we’ll keep working to improve.