Rogers Just Announced 5G+ Speeds Up to 2Gbps. Read the Fine Print Before You Switch.
April 21, 2026 · Cellulo Team
Rogers announced 5G+ today, bringing speeds up to 2Gbps to its postpaid lineup. Bell and Telus have been there for a while. The speed upgrade is real -- but the more important story is what Rogers is doing with roaming on its mid-tier plans, and whether any of these Big 3 prices actually make sense compared to what is available right now.
Rogers 5G+ Plans -- April 21, 2026
| Plan | Price | Data | Roaming | Notable |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5G+ Lite | $60/mo | 60GB | None | StreamSaver bundle |
| 5G+ Essentials | $65/mo | 100GB | US & Mexico -- 12 months only | StreamSaver bundle |
| 5G+ Popular | $80/mo | Unlimited | US, Mexico & Caribbean -- 24 months | Uber One 12mo, StreamSaver |
| Ultimate 5-YR | $95/mo | Unlimited | Canada + 64 destinations | 5-year price lock, priority network |
All prices reflect autopay discount of $5/mo.
The headline feature is 5G+ speeds up to 2Gbps -- a genuine upgrade over standard 5G. In practice, 2Gbps is the ceiling and real-world speeds depend heavily on location, network congestion, and your device. If you are in a major urban centre with a recent flagship phone, you will notice the difference. If you are in a suburb or smaller city, less so.
The Roaming Fine Print
Rogers is advertising US and Mexico roaming as a key selling point on the Essentials plan at $65/mo. What the headline does not say: that roaming inclusion expires after 12 months. After a year, you are paying $65/mo for 100GB Canada-only -- and roaming reverts to up to $18/day.
The Popular plan at $80/mo includes US, Mexico, and Caribbean roaming for 24 months. Same problem -- it is a promotional inclusion, not a permanent feature. When the clock runs out, you are on $18/day unless you negotiate a new plan.
This is not unique to Rogers. Carriers have been bundling temporary roaming inclusions into plans for years as an acquisition tactic. The risk for consumers is signing up for a plan because of the roaming feature and forgetting it expires.
Bell Plans -- April 21, 2026
| Plan | Price | Data | Roaming | Notable |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lite | $55/mo | 80GB | None | Perplexity Pro 12mo free |
| Select | $60/mo | 100GB | None | Perplexity Pro 12mo free |
| Max | $65/mo | 175GB | Canada, US & Mexico -- permanent | Crave Standard With Ads |
| Ultra | $85/mo | 250GB | Canada + 65 countries -- permanent | Free tablet or watch plan |
All prices reflect autopay discount
Bell's Max at $65/mo is the most directly comparable to Rogers Essentials at the same price. Bell gives you 175GB vs Rogers' 100GB, permanent CAN-US-MEX roaming vs Rogers' 12-month expiry, HD video streaming vs SD, and international LD to 27 countries. At identical price points Bell's Max is the stronger plan -- more data, permanent roaming, and better streaming quality.
Telus Plans -- April 21, 2026
| Plan | Price | Data | Roaming | Notable |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5G Standard | $50/mo | 80GB | None (Easy Roam $16-18/day) | -- |
| 5G+ Select | $60/mo | 100GB | None (Easy Roam $16-18/day) | -- |
| 5G+ Select CAN-US-MEX | $65/mo | 175GB | Canada, US & Mexico -- permanent | -- |
| 5G+ Complete Explore | $85/mo | 250GB | Canada + 68 destinations -- permanent | 5-year price lock |
| 5G+ Complete Unlimited | $95/mo | Unlimited | Canada-wide only | 50GB hotspot, 5-year price lock |
All prices reflect $10/mo autopay discount.
Telus at $65/mo matches Bell's Max almost exactly -- 175GB, permanent CAN-US-MEX roaming, same price. The differentiator at the premium tier is Telus' 5-year price lock on Complete plans, which is meaningful if you want rate certainty and are willing to pay $85-95/mo for it.
Head to Head at Each Price Point
| Price | Rogers | Bell | Telus |
|---|---|---|---|
| $55/mo | -- | 80GB, no roaming | -- |
| $60/mo | 60GB, no roaming | 100GB, no roaming | 100GB, no roaming |
| $65/mo | 100GB, roaming 12mo | 175GB, roaming permanent | 175GB, roaming permanent |
| $80/mo | Unlimited, roaming 24mo | -- | -- |
| $85/mo | -- | 250GB, roaming permanent | 250GB, roaming permanent, 5yr lock |
| $95/mo | Unlimited, roaming 5yr lock | -- | Unlimited, 5yr lock |
At $65/mo Bell and Telus both beat Rogers on data volume and offer permanent roaming versus Rogers' 12-month expiry. Rogers needs to be differentiated by its 5G+ speed ceiling and StreamSaver bundle -- legitimate reasons to choose Rogers, but not enough to justify weaker roaming terms at the same price.
What This Means for Canadians Currently on a Big 3 Plan
If you are on a legacy Rogers, Bell, or Telus plan from 2022 or earlier, none of these new plan prices apply to you automatically. Carriers do not call existing customers to offer better deals. You have to switch -- either to a new plan on the same carrier, or to a flanker brand.
Koodo, Fido, and Virgin Plus were (expired on Apr 20 - new pricing were updated since then) all offering 80GB CAN-US-MEX plans this weekend for $49-50/mo -- permanently, with no 12-month expiry. That is $15/mo less than Rogers Essentials for the same North American roaming coverage, and it does not disappear after a year.
The 5G+ speed announcement is real progress. The pricing tells a more complicated story. Compare all current BYOD plans -- Big 3 and flanker brands -- at cellulo.ca before you decide.