Rogers Just Cut $1 Billion in Network Investment. Canadians Switching Plans Are the Reason.
April 22, 2026 · Cellulo Team
Rogers reported its Q1 2026 earnings on April 22 and buried in the numbers was a statement that reframes the entire Canadian wireless pricing conversation: the company is cutting capital expenditures by 30 per cent, cancelling projects entirely, and delaying others into 2028 and beyond.
"We don't see the economics in building in certain areas as a result of the dynamics that have been placed on us," said Rogers CEO Tony Staffieri.
Translation: Canadian plans got too cheap, and Rogers is no longer willing to invest at the same rate.
This is not abstract. It is a direct consequence of Canadians switching plans -- and the carrier most responsible for forcing prices down is Freedom Mobile.
How We Got Here
In 2023, Quebecor acquired Freedom Mobile as a condition of the Rogers-Shaw merger. The CRTC required a true fourth national carrier to increase competition. It worked. Freedom expanded to new provinces, undercut Big 3 pricing, and triggered a cascading price war that saw plans drop to levels that spooked Bay Street analysts enough to trigger a TD Securities downgrade in April 2026.
Rogers' monthly churn hit 1.22 per cent in Q1 -- up from 1.01 per cent a year earlier. Canadians are switching at a rate Rogers has not seen in years. The company's wireless ARPU dropped from $56.94 to $55.60. Each customer is worth less than they were twelve months ago.
The CFO said the capex reduction is "not a one and done" -- Rogers expects to invest at this lower level for the foreseeable future.
Koodo, notably, raised its 60GB Canada-only plan from $40 to $45 today -- the same day Rogers announced the damage. Pricing discipline is already returning.
Freedom Mobile Plans -- April 22, 2026
Here is what Freedom is offering today. These are the plans that moved the market.
| Plan | Price | Data | Roaming | Global Destinations |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total Freedom 25GB | $35/mo | 25GB | CAN-US-MEX | 120+ countries, 1GB |
| Total Freedom 100GB | $40/mo | 100GB | CAN-US-MEX | 120+ countries, 5GB |
| Total Freedom 175GB | $45/mo | 175GB | CAN-US-MEX | 120+ countries, 10GB |
| Total Freedom 200GB | $70/mo | 200GB | CAN-US-MEX | 120+ countries, 30GB |
| Total Freedom 250GB | $80/mo | 250GB | CAN-US-MEX | 120+ countries, 50GB |
Freedom prices are flat -- no autopay discount required.
Every Freedom plan includes Canada-US-Mexico roaming permanently, unlimited talk and text in 120+ global destinations, and data roaming in those same destinations. At $40/mo for 100GB with permanent North American roaming, Freedom has no direct equivalent among the flanker brands.
Freedom vs Flanker Brands -- Head to Head
| Price | Freedom | Koodo | Fido | Virgin Plus |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $35/mo | 25GB CAN-US-MEX | -- | -- | -- |
| $39/mo | -- | -- | 20GB Canada | 20GB Canada |
| $40/mo | 100GB CAN-US-MEX | 20GB Canada | -- | -- |
| $44/mo | -- | -- | 60GB Canada | 60GB Canada |
| $45/mo | 175GB CAN-US-MEX | 60GB Canada | -- | -- |
| $49/mo | -- | -- | 60GB, roaming 12mo | 80GB CAN-US-MEX permanent |
| $50/mo | -- | 80GB CAN-US-MEX permanent | -- | -- |
Prices displayed may reflect autopay discount.
The comparison at $40/mo is the most striking: Freedom gives you 100GB with permanent CAN-US-MEX roaming and 5GB in 120+ global destinations. Koodo gives you 20GB Canada-only. At $45/mo, Freedom gives you 175GB CAN-US-MEX. Koodo gives you 60GB Canada-only.
For pure data value with North American roaming, Freedom wins at every comparable tier.
The Catch: Coverage
Freedom runs on its own network in major urban centres -- Toronto, Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton, Ottawa, and a growing number of cities. Outside those areas, Freedom roams on partner networks, which may result in reduced speeds or additional charges depending on your plan.
If you live and work primarily in a major Canadian city, Freedom's coverage is a non-issue for most day-to-day usage. If you regularly travel to rural areas, smaller towns, or drive long highway stretches, the coverage gap matters. Check Freedom's coverage map for your specific area before switching.
Koodo, Fido, and Virgin Plus run on Telus, Rogers, and Bell networks respectively -- the most extensive networks in Canada. For rural coverage or frequent highway driving, the flanker brands have the edge.
What the Capex Cut Means for Canadians
Rogers cutting $1 billion in network investment is not good news for long-term network quality. Fewer towers built, fewer upgrades completed, slower rollout of next-generation infrastructure. The CFO was explicit -- this is not a one-year adjustment, it is a structural reset.
The uncomfortable reality: the lower prices that benefit Canadians today are the same prices that are reducing carrier investment in the networks Canadians use tomorrow. Freedom forced the competition that lowered bills. That same competition is now causing the Big 3 to pull back on the infrastructure that makes those networks work.
This is not a reason to avoid switching. Carrier networks will not degrade overnight, and competition remains the most effective consumer protection. But it is a reason to pay attention to network quality in your area -- and to compare not just on price, but on coverage.
The Takeaway
Freedom Mobile is the best value in Canadian wireless for urban Canadians who travel within North America. 100GB CAN-US-MEX for $40/mo with no autopay requirement is not matched by any flanker brand at the same price point.
For Canadians in rural areas or smaller cities, Koodo, Virgin Plus, or Fido on the Big 3 networks remain the more reliable choice -- even at higher prices.
And for anyone still on a legacy Rogers, Bell, or Telus plan paying $70-100/mo for plans that have been superseded by everything above -- the capex cut announcement is a good reminder that carriers are not losing sleep over customers who do not compare.
Compare all current BYOD plans including Freedom Mobile at cellulo.ca.