Bell is continually investing in our wireless networks and spectrum to provide our customers with the best experience and meet their growing demands and evolving communications needs. To enhance the overall performance of our networks for all customers, in certain circumstances we may optimize the use of network resources through network slicing, prioritization, and defining and managing attributes such as speeds and latency. Some of these Internet traffic management practices (ITMP) are described below.
Video Optimization
What is Video Optimization?
Video Optimization is a technology used by wireless carriers in Canada and around the world to manage the amount of bandwidth consumed by streaming video.
What traffic and customers does Video Optimization apply to?
Our Video Optimization technology may apply to any adaptive streaming video that is accessed on your Bell Mobility smartphone over a wireless network. Video Optimization does not apply to video on your device, videos you download, or video you stream when connected to a Wi-Fi network.
What is the impact of Video Optimization?
Video Optimization adjusts your connection to adaptive streaming video in order to limit the maximum resolution at which it is delivered. Due to the screen size of smartphones, the difference in resolution will be imperceptible or immaterial to you. When Video Optimization is applied, you use less data, which can allow you to use more of the data allotment in your plan for other activities. Video Optimization can also reduce congestion on our network, which benefits all customers.
Mobile Broadband for First Responders
What is Mobile Broadband for First Responders?
Mobile Broadband for First Responders (MBFR) addresses the needs of emergency first responders, public safety officials and critical infrastructure personnel using our LTE network. MBFR provides these customers with priority access to the LTE network during rare periods where demand for LTE network resources exceeds expected peak capacity (MBFR Events).
When might MBFR Events occur?
MBFR Events are rare. Some examples include natural disasters, threats to public safety or widespread power outages. They occur when demand for LTE network resources exceeds expected peak capacity. This could be a result of demand exceeding engineered thresholds for (i) the actual physical network resources of the cell site and/or (ii) the processing capacity at one or more cell sites.
What are the MBFR impacts?
During a MBFR Event, non-MBFR users may experience negligibly slower speeds and slightly delayed response times when using certain data services, such as browsing and watching videos. In rare cases, data services and/or voice calls may need to be re-initiated. 9-1-1 service is never affected.
Mobile Internet plans
Will Internet traffic from Turbo Hubs, Turbo Sticks and MiFi be managed during COVID-19?
Yes. From time to time, we may need to manage network traffic to maximize equitable access for all our customers, including those who subscribe to one of our Mobile Internet services. One way this may be done is to reduce the speed available to individual customers once their data usage exceeds the amount they have subscribed for, as well as any additional data usage Bell has provided free of charge during this situation. Speeds will be reduced to a maximum of 2 megabits per second (Mbps) for the duration of their current billing cycle. Additional usage charges continue to apply.
To what type of traffic does this ITMP apply?
This applies only to Mobile Internet plan traffic. If implemented, it will impact any and all usage by the affected Mobile Internet customers that exceeds the specified amount of data in their Mobile Internet plans until their next billing cycle.
Which customers are impacted?
All Bell customers who subscribe to a Mobile Internet plan may have their data speeds reduced once they have exceeded the monthly data allotted in their Mobile Internet plan.
What is the impact on data speeds?
Data speeds are reduced from the maximum speed available on the network to speeds of up to 2 Mbps, suitable for light web browsing, email, messaging apps and some video. Applications that require higher speeds (such as higher quality videos) will be affected by the data speed reduction.
Unlimited Data plans
How do Bell Unlimited Data plans work?
Our Unlimited Data plans allow customers to use a specified amount of data (with plans starting at 10 GB) at the maximum data speeds available on our network. Once the allotted maximum amount of data is used within a billing cycle, customers can continue to use data at speeds reduced to a maximum of 512 kilobits per second (Kbps) without incurring data overage charges. The reduced speed will last until the end of the billing cycle, following which the customer will once again have access to maximum data speeds.
Which customers are impacted?All Bell customers who subscribe to Bell Unlimited Data plans will have their data speeds reduced once they have used the monthly data allotted for access at maximum speeds.
What is the impact on data speeds?
Data speeds are reduced from the maximum speed available on our network to speeds of up to 512 Kbps, suitable for light web browsing, email and messaging. Applications that require higher speeds (such as video streaming) will be affected by the data speed reduction.
Roam Better - with home data: reduced data speeds above 1GB
How are Roam Better - with home data customers impacted by reduced data speeds above 1GB?Bell Mobility customers who subscribe to the Roam Better - with home data feature will have their data speeds reduced once they have reached 1GB of data usage per day when roaming in a Roam Better destination. Data speeds reset at 12:00 AM (ET) daily.
What is the impact on data speeds when roaming?
Data speeds are reduced from maximum download speeds to speeds of up to 512 kilobits per second (Kbps). Roam Better - with home data users should still be able to access email, light web browsing and messaging. Applications that require higher speeds (such as video streaming) may be affected by the data speed reduction.
What if I have the Roam Better - with home data feature and a Bell Unlimited Data plan?
If you have the Roam Better – with home data feature and either a Canada Unlimited Data plan, or a Canada/U.S. Unlimited Data plan, your data usage while roaming in a Roam Better – with home data destination will not count towards your maximum speed allotment within Canada, or within Canada and the U.S. for Canada/U.S. Unlimited Data plans customers. Data speeds will still be reduced after 1GB per day while roaming in all Roam Better – with home data destinations, except in the case of the U.S. if you also have a Canada/U.S. Unlimited Data plan.