Internet Traffic Management Practices (ITMP)

Bell is continually investing in our networks to keep up with the growing demands of our customers’ communications needs in order to provide the best experience possible. In certain circumstances, Bell may need to manage speeds or other aspects of our networks. These ITMP notices describes such measures.

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 whose subscribe to one of our Mobile Internet services. One way this may be done is to reduce the speed available to individual users 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.

What happens if I have an Unlimited Data plan and I subscribe to the travel feature Roam Better - with home data?
Please refer to "Roam Better - with home data: reduced data speeds above 500 MB", below.

Roam Better - with home data: reduced data speeds above 500 MB

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 500 MB 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.

What is the Internet Traffic Management Practice (ITMP) for Wireless Home Internet and when will it occur?

Wireless Home Internet customers who subscribe to an unlimited usage package will not be impacted by the ITMP until they exhaust the maximum-speed usage in their plan. Once customers use up their maximum-speed usage allotment for the month, download and upload speeds will be reduced by 60% until the start of the next billing period. No additional usage fees apply.

For example:

• Customers on Wireless Home Internet 25 who use up the 350 GB maximum-speed usage in their plan will see speeds reduce from 25 Mbps download/5 Mbps upload to 10 Mbps download/2 Mbps upload for the rest of the billing period.

Why are we implementing this ITMP? 

Traffic management is necessary to deliver a consistent and reliable online experience for all users, and to preserve network integrity.

Who is impacted by the Wireless Home Internet ITMP?

Wireless Home Internet customers who subscribe to a plan that includes a limited amount of usage are not subject to this ITMP. This ITMP only applies to customers who subscribe to a Wireless Home Internet unlimited package with no extra usage fees.

What type of traffic is subject to the ITMP? 

For customers subscribed to a Wireless Home Internet unlimited package with no extra usage fees, all Internet traffic is subject to this ITMP. Upload and download activity both contribute to the total amount of usage.

How will this ITMP impact my experience?

When Wireless Home Internet unlimited customers are impacted by this ITMP and their Internet speed is reduced, it will take longer to download files, and they may experience reduced video quality while streaming with multiple active users on the home network.

Will I be charged for any usage above the maximum-speed usage threshold? 

No, customers subscribed to a Wireless Home Internet unlimited package who exceed their maximum-speed usage during a billing period will not incur overage fees.

ITMP for wireline Internet

There are currently no active Internet Traffic Management Practices (ITMP) that slow down Internet traffic on Bell retail wireline Internet services. Bell has a long history of building state-of-the-art networks where investment in network capacity, tools and engineering resources help to manage network capacity and congestion.