What do I need to know about coverage and rates while travelling to the U.S.?

U.S. coverage

Bell Mobility provides 5G, 4G/LTE, 3G/HSPA and GSM coverage in the U.S.

Check coverage availability.

Please note: starting in February 2022, wireless providers in the U.S. (including Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands) will begin phasing out their 3G wireless network service. Learn more about the 3G / HSPA service discontinuation.

5G roaming is available in the U.S. and in several international destinations on select 5G devices.

Frequently asked questions

Q: Where is 5G roaming coverage available?
A: 5G roaming is currently available in the U.S. and in several international destinations, with more to come. Check available coverage.

Q: What phones support 5G roaming?

More phones coming soon.

U.S. voice roaming per-minute rates

If you subscribe to a U.S. roaming rate plan or bundle:

Any calls you make or receive while in the U.S. will be subtracted from the minutes included in your plan or bundle. With your plan or bundle, you can make calls within the U.S., to Canada and to any international destination.

If you use more minutes than are included, the additional per-minute rate will depend on your plan or bundle.
Find the per-minute rates for Travel USA bundles.

If you do not subscribe to a U.S. roaming rate plan or bundle:

Any calls you make or receive while in the U.S. will be billed at a rate of $1.99 per minute (plus applicable taxes) regardless of calling destination.

If you travel to the U.S. frequently, you may want to consider a Travel USA bundle.

Note:

All charges will appear on your Bell Mobility invoice in Canadian funds.

Roaming is not available on Prepaid plans.

Text messaging charges

When you send a text message from the U.S., you'll be charged $0.99 for each message sent.* Text messages you send in the U.S. are pay-per-use and are not included in your rate plan. Text messages you receive in the U.S. are charged the same way they are when you’re in Canada (i.e., messages included in your bundle are free and messages outside your bundle are $0.20 each).

*Premium text message charges are extra.

Note: roaming is not available on Prepaid plans.

Data roaming charges

Through our trusted partners, Bell lets you use your mobile phone, smartphone, or Connection card/Turbo Stick for email and Internet in the U.S. Data usage while travelling in the U.S. is not included in your rate plan. U.S. roaming rates vary depending on your device.

** Pay-per-use data rates for roaming in the United States may vary and are subject to change without notice. Usage will be rounded to the nearest KB for every data session.

For customer support when travelling in the U.S., call *611 free from your mobile phone or 1 800 667-ROAM (7626) free from any phone.

Learn how to reduce data charges on your smartphone when travelling

Reducing roaming costs

Save on U.S. roaming by adding a travel feature to your Bell Mobility rate plan. You can sign up for as little as 30 days at a time. Just contact us before you leave.

Travel add-ons

Choose one or a combination of add-ons to suit your needs:

• U.S. Travel add-on - Calling
• U.S. Travel add-on - Data
• U.S. Travel add-on - Text

Helpful tips

• How to reduce data charges on your smartphone when travelling abroad

Making and receiving calls

Bell has agreements with trusted partners, giving you access to a vast wireless coverage area in the U.S., including extensive 3G coverage.

When roaming, your phone will automatically connect to one of our partner networks. When you return to Canada, your phone will reconnect to the Bell network. In both cases, it can take up to 5 minutes to establish a connection.

Making a call

When you're travelling in the U.S., making a phone call is as simple as dialling from home. Simply dial 1 + area code + the 7-digit number and press SEND to complete your call. You'll be billed the U.S. voice roaming airtime rate.

Receiving a call

You can automatically receive calls when you travel anywhere in the U.S. if you're in an area where wireless coverage is available. When you receive a call, you'll be billed the U.S. airtime rate.

For customer support when travelling in the U.S., call or *611 free from your mobile phone or 1 800 667-ROAM (7626) free from any phone.