CRTC Device-Unlocking Consultation: What Canadian Wireless Customers Should Know Before September 14

• The CRTC is accepting interventions until September 14, 2026, in a proceeding about wireless providers selling locked devices.
• The current Wireless Code generally requires provider-supplied devices to be unlocked and requires free unlocking upon request.
• Canadians can submit comments online through the CRTC’s public proceedings system before the deadline.

The CRTC device-unlocking consultation has a September 14 deadline

The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission is reviewing whether wireless providers can temporarily lock newly purchased devices and, if so, under what conditions. The proceeding began on August 14, 2026, and the deadline for public interventions is September 14, 2026.

The issue matters if you’re thinking about switching carriers, using a local SIM or eSIM while travelling, or dealing with a phone that won’t work on another Canadian network. The CRTC says its current Wireless Code requires provider-supplied devices to be unlocked, while the consultation examines Bell Canada’s practice of supplying devices that may remain locked for a limited period.

What the CRTC has confirmed

CRTC Telecom Notice of Consultation 2026-210 says Bell Canada and Virgin Plus have been providing some devices that are locked for 60 days after purchase. Bell has argued that the practice helps address fraud and criminal activity at points of sale.

The CRTC previously found that this practice did not comply with the Wireless Code and directed Bell to stop providing locked devices. Bell then asked the Commission to reconsider that position and sought additional procedural relief. The new proceeding requires Bell to show cause why its practice should not be treated as a violation of the device-unlocking rules.

The notice also grants a temporary, industry-wide stay of the rule requiring devices to be unlocked at the time of sale. Providers that use the stay must:

• Unlock the device automatically within two business days after purchase.
• Unlock the device upon the customer’s request, as required by the existing Wireless Code.
• Make reasonable efforts to explain how long the device will be locked, what that means for the customer, and the customer’s right to request an unlock.

This temporary arrangement remains in effect until the CRTC issues a decision in a related proceeding, Broadcasting and Telecom Notice of Consultation 2026-134, which is considering whether Canada’s consumer-protection codes should be harmonized.

What the current Wireless Code says about unlocking

The current rule is straightforward: a device supplied by a wireless provider for wireless service must be provided unlocked. If a device is or becomes locked to the provider’s network, the provider must unlock it—or give the customer the means to unlock it—upon request and at no charge.

The rule applies to individual and small-business wireless customers in Canada. It is designed to make it easier to change providers, use a device while travelling, and avoid being tied to one network simply because of the way a phone was sold.

That doesn’t mean every phone will work perfectly on every network. Network compatibility, supported bands, eSIM support, and whether the device has been reported lost or stolen can still affect service. Unlocking removes a carrier restriction; it doesn’t guarantee compatibility or restore a device that has been blocked for another reason.

What the consultation means for Canadian customers

For most customers, the consultation does not cancel the existing right to request a free unlock. If your provider-supplied phone is locked, you can ask the provider to unlock it or provide the instructions needed to do so.

The immediate change is that some providers may rely on the temporary stay and sell a device that is initially locked, provided it is automatically unlocked within two business days. Customers should be told about the lock and its consequences instead of discovering the restriction only after trying to use another SIM or eSIM.

If you’re buying a phone before the CRTC reaches a final decision, ask the provider these questions before completing the purchase:

• Will the phone be locked when I receive it?
• When exactly will it be unlocked automatically?
• Can I request an unlock immediately?
• Will the phone work with the Canadian carrier or travel eSIM I plan to use?

Keep the sales agreement, receipt, and any written information about the lock. Those records may help if the device is not unlocked within the stated period or the provider refuses a request that should be free under the Wireless Code.

How to submit an intervention before September 14

Anyone who wants to comment on the proceeding can submit an intervention to the CRTC. Your submission should identify Telecom Notice of Consultation 2026-210, explain whether you support or oppose the issue—or simply provide a comment—and give specific reasons or personal experiences that support your position.

The CRTC says interventions for this proceeding must be submitted by September 14, 2026. Its general procedure page lists the deadline as 5 p.m. Vancouver time, which is 8 p.m. Gatineau time, unless the notice states otherwise.

Submit an intervention through the CRTC public proceedings page ↗

To file online, open the CRTC’s public proceedings page, locate Telecom Notice of Consultation 2026-210, and select the option to submit an intervention. Your submission will become part of the public record, so avoid including unnecessary personal information.

Comments are more useful when they describe a concrete problem. For example, you might explain that a device was locked without clear notice, that an unlock request was refused or delayed, or that a lock affected your ability to change carriers or use a local SIM while travelling. You don’t need to write a legal brief, but the CRTC asks participants to provide details supporting their position.

What happens after the intervention deadline

The CRTC has also set September 24, 2026, as the deadline for replies. That does not mean the Commission will issue a final decision on that date. The temporary stay will continue until the CRTC decides the related consumer-code proceeding, so the longer-term rules have not yet been announced.

Until a final decision is released, customers should treat the two-business-day automatic-unlock requirement and the existing free-unlock-on-request rule as the key practical protections. If a provider does not follow those requirements, start by contacting the provider and keep a record of the interaction. You can then consider raising the matter through the CRTC’s consumer-protection channels.

Make a complaint about your telephone service ↗

Helpful Links

• CRTC public proceedings open for comment – Find the device-unlocking proceeding and submit an online intervention.
• All Public Proceedings Open for Comment – Official page referenced in the article.
• How to Make a Complaint About Your Telephone Service – Official page referenced in the article.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q. Can my wireless provider charge me to unlock my phone?

A. Under the current Wireless Code, a provider must unlock a device—or give you the means to unlock it—upon request at no charge when the device is or becomes locked to that provider’s network.

Q. Does the CRTC consultation mean all phones can now stay locked for 60 days?

A. No. The temporary stay allows providers to use a limited arrangement under specific conditions. A provider relying on it must automatically unlock the device within two business days, honour unlock requests, and explain the lock and the customer’s rights.

Q. Who can submit a comment to the CRTC?

A. Interested members of the public, customers, businesses, and organizations can submit an intervention. The submission should identify Telecom Notice of Consultation 2026-210 and explain the facts or reasons supporting the comment.

Q. What is the deadline to comment on the device-unlocking proceeding?

A. The intervention deadline is September 14, 2026. The CRTC’s general participation guidance says online submissions are due by 5 p.m. Vancouver time, or 8 p.m. Gatineau time, unless the proceeding notice specifies otherwise.

Q. Will the CRTC issue a final decision on September 14?

A. No. September 14 is the deadline for interventions. The CRTC has also set September 24, 2026, as the reply deadline, but it has not announced a final decision date for the longer-term device-unlocking rules.