Canada’s telecommunications regulator has finalized new rules aimed at making it easier for consumers to compare home internet plans, requiring providers to present speed and pricing information in a standardized format.
The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) said the policy will take effect next March. Under the new rules, internet providers will have to advertise typical speeds associated with a plan measured between 7 p.m. and 11 p.m. local time on weekdays — the hours the regulator considers peak usage — rather than relying on “up to” speed claims that may not reflect real-world performance during those times.
Providers will also be required to disclose the monthly price a customer will pay once any promotional discount expires, which the CRTC says will help Canadians avoid unexpected bill increases and choose plans that better match their needs.
The disclosures are to be presented through a standardized label, an idea the CRTC first proposed last year. The regulator has compared the concept to nutrition labels used on food packaging, which present information such as serving size and calorie content in a consistent format to make comparison shopping easier.
The proposal drew mixed reactions from industry and consumer stakeholders during the consultation process. Some internet providers argued that producing the standardized label would be costly and duplicate information already available to consumers. Other stakeholders countered that the label would help cut through promotional marketing language and improve consumers’ ability to understand and compare plans.
The new labelling requirement is the latest in a string of consumer-focused measures the CRTC has introduced in recent years. Earlier this year, in June, the regulator’s ban on activation, cancellation and modification fees took effect. The CRTC has also put in place rules giving consumers self-serve options to adjust their plans, along with requirements that service providers notify customers before a promotional discount on their bill is set to expire.
The report on the CRTC’s latest move was first published by The Canadian Press on Sept. 10, 2026.
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