Telus wants CRTC to bring back phone locking to prevent theft

Vancouver-based nationwide telecom Telus needs the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Fee (CRTC) to deliver again gadget locking to stop fraud and theft.

Telus filed an software with the fee in Could 2026 in search of a overview of Canada’s Wi-fi Code so as to add a brand new, short-term 60-day gadget locking interval for smartphones and different cellular units. Whereas the provider finally needs a everlasting change to the Wi-fi Code, it additionally requested a short lived allowance to lock units till the code may be amended. Additional, Telus stated it’ll begin locking units on July 30, 2026.

Nevertheless, the CRTC banned device locking practices back in 2017 and eradicated unlocking charges as effectively. Abolishing gadget locking and related charges made it simpler for folks to change wi-fi suppliers, as their gadget wouldn’t be locked to a single supplier.

In its software, Telus stated it needs units to be locked for 60 days beginning on the day the gadget is activated, and for the lock to solely apply to “sponsored or financed units offered along side a wi-fi providers time period contract.” Additional, Telus needs units to robotically unlock on the finish of the 60-day interval, so long as clients’ accounts stay in good standing. It additionally outlined exceptions for purchasers who have to unlock a tool early for official causes, akin to journey, switching carriers, and extra.

Why lock units in any respect? Telus says it’s due to theft and fraud.

A story as previous as time 2017

Even again in 2017, when the gadget locking prohibition got here into place, carriers had been bemoaning the dangers of theft and fraud, and it’s been a typical argument ever since. That features final yr, when Bell violated the Wi-fi Code by locking devices for 60 days. The transfer spurred the CRTC to order Bell to stop selling locked devices. Previous to that, Bell had locked devices in its stores up until the point of activation.

In its software to the CRTC, Telus reiterated many of those identical complaints. The provider claims unlocking guidelines “inadvertently reworked smartphones right into a extremely liquid forex that drive violent robberies.” Telus additionally says that device-related fraud is on the rise, saying “unhealthy actors use stolen identities to open new wi-fi accounts, damaging the credit score scores of victims,” and in addition take over current accounts to interact in unauthorized actions.

Telus device locking application to CRTC – July 9, 2026 by jon

Apparently, Telus additionally calls out Bell’s 60-day gadget locking, saying that since Bell began locking its units, it’s seen extra theft and fraud. “Bell’s gadget locks make stolen Bell units far much less possible for resale, which diverts legal exercise towards rivals,” Telus stated.

The return of locked units?

For now, although, the principles stay in place. The CRTC responded to Telus in a letter on July 8, noting that the present Wi-fi Code guidelines “stay in impact except and till the Fee makes an categorical resolution in any other case.” Nevertheless, the fee did say it could take into account Telus’ request for a short lived authorization to lock units for 60 days, although it could go away time for Telus and different events to touch upon the matter.

Furthermore, the CRTC famous that it’s within the technique of reviewing client safety codes, and directed Telus and different events to deliver the gadget locking requests to that continuing, which is already amendments to the codes.

It’s a stark distinction from the CRTC’s response to Bell final yr, when it denied Bell’s request to briefly permit cellphone locking. In response to Bell, CRTC’s secretary basic and govt vp Marc Morin wrote that “locking cellphones is just not in the perfect curiosity of shoppers and that this apply has not been proven to be mandatory to handle any enhance in crime and monetary loss skilled by the wi-fi business.”

And there are different points with permitting locked units. Whereas Telus laid out exceptions for early unlocking, in apply, these don’t maintain up. With Bell, many purchasers have complained that the carrier failed to unlock devices within the 60-day window — implementing new cellphone locking guidelines might result in extra clients caught with locked units.

It stays to be seen if Telus will abide by the principles or comply with Bell’s lead and lock units no matter what the CRTC says.