From Analog to 5G: Celebrating 40 Years of Mobile Wireless in Canada
June 26, 2025
Forty years ago, mobile phones were considered luxury items—bulky, expensive, and available only in select urban areas. Fast forward to today, and wireless services are an essential part of everyday life, connecting Canadians from coast to coast to coast.
This summer, we’re marking a milestone: 40 years since commercial mobile services launched in Canada.
It’s easy to forget just how far we’ve come. The first cellular phones were often jokingly called “bricks” on account of their size, offering 30 minutes of talk time on a good day. There was no texting, no apps, and definitely no streaming. But through decades of investment and innovation, that all changed.
Canadians now enjoy:
- Expansive 5G coverage, with world-class speeds
- Smartphones that act as everything from GPS devices to banking tools
- Seamless connectivity to our homes, schools, hospitals, and businesses while on the go
Behind these advances are billions of dollars in private investment from Canada’s wireless providers—who didn’t just deliver technology, but transformed how we live, work, and connect.
To celebrate, we’ve launched a new digital hub: connectedanniversary.ca. There, you can explore the history of wireless in Canada, test your memory in our “Guess Your First Cell Phone” quiz, and watch a heartfelt video tribute to the milestones made possible by mobile.
Whether it’s your first call home, your child’s birth announcement, or a last-minute video interview that landed your dream job—mobile connectivity has played a role in the moments that matter most.
We invite you to explore our campaign and share your own memories using #ConnectedAnniversary. Here’s to the past 40 years—and the future we’re still building together.
