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TELUS Fair Use Policy

Effective as of November 25, 2024

TELUS’ Unlimited rate plans, Built-in Wi-Fi Hotspot plans, as well as the unlimited or flat rate plans that were previously offered by MTS, for customers acquired from MTS, are subject to the customer using the service under an ordinary range of use and in a way that does not consume excessive network capacity and/or adversely affect TELUS’ ability to provide services to other users. By way of example and not limitation, the following are considered by TELUS to be outside of an ordinary range of use thereby consuming excessive network capacity:

  • Operation (i.e., hosting) of servers for services such as email, web, news, chat, or other similar services

  • Resale, transfer, or distribution of the data service

  • Sharing the data service with an unauthorized party

  • Engaging in or allowing any alteration, copying, reproduction of or tampering with electronic serial numbers or other identification, signaling or transmission functions or components of the device used with the service

  • Using your Smartphone’s data as a replacement for home internet or for applications that use a lot of data, such as home monitoring systems

  • Auto-dialing or fax/voice blasts

TELUS may immediately suspend, restrict, alter or terminate all or part of any service provided to a customer or take other necessary protective measures, if it determines that a customer is violating this policy, as determined by TELUS, acting reasonably.

Fair Use Policy Frequently Asked Questions

What is network management?

Data usage is growing in Canada and in an effort to ensure that our customers receive a consistent user experience, we manage the traffic on our wireless networks. This means that we use advanced network management technology and security functions such as speed throttling and tethering block.

If you are using wireless data on one of TELUS’ Unlimited plans, a Built-in Wi-Fi Hotspot plan or the TELUS equivalent of an MTS unlimited/flat rate plan, TELUS may reduce or “control” your speeds when your data usage exceeds a specific range of use or threshold.

When total usage exceeds the threshold included in your rate plan during your bill cycle, your data speeds will be reduced to 512 Kilobits per second (Kbps) for downloads and uploads, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for the remainder of your bill cycle and will reset back to full speed on the first day of your next bill cycle.

This should not affect any applications that require less than 512Kbps of download bandwidth or 512Kbps of upload bandwidth (such as browsing and email), but could affect the performance of applications that normally require greater bandwidth. It's important to note that TELUS VoLTE or Circuit-Switch based voice services (including 911) will not be impacted.

Why does TELUS manage traffic on its network?

We believe it is important to offer all of our customers on our network the best service experience possible. This allows us to minimize the impact on the experience of our overall customer base of a small number of users with uncharacteristically high usage.

Who is affected by network management?

Our Fair Use Policy applies to customers who are on our Unlimited data plans, Built-in Wi-Fi Hotspot plans and the TELUS equivalent of an MTS unlimited/flat rate plans. Customers on these plans who reach their threshold during their bill cycle will experience controlled speeds.

Is the TELUS Fair Use Policy national?

Yes, the TELUS Fair Use Policy applies to all provinces where TELUS offers Unlimited data plans, including Manitoba where there are customers acquired from MTS who were previously on an unlimited/ flat rate data plan, as well as where Built-in Wi-Fi Hotspot plans are offered in Canada.

How will customers be affected by these controlled speeds?

Controlled speeds should not affect low bandwidth applications like sending emails, streaming music, browsing, and instant messaging. The reduced speeds may affect the performance and time required for applications that need more bandwidth such as streaming video services.

If you manage traffic on your network, does this mean that all TELUS wireless data plans are impacted?

Only the Unlimited wireless data plans, including the TELUS equivalent plans for customers who were previously on an unlimited/flat rate data plan with MTS, and Built-in Wi-Fi Hotspot plans will experience a managed network.

Can I still share my device’s mobile data connection with a laptop (tethering) or with other smartphones (for instance, by creating a personal hotspot)?

Some of our Unlimited plans do not allow you to share your device’s mobile data connection with a laptop or for a personal hotspot and others do. Your tethering threshold can be found in your included services section of your service agreement.

What are some of the activities that can trigger significant data usage?

  • Streaming/downloading video or audio from the internet

  • Sharing your device’s mobile data connection with a laptop (tethering) or with other smartphones (for instance, by creating a personal hotspot)

  • Using navigation apps

  • Uploading or sharing photos and videos through social media, email, or messaging apps

  • Browsing the internet for prolonged periods

  • Using apps that automatically update or require the use of location based services

What are some ways to manage data usage?

  • Download the My TELUS app to manage your data

  • Connect to a Wi-Fi network when available

  • Update applications over Wi-Fi

  • Close and sign out of apps whenever possible

How long does TELUS control my data speeds?

When you exceed the data threshold included in your plan, your speed will be controlled on the day of the month the threshold is exceeded and will continue for the rest of the billing cycle.

For example, if your billing cycle starts on the 8th day of each month and you exceed your threshold on the 25th day, you will be subject to controlled speeds from the 25th through to the last day of your billing cycle, in this case, the 7th day of the following month. The data counter will reset at midnight that night.

I was on an unlimited data plan with MTS, will I still be throttled at the same speeds and thresholds with TELUS?

Yes, your throttling experience will remain the same as when you were an MTS customer. Customers who reach 15GB of network usage, will experience a reduction in their speeds (a.k.a. throttling)., at 512Kbps which is the same throttled data speeds as MTS applied.

To track your data usage, you can use self-serve in the My TELUS app or online at
telus.com/mytelus
.

I am on a Built-in Wi-Fi Hotspot plan. How does this affect me?

When you subscribe to a high speed data plan, you can use the plan for as long as the high speed data is available or until the end of the term. If you use all of the high speed data prior to the end of the term, you can still use data but your data speeds will be reduced to a maximum of 512 Kilobits per second (Kbps) for downloads and uploads, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for the remainder of your term.

You can track your data usage online by logging into your account at
experience.gm.ca/en/ownercenter/onstar/myplans
.

Priority Services for Public Safety ITMPs disclosure

The Public Safety Priority Service (PSPS) is a network enabled access solution available as part of the Wireless Data Services TELUS provides to Public Safety Customers. PSPS was introduced to ensure that Public Safety Customers have priority access to communication networks during emergencies or high-demand situations where network congestion might otherwise impede their access.

PSPS features are enabled at all times, placing priority on PSPS users to facilitate priority access during times of Network congestion. Any non-PSPS customer using their mobile wireless (data) services and IoT services during times of network congestion may be impacted by PSPS. During these times, a non-PSPS customer may have difficulty connecting, and may experience slower speeds than usual, when trying to use their mobile wireless data services and IoT services. This effect is temporary, and normal speeds will resume once network congestion has subsided and/or the demand for prioritized Public Safety Customer traffic has ceased.

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