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In September 2022, several Canadian telecom providers temporarily waived some long-distance charges for calls or texts sent from Canada to Iran. The offers expired in October 2022, and the historical announcements do not show that a waiver is available now. The dates and eligible services varied by provider.
Which providers waived fees, and when did the offers end?
The relief covered carrier charges for calls from Canada to Iran and, for many providers, SMS messages. It was not free roaming for customers in Iran, nor did it establish that internet access in Iran was free. The table summarizes the reported historical terms; it is not current rate guidance.
| Provider or brand | Reported eligible service | Reported dates and qualifications |
|---|---|---|
| TELUS and Koodo | Calls and texts to Iran without added fees | Through October 14, 2022, according to MobileSyrup’s September 29 report. |
| Rogers, Fido and Chatr | Long-distance calls and SMS to Iran | MobileSyrup reported the offer through October 17, 2022. Fido’s own community notice gave October 19, 2022, as its end date; the sources differ. |
| Bell | Postpaid long-distance calls and texts from Canada to Iran | Through October 17, 2022, per Bell’s September 2022 announcement. |
| Shaw and Freedom Mobile | Long-distance calls and SMS or texts to Iran | Through October 17, 2022, according to MobileSyrup and Freedom Mobile’s post. |
| Vidéotron | Calls to Iran; the report specified calls only, not texts | Through October 17, 2022, according to MobileSyrup. |
| SaskTel | Long-distance and messaging fees from Canada to Iran | October 4–24, 2022, as recorded in SaskTel’s company history. |
| Fizz | Support described a refund process for eligible calls after buying calling credit or an add-on and contacting support | A historical example in the Fizz Community Hub; it does not establish a current offer. |
What differed between the offers?
End dates were not uniform
TELUS and Koodo were reported through October 14; Bell, Shaw, Freedom Mobile and Vidéotron through October 17; and SaskTel for October 4–24. For Fido, MobileSyrup reported October 17, while Fido’s community notice said October 19. These are historical policy dates, not a basis for assuming any carrier currently waives the charges.
Calls, texts and account eligibility varied
Some announcements covered both calls and SMS, while Vidéotron’s reported waiver applied to calls only. Bell specifically described its offer as applying to postpaid fees. Do not assume an offer from a parent carrier applied to every affiliated brand, prepaid line or business account: eligibility depended on each provider’s terms.
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Relief was not necessarily automatic
Fizz’s support explanation described a process in which a customer first purchased Iran calling credit or an add-on, then contacted support about a refund for eligible fees. That differs from assuming charges were automatically removed, and the forum example is not evidence of a present-day policy.
Why did Canadian providers announce the waivers?
The September 2022 announcements followed protests in Iran after Mahsa Amini died in custody. Canadian customers were seeking to reach family and friends. Bell said: “To assist Canadians concerned about their loved ones in #Iran, effective immediately, we are waiving post-paid fees for long-distance calls and text messages made from Canada to Iran until October 17.” The quoted terms were Bell’s postpaid offer, not a universal description of every provider’s policy.
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What should customers do now?
Because the cited waivers expired in October 2022, check your provider’s current international calling and messaging rates or contact its support team before contacting Iran. Confirm the destination, whether the rate applies to calls, SMS or both, and whether your specific account type qualifies. These historical announcements do not confirm any current fee waiver.
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