Text regarding $5/mo 3G usage price increase

[Sham_Madani]

Hello, I just received a message that I’m going to charge 5$ more because of my device that uses 3G, I’m not sure why because I’m using 5G data on my phone & I don’t really understand the extra charge!

[cigarsmoker]

do you have any timeline when PM will shut it down

[LB2004]

Could you kindly tag one or so? I'm not sure how to search.thx

[umnikke8]

4G LTE support and VoLTE are separate things. Further, each device needs to be white listed by Public for VoLTE support, so there are some devices that have VoLTE support but yet don't work with Public. It's possible Public may add some more devices to the list, but I wouldn't count on much, if any change in the list. If the device isn't showing up with VoLTE support in the device checker on the help page it's notice that the device is not going to work when 3G gets shutdown, https://publicmobile.ca/en/get-help/articles/volte 

The $5 fee will only be temporary as a 'stick' to push people to move off incompatible devices, before the 3G shutdown happens and they lose the ability to make calls at all.

[Matty6]

Why don't they just say they want $5 a month more, instead of being murky about why this would apply? Pubic Hair Mobile has the worst customer service. So much so, that they leave it to their customers to resolve problems for each other. What a stupid **bleep**ing system!

[umnikke8]

If the Public checker says your device supports VoLTE and yet you got the message, I would consult with customer support to get to the bottom of this so you don't get surprised when 3G gets shut down.

[cigarsmoker]

ok just an old school guy trying to avoid the new tech. thank you for getting back to me.my phone is a samsung SGH-A847M that i bought in 2011 same battery never a problem just love it,can you recommend a phone close to that one,i have a pc i dont need one on my phone. again thank you for your time take care.

[LB2004]

Hello.  I received a message stating "Public Mobile update: Your device uses our 3G network. Starting June 15, 2026, you will see a $5/mo 3G usage price increase on your bills if you continue using this device. Your monthly price will change from $18 to $23.

Switch to a 4G LTE/5G device to avoid this amount on your bill starting on your following renewal. You can cancel your subscription without penalty until 30 days after the effective date of this change."

However, my device does support 4G LTE. It is a Samsung galaxy A31.  How can I inform public mobile.

Thanks 

@All 

[MONAM1512]

Public Mobile update: Your device uses our 3G network. Starting June 15, 2026, you will see a $5/mo 3G usage price increase on your bills if you continue using this device. Your monthly price will change from $36 to $41.

Switch to a 4G LTE/5G device to avoid this amount on your bill starting on your following renewal. You can cancel your subscription without penalty until 30 days after the effective date of this change

For more information: publicmobile.ca/sl/a3aVuPCB5E

Received the above message. I am using OnePlus 12 device which is a 5G/4G LTE enabled device.

I have set preferred network to 5G preferred. APN setting as Public Mobile. Operator name also Public Mobile.

I am confused as to why I am receiving this message. Can a Customer Service representative contact me please.

[hector_PB]

i got a text saying my phone is using 3g network and i will have a 5$ increase. my phone is 4g/lte. why am i getting this?

[mike-in-deep]

My phone checks out. Its volte compatible

[hTideGnow]

hi @Mogy 

it is not whether you have a 4G or 5G plan or whether your phone has VoLTE itself, it is whether you phone is on PM's VoLTE whitelist

Please use the VoLTE checker here to confirm:
https://www.publicmobile.ca/en/get-help/articles/volte

if it show no checkmark besides VoLTE, you will need a new phone (paying $5 is not a long term solution as PM will end its 3G network in March 2027 anyway)

if you see a checkmark besides VoLTE, then you can ask PM agent to confirm.  Submit a ticket with CS Agent using Chatbot here:       
            https://widget.telus.tiia.ai/publicmobile/publicmobile.html 
             Type the question "Submit ticket", Then click the following in order: "Contact Us" ,  "Other",  "Log In".  
             (If unable to receive 2FA SMS, click "Didn't Receive Code" or "Resend Code" and Select "Send Email")         
If any issue with ticket submission, you can submit  ticket by direct message:  
          https://productioncommunity.publicmobile.ca/t5/notes/composepage/note-to-user-id/22437 

Remember CS_agent will reply to your Community inbox within 2 to 4 hours, please check your inbox here:
           https://productioncommunity.publicmobile.ca/t5/notes/privatenotespage            

[OrionSteel]

Thanks.

Status bar says LTE, and when I call it says G4, so all the tests I found online says my phone support G4 and volte.

However when I check suggested IMEI it fails.

I would not think Motorola would not be supported by PM. But if they don't I guess I have to switch. But it makes no sense since phone says it's using G4 when I call.

[hTideGnow]

hi @mike-in-deep 

it is the phone, not your plan.  You can use data on the LTE network, but not when it is using voice

check the IMEI checker here, if you don't see a check mark besides VoLTE, you need a new phone
https://www.publicmobile.ca/en/get-help/articles/volte

[cigarsmoker]

how long do i have to use my phone before PM kills it

[mike-in-deep]

I recently recieved a text saying my phone is using the 3g network and that my bill will increase by $5 next month if i continue to use this device. The plan I currently have uses the 4g network and my phone is set to LTE as preferred network. What gives? Did i get this text in error?

[Knobby8]

Thanks for the reply. Just to clarify — my phone is fully LTE/VoLTE and never touches 3G, so this looks like the same automated misclassification others are reporting today. Bell doesn’t apply this kind of surcharge, and there’s nothing indicating they will. I’m not too concerned about it. If PM actually applies the charge, I’ll just port out. Life’s too short.

[hTideGnow]

hi @Knobby8 

a Redmi Note 13 might have VoLTE, but it is not on PM's VoLTE whitelist

confirm it using the IMEI checker here:
https://www.publicmobile.ca/en/get-help/articles/volte

[Sansan]

Make sure you check other carriers before you switch, as eventually all Bell and Rogers will follow suit.

[hTideGnow]

hi @Yudelinnnnn 

if you need to manually toggle it on, your phone likely not on PM's VoLTE whitelist

but you can check with PM support agent and see if they will take your request to add it to the whitelist

submit a ticket with CS Agent using Chatbot here:       
            https://widget.telus.tiia.ai/publicmobile/publicmobile.html 
             Type the question "Submit ticket", Then click the following in order: "Contact Us" ,  "Other",  "Log In".  
             (If unable to receive 2FA SMS, click "Didn't Receive Code" or "Resend Code" and Select "Send Email")         
If any issue with ticket submission, you can submit  ticket by direct message:  
          https://productioncommunity.publicmobile.ca/t5/notes/composepage/note-to-user-id/22437 

Remember CS_agent will reply to your Community inbox within 2 to 4 hours, please check your inbox here:
           https://productioncommunity.publicmobile.ca/t5/notes/privatenotespage            

[Sansan]

What's your phone? Did you check it yourself?

https://www.publicmobile.ca/en/get-help/articles/volte

But you would need confirm with them directly. 

https://widget.telus.tiia.ai/publicmobile/publicmobile.html

[hairbag1]

@Mogy 

Public Mobile is a pre paid service so you'll never be billed later for something you didn't buy. If your cell works on 3G, 4G/LTE or 5G...then all is well. Make sure you have a Volte enabled cell as the 3G will eventually be phased out across Canada but only Manitoba is affected today.

[Knobby8]

Just posting this in case others are seeing the same thing.

My phone is a Redmi Note 13 (4G model). It connects on LTE, shows VoLTE active, and calls stay on 4G without dropping to 3G. Despite that, I received the automated message saying I’ll be charged the $5/mo 3G usage fee starting June 15, 2026.

This looks like a system misclassification, since the phone never uses 3G and everything runs on LTE/VoLTE.

I’m not too worried — I don’t think the charge will actually apply. But if it does, I’ll just port out. Life’s too short.

[Yudelinnnnn]

Hi, I received a text about an upcoming $5 fee for using the 3G network. However, I have recently reconfigured my phone and am now successfully making all calls exclusively over your 4G/LTE network using VoLTE. Could you please check my current network usage and confirm that my account is no longer flagged for this $5 fee?

[hTideGnow]

---

@cigarsmoker wrote:

samsung sgh-a847m

---

HI 

@cigarsmoker 

that is a Samsung Ruby, it probably lacks VoLTE anyway, and certainly not on PM's VoLTE whitelist

[Mogy]

I am currently using a 2025 UMIDIGI Note100 5G which has a LTE 3,4,5 option only, so if Public mobile sends out that signal only or it is the strongest signal in that area then this device will proceed using that 3G signal and that is on Public Mobile for not upgraded their network not our fault for using this out of date service network, so in conclusion if I am charged any extra funds when I am currently on a 5G plan then I will terminate this plan immediately and switch to another carrier that won't pass on this ridiculous surcharge.

[hTideGnow]

HI @Nissan_Zaman818 

Xiaomi Mi 5G is not on PM's VoLTE whitelist

[hTideGnow]

---

@Jpshum5 wrote:

submit a ticket with CS Agent using Chatbot here:       
            https://widget.telus.tiia.ai/publicmobile/publicmobile.html 
             Type the question "Submit ticket", Then click the following in order: "Contact Us" ,  "Other",  "Log In".  
             (If unable to receive 2FA SMS, click "Didn't Receive Code" or "Resend Code" and Select "Send Email")         
If any issue with ticket submission, you can submit  ticket by direct message:  
          https://productioncommunity.publicmobile.ca/t5/notes/composepage/note-to-user-id/22437 

Remember CS_agent will reply to your Community inbox within 2 to 4 hours, please check your inbox here:
           https://productioncommunity.publicmobile.ca/t5/notes/privatenotespage     

---

hi @Jpshum5 

that is my template

[hTideGnow]

hi @lucpublicmobile 

Pixel 6 should work.  Ask PM agent to check

submit a ticket with CS Agent using Chatbot here:       
            https://widget.telus.tiia.ai/publicmobile/publicmobile.html 
             Type the question "Submit ticket", Then click the following in order: "Contact Us" ,  "Other",  "Log In".  
             (If unable to receive 2FA SMS, click "Didn't Receive Code" or "Resend Code" and Select "Send Email")         
If any issue with ticket submission, you can submit  ticket by direct message:  
          https://productioncommunity.publicmobile.ca/t5/notes/composepage/note-to-user-id/22437 

Remember CS_agent will reply to your Community inbox within 2 to 4 hours, please check your inbox here:
           https://productioncommunity.publicmobile.ca/t5/notes/privatenotespage            

[Jpshum5]

Hi @lucpublicmobile 

use the IMEI checker to see if you have a green checkmark for VoLTE for your phone

https://www.publicmobile.ca/en/get-help/articles/volte

if it has one, ask PM agent to verify:

submit a ticket with CS Agent using Chatbot here:       
            https://widget.telus.tiia.ai/publicmobile/publicmobile.html 
             Type the question "Submit ticket", Then click the following in order: "Contact Us" ,  "Other",  "Log In".  
             (If unable to receive 2FA SMS, click "Didn't Receive Code" or "Resend Code" and Select "Send Email")         
If any issue with ticket submission, you can submit  ticket by direct message:  
          https://productioncommunity.publicmobile.ca/t5/notes/composepage/note-to-user-id/22437 

Remember CS_agent will reply to your Community inbox within 2 to 4 hours, please check your inbox here:
           https://productioncommunity.publicmobile.ca/t5/notes/privatenotespage