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!

[slusagm]

hi @NT31 

this is device dependent and not plan

check if you current phone is on PM's VoLTE whitelist or not, if not, you need a new phone

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

[slusagm]

hi @hongtao_wang 

some VoLTE capable phone can still not on PM's VoLTE whitelist. 

check if you current phone is on PM's VoLTE whitelist or not, if not, you need a new phone

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

[Sansan]

@NT31 ,

Thisbis not about the plan that you are on, but your G7 is not supported by Public Mobile soon, so you will need to change your phone to one that will be supported after March 2027.

You can use the chatbot to submit a ticket. 

[slusagm]

hi @Chapman-Boss 

this is device dependent and not plan

check if you current phone is on PM's VoLTE whitelist or not, if not, you need a new phone

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

[Chapman-Boss]

I got a msg that if I continue to use my device which is Motorola E5 PLAY Power and on 3G, my subscription will increase by $5 to become $30 ... if l switch to 4GLTE/5G I can avoid this amount I am not sure if this is device dependent - do I need to change phone?  What's going on if your saying l need to change phones are you going to buy all your customers new ones 

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[hongtao_wang]

I received a message saying my device is using the 3G network and may be subject to a $5 surcharge.
However, my OnePlus 8 supports LTE and VoLTE. During calls, the phone shows HD Voice and remains connected to 4G/LTE.
I believe my device may have been incorrectly flagged as using the 3G network. Could you please verify whether my account will be subject to the surcharge?

[NT31]

Hello wonderful people, I got a msg that if I continue to use my device which is Motorola G7 Power and on 3G, my subscription will increase by $5 to become $30 ... I am not sure if this is device dependent - do I need to change phone? I checked online rates for G4 & G5 they are less than $30 - I hardly use the texting capabilities... any insights or how to get the attention of customer support. Thank so much for your help and have a wonderful day.

[Sansan]

I don't belive that your phone is on public mobile whitelist . It will revert back to 3g for calls, which is why you are receiving that message  

But I would verify with Public Mobile directly. 

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

[cigarsmoker]

do you have any timeline when PM will shut it down

[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?

[OrionSteel]

That's the point of charging. Making you switch.

[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.