@MariaFPaulo
meant to encourage you to get a new and compatible device as PM will be retiring 3G network.
Once you upgrade your phone with a VoLTE compatible device, the $5 surcharge will be removed. However, if you do nothing and just paying the $5 surcharge, you will not have any voice service once PM retires 3G network in March 2027.
Let's try to confirm what phone you have and how to have this charge removed with a compatible phone
What phone do you have? Which province you are in?
First, use the IMEI checker on this page to see if your phone is compatible with PM's VoLTE network: https://www.publicmobile.ca/en/on/get-help/articles/volte
If it is not compatible with PM's VoLTE, then your phone had been using 3G for voice and is now affected by the 3G Network Shutdown that has just started in Manitoba:
https://www.publicmobile.ca/en/get-help/articles/3g-shutdown
If you’re using a 3G-only device, your phone will stop working after these dates:
Manitoba (Rural): January 12, 2026
Manitoba (Urban : Winnipeg & Brandon): Starting March 31, 2026
National: Starting March 1, 2027
If the lack of VoLTE support is what affecting your voice calls, there is really nothing much you can do other than getting a phone that is compatible with PM's VoLTE network. Hare are couple choices that will work:
- iPhone 8 or later
- Google Pixel 4 or later
- Samsung S22 or later
- Samsung Flip 2/Fold 2 or later
- Samsung A15/A35/A55 or later
But generally most major brands of phones released after 2024 and are designed and sold for the Canadian market should work. ( BUT Imported phones/grey market phones sold on marketplaces likely won't work)
If you are unsure whether a particular phone will work, share the model here and we can help
