Rogers fined $15M over Infinite plan ads

The Competition Tribunal has ordered Rogers Communications to pay a $15-million penalty over how it advertised its Infinite wireless plans, the Competition Bureau said Wednesday.

The bureau said the case alleged Rogers “engaged in deceptive marketing by advertising its Infinite wireless plans as offering unlimited data despite a significant reduction in speed after using a set amount.” Besides the penalty, the tribunal ordered the company to pay the bureau’s legal costs and to publish a corrective notice.

“Canadians rely on accurate and truthful information when choosing essential services such as wireless plans,” Jeanne Pratt, interim commissioner of competition, said in a news release. “Misleading advertising can distort consumer choice, erode confidence in the marketplace and disadvantage businesses that compete fairly.”

The tribunal released a summary of its decision on Wednesday. It said its full reasons will be made public within 10 business days, so details such as how it reached the $15-million figure are not yet available.

The Competition Bureau announced in December 2024 that it was taking legal action against the Toronto-based telecom giant by filing an application with the tribunal. In that filing, the commissioner of competition had sought a penalty of up to $135 million, according to CBC News.

Rogers said it stands behind its advertising and is considering its next steps. “These plans are commonplace in the industry, and reflected a significant and positive development for consumers and small businesses,” the company said in a statement posted on its website.

The ruling lands as Rogers is already in the spotlight with customers over how it charges for service. Rogers has said it will bring in a 1.6 per cent processing charge starting Jan. 17, 2027, on both auto-pay and one-time credit card payments. The company’s website says the charge applies every time a customer pays a Rogers bill with a credit card.

Last week, Rogers reported revenue of more than $5.44 billion for the three months ended Sept. 30, up two per cent from a year earlier. The $15-million penalty is small against that quarterly figure, but the corrective notice will require the company to tell customers publicly about the tribunal’s findings.

The decision comes as Ottawa is also pressing for more competition in wireless. This week the federal government unveiled an 18-point telecom competition roadmap. In another industry move, Bell recently agreed to sell 49.9 per cent of a new tower company to La Caisse.

It is not clear whether the tribunal ordered any refunds for customers. The bureau had earlier asked for a lower penalty if refunds were part of the remedy and a much higher one if they were not. Neither the bureau’s statement nor Rogers’ response addressed refunds, and the full reasons should clarify the point.

Rogers has not said whether it will appeal. Wireless plans sold as unlimited are common across the Canadian market, and the decision could shape how carriers describe data limits and speed reductions in future advertising.

Sources: CBC News, Competition Bureau, Castanet.

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