What Public Mobile does

Public Mobile is a Canadian prepaid wireless service provider operating as a wholly-owned subsidiary brand of Telus Corporation, founded in 2009 and headquartered in Toronto. The company offers 5G and 4G mobile subscription plans to price-conscious Canadian consumers and frequent cross-border travelers, using a digital-first, self-serve distribution model that relies on eSIM activation, a mobile app, and community-based online support rather than traditional call centers or owned retail stores. Underlying connectivity is delivered through Telus's national network infrastructure, which Public Mobile leases as an MVNO-style prepaid brand.

The product portfolio centers on prepaid monthly plans priced from $22 to $50, with data allowances ranging from 25GB to 200GB and coverage options spanning Canada-wide or Canada-US-Mexico. Supporting products include the Public Points loyalty program, biometric app authentication, an Accessibility Add-On for subscribers with disabilities, and the recently introduced Fast Switch migration tool that funnels customers to Koodo postpaid service within the Telus portfolio. A Telus PureFibre Internet cross-sell extends the brand into home broadband.

Revenue is generated exclusively through recurring monthly prepaid subscriptions, add-ons (data extensions, international minutes, accessibility data), and device-related fees; no enterprise contracts or B2B revenue streams are reported. The go-to-market motion is product-led growth, with acquisition driven by competitive pricing, seasonal flash sales (Black Friday, Boxing Day, Canada Day), and referral contests. Because Public Mobile is consolidated within Telus, standalone financials are not publicly disclosed.

Name

Public Mobile

Legal name

Public Mobile

Website

https://publicmobile.ca

Company type

Private

Founded year

2009

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

Public Mobile is a Canadian prepaid wireless brand wholly owned by Telus, offering 5G and 4G subscription phone plans to price-sensitive consumers and cross-border travelers through a digital-first, self-serve model on Telus's national network.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Toronto

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Personnel, Infrastructure, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Prepaid Mobile Subscriptions: Monthly prepaid mobile plans where customers pay in advance for wireless service including data, talk, and text. Revenue is recurring as customers auto-renew monthly. Additional revenue from add-ons (data extensions, international minutes) and device sales.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Public Mobile delivers prepaid wireless subscription plans in Canada on Telus's 5G and 4G networks, with monthly prices ranging from $22 to $50 and data tiers from unlimited talk/text up to 200GB. Service is purchased online through the website or mobile app using eSIM or physical SIMs, includes optional Canada-US-Mexico roaming on select tiers, and is supported by the Public Points rewards program and accessibility add-ons.

Product overview

Public Mobile is a prepaid mobile virtual network operator (MVNO) owned by Telus, offering budget-friendly 5G and 4G subscription phone plans to Canadian consumers. The core product consists of 5G and 4G subscription plans with various data tiers ranging from 25GB to 200GB, available as Canada-wide or Canada-US-Mexico coverage options. The product portfolio is supported by the Public Mobile App for account management and eSIM activation, the Public Points rewards program for subscriber loyalty, and Add-Ons including data extensions, the Accessibility Add-On for customers with disabilities, and Fast Switch for migration to Koodo postpaid service. Emergency alerting is provided through the Alert Ready system. All service runs on Telus's national network infrastructure.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Public Points: Rewards program offering points-back on payments, anniversary bonuses, refer-a-friend rewards, and community Give Back rewards that subscribers can redeem for bill credits, add-ons, and contest entries.

Products and services

• 5G Subscription Plans Prepaid 5G wireless phone plans providing mobile data, talk, and text service across Telus's 5G network, available as Canada-wide or Canada-US-Mexico coverage options with data tiers from 40GB to 200GB and unlimited talk and text. Aimed at price-conscious Canadian consumers seeking modern 5G service without contracts.
• 4G Subscription Plans Prepaid 4G LTE wireless phone plans offering more affordable mobile service options with Canada-wide coverage, including unlimited talk and text plus data tiers of 25GB and 35GB for budget-conscious customers.
• Canada-US-Mexico Plans Subscription plans with roaming coverage across Canada, the United States, and Mexico, enabling customers to use their wireless service while traveling in those regions with predictable monthly pricing.
• Canada-Wide Plans Subscription plans providing mobile service coverage within Canada only, offering lower monthly pricing for customers who do not require US or Mexico roaming.
• Public Mobile App Mobile application available on iOS and Android that lets customers manage their account, activate subscriptions, perform SIM swaps via eSIM, make payments, access Public Points rewards, and reach customer support.
• Public Points Rewards Program Loyalty program under the Public Points trademark where subscribers earn points through monthly payments, anniversary bonuses, referrals, and community participation, redeemable for bill credits, add-ons, or contest entries.
• Accessibility Add-On Dedicated data add-on for customers with disabilities, providing 2GB every 30 days or 6GB every 90 days to support accessibility apps and assistive technologies on Public Mobile service.
• eSIM Activation Digital SIM activation capability that allows customers to subscribe and set up wireless service in minutes through the app or website without needing a physical SIM card, currently offered at $0 for new subscribers.
• Fast Switch Self-serve migration tool that lets select Public Mobile prepaid customers switch to Koodo postpaid plans online, retaining their phone number and payment method with remaining Public Mobile balance applied to their first Koodo bills.
• Alert Ready Wireless public emergency alerting service that delivers critical, life-saving emergency messages from government alerting authorities to compatible Public Mobile devices via Cell Broadcast distribution.

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration4 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• KoodocoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 7 April 2026Koodo is Telus's postpaid brand. Public Mobile offers a 'Fast Switch' feature allowing eligible prepaid customers to migrate to Koodo postpaid plans seamlessly online. This migration preserves phone number and payment method, with unused balance transferred to Koodo bills. The partnership enables Public Mobile to serve as a funnel for customers wanting to upgrade to postpaid services.
• TeluscoreOthersPublic Mobile is a wholly-owned prepaid subsidiary brand of Telus. The company operates on Telus's network infrastructure, including 5G network access. Telus provides the underlying network technology and infrastructure while Public Mobile maintains its own brand, pricing, and customer experience focused on the prepaid/value segment.

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Koodo Mobile: Telus's hybrid prepaid/postpaid brand and sister brand to Public Mobile. Most directly comparable peer given shared Telus network infrastructure, overlapping prepaid offerings, and Fast Switch migration path connecting the two brands.
• Lucky Mobile: Bell Canada's entry-level prepaid brand operating on Bell's network. Directly competes with Public Mobile in the budget prepaid segment for price-sensitive Canadian consumers.
• Chatr Mobile: Rogers Communications' prepaid brand and one of the three major Canadian carrier-owned prepaid competitors. Competes head-to-head with Public Mobile on price and digital self-serve onboarding.
• Freedom Mobile: Independent Canadian wireless carrier (now owned by Quebecor/Videotron) offering prepaid and postpaid plans. Competes with Public Mobile particularly in Ontario, BC, and Alberta markets on price.

Broad incumbents

• Fido: Rogers-owned prepaid and postpaid hybrid brand. Overlaps with Public Mobile on prepaid offerings but operates a broader retail and postpaid footprint under the Rogers umbrella.
• Virgin Plus: Bell Canada-owned prepaid and postpaid brand. Competes in the value segment adjacent to Public Mobile while also offering postpaid and home services.
• TELUS: Parent company and one of Canada's Big Three carriers. Public Mobile is wholly-owned by Telus and operates on Telus's network; comparable as the broader incumbent whose strategy and capex decisions shape Public Mobile's trajectory.

Emerging players

• 7-Eleven Speak Out Wireless: Canadian prepaid wireless provider operating on the Rogers network, distributed through 7-Eleven retail locations. Targets ultra-budget prepaid segment comparable to lower-tier Public Mobile plans.
• PC Mobile: Loblaw-owned prepaid wireless service running on the Telus network (notably on the same underlying infrastructure as Public Mobile). Competes for grocery-loyalty-driven prepaid subscribers.
• Mint Mobile: U.S. digital-first prepaid carrier owned by T-Mobile, known for online-only sales and aggressive pricing. Not a direct Canadian competitor but a strategic benchmark for the digital-first prepaid model Public Mobile operates.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/c/publicmobile
• Facebookfacebook.com/PublicMobile
• Instagraminstagram.com/publicmobile
• Xx.com/PublicMobile
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/public-mobile

Compliance5 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Public Mobile