Weekly "Focus" and a Better Way to Roam
Bradley Goldhar - Dec 12, 2022
When you travel outside Canada, wireless companies like Bell*, Rogers* or Telus* hit you with roaming charges - $12 per day in the US and $15 per day in other countries. However, there’s a way to eliminate those roaming charges by activating...
When you travel outside Canada, wireless companies like Bell*, Rogers* or Telus* hit you with roaming charges - $12 per day in the US and $15 per day in other countries. However, there’s a way to eliminate those roaming charges by activating the “eSIM” feature available on newer smartphones. For example, I have downloaded the AirAlo app on my phone and now access data at a greatly reduced cost. To make phone calls I use WhatsApp or Microsoft Teams, which also utilize the eSIM feature. Here is what AirAlo charges for 1 GB of data (good for 7 days) to several popular holiday destinations:
| Country | Amount in US$ |
| Bahamas | $9.50 |
| Dominican Republic | $9.50 |
| Mexico | $8.00 |
| United Kingdom | $5.00 |
| United States | $4.50 |
As for Canada’s telecom companies, their shares have straddled breakeven in 2022.
| Price Return in 2022 | Dividend Yield | |
| BCE (BCE) | -3.7% | 5.8% |
| Rogers Communications (RCI.B) | +1.4% | 3.3% |
| Telus (T) | -5.6% | 5.0% |
Sources: ThomsonOne, Values as of December 8
This week’s "Focus" from our economics team can be accessed here.
Have a great weekend and please stay safe,
Brad
Bradley Goldhar | Senior Portfolio Manager and Senior Investment Advisor
BMO Nesbitt Burns Inc. | 1 First Canadian Place | 39th Floor | P.O. Box 150 | Toronto ON M5X 1H3
416.359.6650 (direct) | 416.359.7219 (fax) | 1-800-263-1883 (toll free)
Source: (i) ThomsonOne
(ii) CNBC
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