Rogers has been ordered to pay a $15 million penalty after the Competition Tribunal ruled against the company’s marketing of its Infinite wireless plans as offering unlimited data.
The ruling was released on Wednesday, October 28, 2026, following a case brought by the Competition Bureau.
The tribunal also ordered Rogers to publish a corrective notice and pay the Competition Bureau’s legal costs.
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What the Rogers ruling means
The Competition Bureau alleged that Rogers’ advertising gave customers the impression they could use unlimited mobile data without a meaningful reduction in service quality.
Under the plans at issue, data speeds were reduced significantly after customers used a specified amount of high-speed data.
The bureau has described the reduction as more than 99 per cent in some circumstances, arguing that the advertising did not adequately communicate the practical effect of the speed restriction.
The tribunal’s decision found in favour of the bureau, although the full reasons supporting the order have not yet been published.
The bureau said the detailed reasons are expected within 10 business days.
Rogers says it is considering next steps
Rogers said it introduced its unlimited data plans in 2019 as a way to eliminate overage charges and give customers greater bill certainty.
In a statement issued October 28, the company said the plans were common across the industry and represented a positive development for consumers and small businesses.
Rogers said it stands behind its advertising and is considering its next steps.
The company did not announce whether it would appeal the decision or seek another form of review.
Tribunal decisions can generally be appealed to the Federal Court of Appeal, subject to the applicable legal requirements.
How the case began
The Competition Bureau filed its application against Rogers on December 23, 2024.
The case focused on whether Rogers’ use of terms such as “unlimited” created a materially misleading impression about the service customers would receive after reaching their high-speed data allotment.
The tribunal heard the matter between March 30 and May 1, 2026.
The bureau had sought a penalty of $135 million.
The final penalty ordered by the tribunal was $15 million, along with the corrective notice and legal-costs order.
Why the decision matters to wireless customers
The ruling highlights the difference between unlimited data usage and unlimited high-speed data.
A plan may allow customers to continue using data after they reach a monthly threshold while still applying a substantial speed reduction.
That distinction can affect video streaming, online gaming, video calls, hotspot use and other data-heavy activities.
For consumers comparing wireless plans, the practical question is not only whether data access continues but also what speeds apply before and after the threshold.
- Check the amount of high-speed data included in the monthly plan.
- Review the reduced-speed terms that apply after the threshold is reached.
- Confirm whether hotspot or tethering use is subject to separate restrictions.
- Keep copies of advertisements, plan summaries and customer-service explanations.
The case also reinforces the Competition Act’s restrictions on false or misleading representations used to promote a product or service.
The Competition Bureau has previously warned telecom companies that “unlimited” claims can create compliance concerns when important limits are not clearly disclosed.
What happens next
The immediate next step is the publication of the tribunal’s detailed reasons.
Those reasons should explain how the tribunal assessed Rogers’ advertising, the applicable legal test and the basis for the financial penalty.
Rogers will then decide whether to accept the order or pursue further legal action.
The company must also comply with the corrective-notice requirement unless the order is changed or suspended through a subsequent legal process.
For current and former Rogers customers, the ruling does not automatically announce individual refunds or compensation.
The Competition Bureau’s statement referred to the penalty, corrective notice and legal costs, but did not announce a separate customer compensation program.
Customers who believe they were misled should retain their plan documents and billing records while waiting for the tribunal’s full reasons and any further instructions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why was Rogers ordered to pay $15 million?
The Competition Tribunal ruled in favour of the Competition Bureau in a case involving Rogers’ marketing of Infinite wireless plans as offering unlimited data despite significant speed reductions after customers reached a usage threshold.
Did Rogers customers receive refunds?
No customer refund program was announced in the initial ruling statement. The order requires Rogers to pay the penalty, publish a corrective notice and cover the bureau’s legal costs.
What did Rogers say about the decision?
Rogers said its plans were introduced to eliminate overage charges and provide bill certainty, and said it stands behind its advertising while considering next steps.
What is the difference between unlimited data and unlimited high-speed data?
Unlimited data generally means service continues after a monthly threshold, but speeds may be reduced substantially once the included high-speed allotment has been used.
What happens next in the Rogers case?
The Competition Tribunal is expected to publish detailed reasons within 10 business days, after which Rogers may decide whether to appeal or take other legal steps.
Fact-Checked: Key facts were checked against statements from the Competition Bureau, Rogers and the Competition Tribunal’s publicly available case information. ([canada.ca](https://www.canada.ca/en/competition-bureau/news/2026/10/statement-from-the-interim-commissioner-of-competition-following-the-competition-tribunals-ruling-in-the-rogers-deceptive-marketing-case.html?utm_source=openai))
Disclaimer: The detailed reasons for the tribunal’s decision had not been published when this article was prepared, so additional legal or customer-impact details may follow.