Sprint Canada
| Company type | Subsidiary |
|---|---|
| Industry | Telecommunications |
| Founded | 1993 |
| Defunct | 2005 |
| Fate | Acquired by Rogers Communications |
| Headquarters | Toronto , Canada |
| Products | Landline telephone, long-distance, dial-up Internet, email, GSM wireless services |
| Parent | Call-Net Enterprises (until acquisition) |
Sprint Canada operated as a Canadian telecommunications provider from 1993 until its acquisition by Rogers Communications in 2005. Catering to both residential and commercial clientele, it was a notable competitor in Canada's long-distance telecommunications sector. Based in Toronto, Sprint Canada delivered landline, long-distance, dial-up Internet, email, and GSM wireless services through a collaboration with Fido Solutions.
History
In the mid-1990s, the U.S.-based Sprint Corporation entered the Canadian market as a reseller of bulk long-distance services, limited by regulations on foreign ownership from establishing its own network infrastructure. In 1993, Sprint acquired a 25% interest in Call-Net Enterprises, a Canadian company specializing in long-distance services. Call-Net’s offerings were rebranded under the “Sprint Canada” name and expanded to incorporate landline telephone and Internet services. Wireless connectivity was provided through Fido Solutions.
In 2003, Sprint Canada secured a C$55 million financing arrangement via securitization with Finacity. By 2005, Rogers Communications purchased Call-Net along with Sprint Canada's customer base of 600,000 subscribers, which included 31,000 wireless users.
Services
Sprint Canada implemented a system access fee applied to its service portfolio: $4.25 for home phone, long-distance, and Internet services; and $6.95 for combined Sprint and Fido packages. All stated prices include these fees.
Landline phone
Sprint Canada delivered both conventional and VoIP landline telephone options.
Long distance
The company's primary offering was its long-distance service, accessible for both fixed-line and mobile devices. Its competitive pricing positioned it as a challenger to Bell Canada's dominance.
Internet access
Sprint Canada provided various dial-up Internet plans featuring both time-restricted and unlimited usage options. The "THE MOST online Basic Unlimited" plan was priced at $23.20 monthly and included one email account. For an additional $3 per month, customers could upgrade to "THE MOST online XTRA," which added Internet call waiting functionality and four more email addresses, allowing call answering while connected online.
Wireless
Through a partnership with Fido Solutions, Sprint Canada bundled landline services with Fido’s wireless offerings. Sprint’s long-distance plans covered calls on both platforms; however, wireless calls consumed minutes from the Fido allocation.
Available monthly wireless plans were:
- $51.90 for 150 anytime minutes
- $63.90 for 150 daytime plus 1000 evening/weekend minutes
- $71.90 for 300 daytime plus 1000 evening/weekend minutes
Daytime minutes applied Monday through Friday from 8 am to 7 pm; evening/weekend minutes covered all day Saturday and Sunday as well as Monday to Friday between midnight–8 am and 7 pm–midnight. Minutes not used did not roll over to subsequent periods.
Each plan included call waiting, conference call, and 1000 minutes of call forwarding. Subscribers could select two complimentary calling features from Caller ID, voicemail, or 50 sent SMS messages within Canada and the USA; all features were available together for an additional $3 per month.
Before being absorbed by Rogers Wireless in Q3 2005, Sprint Canada's wireless segment served approximately 31,000 customers.