Fido Reintroduces Free Hotspot Access Amid Recent Charges

Fido has announced a promotional offer that reintroduces free hotspot access for most of its plans, just months after implementing a charge for this feature. In April 2023, the Rogers-owned wireless provider removed free hotspot access from its offerings and began charging customers $5 per month for the service. While existing customers were not affected by this change, new users signing up for Fido’s plans found themselves without hotspot access unless they paid extra.

Now, all of Fido’s plans, including the basic talk and text option that does not include data, feature a “$0 hotspot promo.” According to Fido’s deals page, this promotional offer adds hotspot access without additional cost for new activations. The promotion is available for a limited time, allowing customers to regain access to a feature that was previously a standard part of their service.

Despite this reintroduction, the overall structure of Fido’s plans remains unchanged. Some plans still offer 10 GB of bonus data, while customers can benefit from a $10 monthly discount by opting for automatic payments. Nonetheless, some analysts and consumers are questioning the value of this promotion, arguing that it feels more like a return of a previously removed feature rather than a genuine enhancement.

Critics note that increasing the connection fee to $80 and raising roaming rates add to the concerns about Fido’s pricing strategies. Given these changes, many are reconsidering their options. With other wireless providers, such as Freedom and Public Mobile, offering more competitive plans—like 60 GB of 5G data for a similar price—Fido may struggle to justify its pricing model.

The wireless industry typically emphasizes customer satisfaction and value. However, recent actions by Fido, including the removal and subsequent reintroduction of hotspot access, may raise questions about its commitment to providing quality service. As customers weigh their options, the competitive landscape continues to evolve, with many looking to alternatives that offer better value for similar costs.