This statistical profile documents the composition of telecommunications subscriptions in Canada and the shift toward mobile connectivity.
The telecommunications subscription structure of Canada in 2024 comprised 77.3% mobile cellular subscriptions and 22.7% fixed telephone subscriptions. Mobile penetration exceeded fixed-line penetration by 66.5 subscriptions per 100 people. Mobile subscriptions first exceeded fixed subscriptions in 2006. Fixed broadband penetration was 42.5 subscriptions per 100 people in 2024.
Based on comparable data for 2024, Canada ranked 42nd of 213 economies by fixed telephone penetration and 152nd of 214 by mobile penetration.
Canada Fixed and Mobile Telecommunications by Year
Data source: World Bank, World Development Indicators — Fixed telephone subscriptions (IT.MLT.MAIN); Fixed telephone subscriptions, per 100 people (IT.MLT.MAIN.P2); Mobile cellular subscriptions (IT.CEL.SETS); Mobile cellular subscriptions, per 100 people (IT.CEL.SETS.P2); Population, total (population); Individuals using the Internet, % of population (IT.NET.USER.ZS); Fixed broadband subscriptions, per 100 people (IT.NET.BBND.P2).
License: CC BY-4.0. Retrieved 2026-07-12.
About the Indicators
Fixed telephone subscriptions. The total number of active fixed (landline) telephone subscriptions.
Fixed telephone subscriptions, per 100 people. Fixed telephone subscriptions per 100 people.
Mobile cellular subscriptions. The total number of active mobile cellular telephone subscriptions.
Mobile cellular subscriptions, per 100 people. Subscriptions to a public mobile telephone service, per 100 people; counts active SIM subscriptions, not unique subscribers.
Individuals using the Internet, % of population. The share of a country’s population that used the Internet from any device, including mobile phones, in the last three months.
Fixed broadband subscriptions, per 100 people. Subscriptions to high-speed wired Internet access, per 100 people; counts active subscriptions, not unique users or households.