Bell and Rogers say new rules mandating all Canadian wireless carriers sell unlocked phones have triggered a rise in phone thefts.
“There have been multiple instances of armed robberies at our stores targeting unlocked, new devices,” Bell said in a submission to the CRTC. The broadcast regulator had requested information from carriers to assess how its new rules are working out.
To help spur competition, on Dec. 1, the CRTC mandated that all carriers unlock phones for free and only sell unlocked phones going forward.
Previously, telcos sold customers phones locked to their networks and charged a fee — generally $50 — to unlock them so people could switch providers.
Read full story here: CRTC’s Unlocked Phone Rule Has Sparked A Crime Spree, Bell And Rogers Say | CBC News
