Slow data speeds in Calgary, AB

[Rahmatzadeh]

Hi everyone,

I’m experiencing extremely poor mobile data performance with Bell Mobility on my Pixel 9 Pro in downtown Calgary. Signal strength often looks fine, but data speeds are so slow that the internet is barely usable, and sometimes it feels like there’s no connection at all.

I’m on a plan with 120 GB of data per month, but in reality I can barely use around 1–1.5 GB because of how slow and unreliable the connection is. Basic tasks like browsing, maps, or messaging frequently lag or fail to load.

Is anyone else facing similar issues in downtown Calgary, especially on Pixel devices? Is this a known network issue, device compatibility problem, or something that can be fixed with settings or support intervention?

Any help or guidance would be appreciated. Thanks.

[dks · Accepted solution]

Thank you for your question. A quick look at my favourite cell tower map for Calgary shows there are dozens of cell sites in downtown Calgary. Bell has some of their own cell sites, but uses Telus cell towers in Western Canada just as Telus uses Bell towers in Eastern Canada. 

Cell phones are actually radio receivers and transmitters. Their sending and receiving radio signals are dependent on a number of factors including topography, environmental conditions and line of sight to towers. Tower congestion may also be a factor.

Cell phones always adapt to the strongest signal and prioritize voice over data by design. You will rarely get a 5G signal everywhere, because of the variability of the signal and due to the factors I have mentioned. 5G also has shorter range as opposed to LTE. 

[Rahmatzadeh]

Hi there, thanks for providing the coverage map. I’m not fully familiar with the technical details of how the phone connects to nearby towers, but I’ve marked my exact location on the map. I’m located in the East Village area of Calgary.

According to the map, there appears to be a Telus tower nearby. However, on the 18th floor of the building, we have almost no signal at all, and on the 11th floor the data speed is very poor, which is not what I would expect from a 5G+ connection.

I’ve attached a screenshot showing the exact location for reference.

[dks · Accepted solution]

Thank your the clarification. As there are many factors involved in cellular reception, I can't comment more specifically. If a cell transmitter is at street level, it transmits horizontally and may not reach upper floors. If your building is concrete and steel rebar, that creates a natural Faraday Cage which can block cellular signals. You might walk your neighbourhood to locate the towers (dress warmly).