Koodo finally boosts 5G data speeds, but the upgrade could take months

Telus is finally upgrading 5G data for Koodo customers, boosting speeds up to 1Gbps on all plans.

The change will apply to both new and existing customers, though existing customers might have to wait a while before they see the change.

For new customers, all of Koodo’s 5G plans now include data speeds up to 1Gbps, up from the previous cap of 250Mbps. Koodo’s website notes that customers will need a compatible 5G phone with up-to-date software to access the faster speeds. It’s also worth pointing out that it’s up to 1Gbps speeds. Various factors can impact speeds, including your device, proximity to towers, environmental conditions and more.

Existing Koodo customers are also getting the speed boost if they have a compatible device. The upgrade will come automatically and at no additional cost. However, Koodo expects the upgrade will “be completed over the next six months,” so it could be a long wait for speeds to increase.

Alongside the speed improvements, Koodo changed its perk offerings. Koodo offers customers a free perk of their choice with its plans, such as rollover data. The carrier previously offered a 5G speed boost perk that upped data speeds to 500Mbps, but the carrier has now removed that perk. While I’d like to see it return with a higher speed (say, 1.5Gbps), I doubt Telus will do it since boosting speeds above 1Gbps would bring Koodo plans too close to the speeds offered by Telus’ more premium plan options.

Koodo’s 5G speed upgrade comes weeks after Rogers-owned Fido and Bell-owned Virgin Plus made similar changes with their own flanker brands. Fido officially launched 5G in March with 1Gbps speeds. Bell quickly followed suit, bringing 5G back to Virgin Plus and matching Fido’s speeds. That left Koodo with much slower 5G speeds, but now the three flanker brands are back on equal footing.

Source: Koodo