[TorontoColin]

911 calling in this case cannot be limited by Wind. If it's not working it is a problem with the handset or possibly with the roaming network (likely Rogers).

Wind cannot block this service through roaming restrictions, even if they wanted to.

 

[TorontoColin]

All handsets must connect to 911 in order to be approved for sale in Canada. It's not a Wind thing, it's a hardware thing. They can't block it from their end the way they can with roaming. If it fails it's either a handset issue or a network issue with the emergency network.

 

[TorontoColin]

911 calls are exempt from any roaming issues. Wind can't undo this. When a 911 call is placed, the phone is supposed to route the call through the first available network, regardless of roaming regulations.

As an example, Bell HSPA phones are blocked from roaming on the Rogers GSM network in the exact same way that Wind handsets are blocked within Wind Zones. However, a 911 call will still be routed to the first available network, even if it is Rogers.

This is not a feature that Wind can turn off, even if they wanted to. I'm not saying they can't because it's against the rules, I'm saying they literally do not possess the ability to disable 911 roaming calls. The only possible way it could be disabled is if Rogers were to do disable it on their end, and that would result in huge fines for Rogers. The only other possible explanation would be handset failure of some kind.

 

[TorontoColin]

Wind blocks roaming on the Rogers network within their coverage areas to prevent customers from accidentally running up large roaming bills in what is supposed to be a 'Home Zone'. Outside of coverage areas Wind users can roam on Rogers.

 

[TorontoColin]

Wind was getting lots of complaints from users who had their phones accidentally move to roaming inside buildings and then ran up massive roaming data charges within a few minutes. Additionally, many phones didn't automatically revert back to Wind when signal became available. Customers can force their phones to stay on Wind, but most of them didn't and then insisted on having the charges reversed. Rather than continue like this, Wind chose instead to disable roaming within their coverage.