Trades / Tech & digital

Telecom, phones & internet contracts across Canada

Phone systems, internet access, structured cabling and video conferencing for offices, schools and health sites.

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In short

Public buyers across Canada posted 13 telecom, phones & internet contracts in the last 12 months, and 11 are open now. The busiest buyers are Department of National Defence (DND) and Shared Services Canada. Most are posted in October.

From CrewBid’s bid data, Nov 1, 2026.

The kind of work that comes up

  • Phone system modernization and maintenance
  • Local internet access services
  • Structured cabling for a new building

About telecom, phones & internet contracts

Also called: telephone systems, VoIP, mobile services, internet service, fibre optic, structured cabling, network cabling, radio

Public bodies buy phone systems, mobile plans, internet connections and the cabling that ties their buildings together. The carrier contracts go to large telecoms, but cabling, phone system installs, radio and fibre projects bring many tenders for regional firms.

Who buys telecom?

  • Municipalities and regional districts, for phone systems, fibre between sites, radio and connectivity projects.
  • School districts, for structured cabling in renovations and new schools, and wireless networks.
  • Health authorities and crown corporations, for large networks, usually through prequalified lists.
  • First Nations and rural regional districts, for community broadband projects.

What does the work include?

Cabling tenders come with drawings for data drops, fibre runs, racks and testing to a named standard. Phone system tenders cover a hosted or on-site system, porting numbers, handsets, training and support. Fibre and broadband projects cover design, permits, construction and network operation. Radio tenders cover two-way radio for works and emergency crews.

How is it priced?

Cabling is usually a lump sum or a price per drop, with test reports required. Phone systems are priced per seat per month plus set-up, or as a capital purchase plus support. Broadband projects are priced like construction, often with government grant rules attached.

When do these tenders come out?

Cabling tenders follow renovations and new school or civic building projects, often as part of the electrical or general contract. Phone system replacements come up when an old system reaches end of support. Broadband projects follow federal and provincial grant intakes, so watch for them after funding is announced.

What do you need to bid?

Expect certifications for the cabling systems you install, test equipment and reports, references, and WorkSafeBC registration and a clearance letter for on-site work. Cabling inside buildings may need to be done under an electrical contractor licence. Broadband projects often need engineering staff and experience with permits on public roads.

See IT products and the IT and tech contracts guide for related work.

Sources: How the government buys (Government of Canada)

Open telecom, phones & internet contracts

Closes Tue, Nov 3 · 2 days Small-firm friendly In French

Lot 2601 – Électricité, télécommunication et sécurité physique - Hôpital Charles-Le Moyne – Bloc opératoire et chirurgie d’un jour – Agrandissement et réaménagement (Module clinique transitoire) au 2924, boulevard Taschereau, Longueuil

Société québécoise des infrastructures · Montréal, Laval & the Montérégie · General contracting & renovations +1

See all 11 →

Telecom, phones & internet contracts: fact sheet

Posted in the last 12 months
13 (11 open now)
Recurring or multi-year
23% of notices
Typical time to bid
40 days from posting to closing
Busiest months
October, September, January
Who posts the most
Department of National Defence (DND), Shared Services Canada, Loto-Québec .

From the public notices CrewBid collected, as of Nov 1, 2026.

Small telecom, phones & internet jobs and quotes

Not every telecom, phones & internet job is tendered. Below each buyer's posting threshold, small jobs usually go to a few firms the buyer already knows, by phone or an emailed request for quotes. Typical examples: adding phone lines or extensions, moving a phone system to a new office, or fixing cabling in one building.

To get those calls, ask the purchasing or facilities staff at the buyers near you how to join their supplier list, and keep your insurance and safety papers current so you can say yes the same day. See when buyers have to post a tender in BC and Alberta, and standing offers and supplier lists.

When telecom, phones & internet contracts are likely to come up again →

Guides for telecom, phones & internet

Telecom, phones & internet contracts by province

Where are telecom, phones & internet contracts posted?

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