TELUS & kini launch phone plans for Filipino-Canadians
Canadian telecom group TELUS has joined with niche provider kini mobile to launch a set of prepaid plans aimed at Filipino-Canadians who move between Canada and the Philippines and want to keep numbers in both countries on a single device.
The new "Made for Pinoys" and "kini Pinoy Plan" offer runs on the TELUS 5G network. With the new venture, customers can now hold both a Philippine and a Canadian mobile line on one handset. The product targets Filipino residents, international students, temporary foreign workers and frequent travellers who divide their time between the two countries.
Under the arrangement, kini mobile provides the prepaid service while TELUS supplies network access. The partners pitch the offer as a way to simplify cross-border connectivity for Filipinos with ties in both markets.
Toronto-based provider kini mobile, which operates under parent company Kin Innovation, targets Asian communities living outside their countries of origin. It has focused on customers who want to maintain strong links to their home markets and prefer service in their own language.
Dual-number focus
Users can maintain a Philippine mobile number alongside a Canadian number. Telus said the structure is designed for users who want constant reachability to family and contacts in the Philippines without running multiple phones or juggling SIM cards.
Customers can opt for either an eSIM or a physical SIM. The range is available through kini mobile retail locations in Canada. It is also available through the company's website and through partner agencies and retailers in the Philippines.
The Filipino population in Canada has expanded steadily in recent years. The community includes permanent residents, students and workers who often retain close personal and business links with the Philippines.
Prepaid plans structure
The kini Pinoy Plans use a prepaid structure. Customers do not sign contracts or undergo credit checks with the kini business structure.
Key features include bundled international calling and messaging. Users can place international long-distance calls to 20 destinations, which include the Philippines. The plans also include unlimited SMS and MMS.
Subscribers can access customer support from Filipino representatives. The partners say these support agents speak the language and understand typical use cases for cross-border communication.
Rewards and perks
The product also includes a rewards program. Customers can earn GCash cashbacks after reaching specific spending thresholds. GCash is a widely used mobile wallet service in the Philippines.
Users can also earn bonus data over time. The plan includes data appreciation rewards and exclusive perks for customers who remain with the service.
The partners said the plans are available immediately through Canadian and Philippine sales channels. They indicated that they plan to reach more Filipinos living, studying and working in Canada as adoption of eSIM and 5G handsets grows.