Hello Mikes.
First things first, you should start by checking Videotron's coverage map on the following website .
If the area you describe in the south of Ottawa is on the orange/Darker Yellow portion of this map, it is likely that your situation isn't normal and would require troubleshooting with Videotron's technical support. A simple address can be used to look up the theoretical signal in some places - and if it doesn't match what you experience, that's a sign to escalate the issue. Even if it does match what you would expect in that part of the city, they can offer solutions to your problem, such as Wi-Fi calls , and trying out different network connections .
As for roaming, a vast majority of phone plans will allow it , as long as you stay within the limits of your plan. The big differences are that when roaming, your celling for overusage fees is higher - That is to say that if you use your mobile data too much in the subscription zone, Videotron has to stop you at 50$ to avoid excessive billing. However, if you are roaming, that celling is now 100$, so twice as high.
Another thing to consider is that if you roam, you must still keep the majority of your usage on Videotron's network . If you do not, you could be blocked from using the Partner network 2 for a period of 30 days. If you wish to know more about the Partner Network 2 restrictions, you can learn more here .
Hope this helps!
Go to the Videotron.com site
First steps
User Guide
Gamification
