New rules governing cellphone contracts that come into effect May 1 in Nova Scotia will give customers more flexibility in cancelling their contracts.

The provincial government said the rules will also require cellphone companies to share more information with customers about minimum monthly costs and include those details in ads.

Under the changes to the Consumer Protection Act, cellphone contracts can be cancelled at any time and the government said mobile phone users could pay as little as $50 to do so.

At least one students' group is endorsing the changes.

"Students are definitely frustrated, you know, that the costs are so high to cancel a contract when they need to go somewhere. So it's definitely a real problem, again, considering how mobile the student population is," said Jonathan Williams, executive director of Students Nova Scotia.

He said capping the fee on breaking a cellphone contract will make it more affordable to do so.

However, under the new rules consumers will still be on the hook for buying out equipment if they cancel their contacts early.

The government said cellphone companies will also be prevented from changing major parts of a contract including services, costs, fees or locations where the phone can be used without permission from a customer.

The changes will only affect cellphone contracts that go into effect May 1.

with files from CBC News