Canada’s big telecom companies will have to give small competitors access to their fibre-optic networks because of a decision by the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC), a public body which regulates broadcasting and telecommunications.
‘Canadians pay some of the highest prices’
“Canadians pay some of the highest prices in the industrialized world for their internet services and this is not for comparable services to what people in other industrialized countries are getting,” says Laura Tribe, digital rights specialist with OpenMedia, a digital advocacy group working for a free and open internet.
ListenThe quality of internet service depends on where Canadians live. Most can access it through broadband, some use dial-up and three million homes, mostly in urban centres, have access to higher speed fibre-optic service. OpenMedia wants more people to be able to use fibre optic at more affordable prices.
Big telecoms control the internet market
“Big telecom companies own over 92 per cent of the market for our internet in Canada and there really isn’t much incentive to continue to grow or expand the service, or to provide more affordable service when there isn’t really that much competition for them,” says Tribe.
Until now, the large telecoms have given smaller companies access only to their slower networks that operate through cable or copper-wire. Now the CRTC says they will have to make their fibre facilities available to their competitors in order to give Canadians more choice and more affordability.
Fibre-optic service limited, expensive
“Right now fibre is very limited availability in Canada. It’s really expensive and not very many people have access to it or can afford it,” says Tribe.
“What we’re really hoping this (ruling) will do is, by allowing more…smaller companies and providers into the market, it will help speed up the process of getting this into people’s homes, give them faster internet and it will also help bring the prices down by bringing in more choice and competition.”
‘Great news’ for Canadians
The CRTC has ruled the big telecoms will have to provide affordable rates for smaller companies’ access to their fibre-optic networks. Depending on the details and how things play out, Tribe says this is great news for Canadians.
“The internet has become a critical tool for how we operate on a day-to-day basis and the biggest issue is that Canadians, a number of them, can’t afford internet access at home or they can’t afford quality service or in more rural areas they don’t have access to it.
“I think what we’re really hoping is that this decision and this discussion about the internet in Canada will help us to insure that everyone has affordable and open access to the fastest internet.”
For reasons beyond our control, and for an undetermined period of time, our comment section is now closed. However, our social networks remain open to your contributions.