The Canadian Bazaar
TORONTO: Cheap wireless services are coming, says the Canadian governent
Over the next two years, Bell, Rogers and Telus and their allied brands, which control 90% of the national wireless market, are expected to offer plans in the 2 -6 GB range that are 25 percent cheaper than current rates.
Announcing this today, François-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry, said the prices for a majority of wireless plans have already decreased by between 9 percent and 25 percent, compared to the benchmark prices collected in early 2020.
The minister said the government has taken the following steps to increase competition in the wireless market:
– reserved 50 MHz in the 3500 MHz spectrum auction for small and regional telecom companies.
– created pro-competition rules for the 600 MHz band spectrum auction that led to regional providers more than doubling their share of low-band spectrum;
– issued a policy direction to the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) to consider how its decisions can promote competition, affordability, and consumer interests and innovation.
If these policy steps do not meet this goal, the government will create regulatory tools to increase competition and help reduce prices.
