With today’s start of the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission’s (CRTC) public hearing on its wireless review, companies and organizations have issued statements in both support and against regulation of mobile virtual network operators (MVNOs).
MVNOs would resell wholesale network access from incumbents such as Rogers, Telus and Bell. Companies include the likes of Ting (based in Canada) and Google Fi, both unavailable in Canada.
The latest public opinion survey from the Canadian Internet Registration Authority (CIRA) says 60% of Canadians “support new regulations to promote greater wireless competition by forcing Canada’s largest carriers to share their infrastructure with smaller providers.”
According to the CIRA, its full research report will be released in March, but a preview of key findings were shared today.
Data from the survey shows 85% of Canadians continue to support net neutrality, while 86% say “universal access to high-speed internet is important for Canada’s overall economic growth and prosperity.”
The survey also revealed 80% of Canadians believe “it is important that Canada’s internet service providers and online service companies invest in building up internet infrastructure inside Canada’s borders.”
The CRTC public hearing on the wireless review is slated to take two weeks. Rogers today argued against MVNO regulation in an opinion editorial in the Ottawa Citizen, citing there’s no guarantee lower prices would result.
