In an op-ed published in The Globe and Mail, Lee Bragg, executive vice chair of Eastlink, and Frédéric Perron, president and CEO of Cogeco, called out Canada’s ‘Big 3’ telecom incumbents—Rogers, Telus and Bell—for exploiting regulatory loopholes to lower competition and drive up internet costs for Canadians.
Bragg and Perron argue that the CRTC’s ‘Regulated Wholesale Internet’ rules, designed two decades ago to support smaller providers, are now being used by Rogers, Telus and Bell to dominate regional networks.
How so? By acquiring smaller competitors like Distributel and EBOX, the ‘Big 3′ have gained access to these regional networks, reselling services at regulated prices and undermining the competitive landscape.
“For regional providers like Cogeco, nearly half of the network users are now customers of Bell, Rogers, or Telus,” the executives wrote, adding that this practice not only weakens competition but also drives up prices and reduces consumer choice.
The federal government has asked the CRTC to reconsider whether Rogers, Telus and Bell should continue using smaller networks under these rules. Bragg and Perron welcomed the move but emphasized that banning this exploitative practice is essential to protect competition, drive innovation, and ensure there are affordable internet options.
On the other hand, smaller players are allowed to access the networks of the ‘Big 3’ to buy wholesale internet and resell it. Incumbents such as Rogers have called out the CRTC to end to this practice.
“The future of Canada’s internet landscape depends on closing this loophole,” they concluded, urging the CRTC to act quickly in favour of consumers rather than the telecom incumbent monopoly.
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Can't wait for starlink phone to come out
It's funny that you think that it's going to be cheaper and better than what we are currently stuck with. Good luck with that.
better, yes, cheaper, no. But, history has shown that more competition leads to better prices almost 100% of the time.
That's the problem. The second a small player tries to enter the market the big players squeeze them out and then buy the remnants at pennies on the dollar. This has happened over and over again. So there never really is enough competition in the market to enact any change.
Regarding starlink, do you really want to give Musk MORE money after who he's turned into?!
I'd rather support the big 3 than give Musk a dime of my money
Everybody build their own network