CRTC Rejects Big Telecom’s Attempt to Roll Back Internet Sharing Rules

The CRTC is standing by its decision to give Canadians more choice when it comes to high-speed Internet—despite pushback from two of Canada’s biggest telecom players.

Last year, the regulator ruled that smaller Internet providers could sell plans using the existing fibre networks owned by giants like Bell, Rogers, and Telus. The move was meant to boost competition and lower prices for consumers across the country.

Now, Bell, Rogers, and Telus had a chance to respond. But only Bell and Rogers asked the CRTC to reverse the plan. They argued that while more competition might sound good in the short term, it would kill the incentive to invest in better networks—especially in rural areas—and give bigger companies an unfair edge through bundled Internet and wireless deals.

Telus broke ranks with its rivals. It actually supported the CRTC’s decision and said that when it sells Internet outside its usual territory, it’s giving customers a new alternative. Telus argued the decision strikes the right balance between competition and investment and dismissed the idea that bundling services is unfair. It also said claims of investment cuts from Bell weren’t backed by solid evidence.

The CRTC agreed. After reviewing arguments from over 60 groups—including ISPs, consumer advocates, and the Competition Bureau—it found no strong reason to change the rules. It said the new framework is already working: smaller providers are gaining customers using wholesale fibre access, and competition is increasing in many areas.

Incumbents also argued that letting them resell Internet outside their home turf (like Bell offering service in Telus territory) doesn’t really count as “new competition.” But the CRTC disagreed, saying that as long as a company is new to a region, it gives customers another choice.

Smaller internet companies like TekSavvy and Cogeco also raised concerns that the big players could bundle Internet with their wireless services and undercut smaller providers. The CRTC acknowledged this might be tough for some ISPs, but said that giving customers more bundled options can be a good thing.

To keep things fair, the current CRTC rules only allow access to existing fibre networks—not newly built ones—until 2029. They also set wholesale prices to ensure that big telecom companies are fairly compensated for the cost of building those networks. In addition, the rules prevent these companies from reselling Internet service in areas where they already operate, so they can’t dominate their own turf while expanding elsewhere.

So far, large telecoms like Bell and Rogers have gained only about 2% of the market outside their usual zones—hardly enough to claim they’re dominating.

The Commission said it will keep an eye on how the market evolves but made one thing clear, the ruling it made is staying for the sake of internet competition.