The Canadian Wireless Telecommunications Association (CWTA), a lobby group for the country’s major telecom providers, has announced Canada is a “global 4G superpower with the fastest wireless networks in the G7.”
According to a media release from yesterday, the CWTA cites recent reports from the CRTC and ISED, to note Canadians are using more data than ever on “networks that are among the most advanced in the world,” while also stating “prices for wireless services are declining.”
“In 2018 our facilities-based carriers continued to move forward on a path of innovation and investment that has delivered the fastest wireless networks in the G7 – almost twice as fast as the U.S. – and is paving the way for the arrival 5G,” said Robert Ghiz, President & CEO of CWTA, in a media release.
“The recent Wall Communications report commissioned for ISED reveals that prices for wireless services in Canada are also declining. And even with the limitations in the report’s methodology – such as not accounting for the differences in network quality between countries and the many different promotions offered by Canada’s service providers – the benefits of long-standing policies encouraging facilities-based competition are clear,” added Ghiz.
The claim of Canada having the fastest networks in the G7 and fourth worldwide are based on November speed tests from the Ookla Speedtest Global Index.
The CWTA goes on to say wireless operators have had capital investments of nearly $50 billion to achieve LTE network coverage for 99% of Canadians, while also touting how the industry “generates over 138,000 full-time jobs and contributes in excess of $25 billion in GDP to the Canadian economy.”
The CRTC’s recent 2018 Communications Monitoring Report acknowledged wireless usage in Canada was the lowest among OECD nations, which critics panned was the result of a lack of competition in the country.
Rogers and Bell are members of the CWTA. Telus pulled out in 2014, citing at the time the decision “reflects our desire to continue progressing our highly differentiated strategy and our unique Customers First approach.”
