Canada's wireless market has long been dominated by three major players: Rogers, Bell and TELUS, which control roughly 94% of the market, according to Open Media's latest report to fix our cellphone market. The Federal government recently promised it would increase further increase wireless competition to offer Canadians more choice and lower prices--but will that...
The Competition Bureau has granted the revised $3.38 billion Bell Media-Astral deal to go through, pending approval from the CRTC: "Consumers who pay for television programming are looking for greater choice, more innovative product offerings, and reasonable prices," said John Pecman, Interim Commissioner. "Today's agreement is essential to preserving choice for consumers and ensuring continued...
The CRTC today has announced it has established final rates for wholesale internet used by independent internet service providers. The adjustments made mean independent ISPs will see "significant reductions" in the wholesale rates they are charged by larger telcos such as Rogers or Bell. "Large and small independent service providers now have the certainty they...
Last night on the Rick Mercer Report, there was a funny skit where Mercer mocked TELUS Chief Marketing Officer David Fuller, for his comments at a recent CRTC hearing regarding wireless contracts and fees (via the CBC). The video was uploaded to the RMR YouTube channel early this morning: "I think a lot of customers...
The Globe and Mail has conducted a survey asking customers what the wireless industry needs to change. The following are the top five complaints from the over 500 readers surveyed in regards to the CRTC's plan to implement a wireless code for our carriers to adhere to. 1. Prices need regulation - 93% of respondents...
On the second day of the CRTC public hearing, Telus wireless plan pricing was in the focus of the regulator, one of the biggest issues noted by Canadians in their replies to the working draft of the Wireless Code. (more…)
Today marks the first day of the CRTC proceeding on the draft wireless code. The Public Interest Advocacy Centre, Consumers’ Association of Canada, and Council of Senior Citizens' Organizations of British Columbia released their oral comments towards the draft wireless code. One of the major points they stressed to the CRTC was to have the draft wireless code...
The Competition Bureau has submitted its suggestions to the CRTC in its demand for feedback regarding the draft wireless code, published late Wednesday: The Bureau believes that discouraging the creation of switching costs that tend to reduce customer mobility, and effectively encouraging the provision of sufficient information to enable informed consumer choice, will allow Canadians...
At the end of January the CRTC launched its draft wireless code and asked the Canadian public for its feedback. Exactly one week later, out of the top 10 'liked' comments in English, 9 of those comments are related to three year wireless contracts, which aren't mentioned within the draft wireless code. The top comment...
The CRTC has announced its draft wireless code has been completed and invites Canadians to share their input on this first draft. Back in November, the CRTC invited Canadians to share their input in creating the first wireless code draft. The draft wireless code today aims to introduce: A clearer understanding of their wireless services and...
The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) has announced it wants your input on the future of 911 services in this country, as a formal review will be coming in 2014-2015. National Commissioner Tim Denton has been appointed as an Inquiry Officer to report feedback findings in May of next year. "Each year, the 911 system...
Canada is a special place. Why? Because when it comes to subsidies on the latest smartphones, our wireless contracts are three years compared to just two in the USA and other countries around the world. With the CRTC recently announcing the results of their wireless code consultation, the results showed the top 100 'liked' comment...
