October 31st, 2005
OTTAWA-GATINEAU -- The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) released today its fifth and final report to the Governor in Council on the status of competition in the Canadian telecommunications markets and the deployment of advanced telecommunications infrastructure and services.
The report provides information on the status of competition for the telecommunications industry, including the regulatory regime, the key players, and the effects of competition on consumers. The report also examines the availability of broadband service and reviews the progress made under existing initiatives of broadband deployment.
"The telecommunications landscape has changed considerably since the release of the first report to the Governor in Council in 2001," said Charles Dalfen, Chairman of the CRTC. "Our monitoring report indicates that Internet and wireless services continue to be the flagships of growth and innovation for the Canadian telecommunications industry and that technology continues to impact the industry, not only by lowering costs, but also by introducing new means of providing telecommunications services."
The report indicates that local competition has increased since 2000, although competitors have not yet generally gained the same level of market share in the local markets as they have in the long distance, Internet or data and private line markets. They have however, made inroads in both the business and residential urban markets in several major centres.
Although this is the last report to the Governor in Council, the CRTC announced on October 18th, 2005 (Telecom Public Notice CRTC 2005-15) that it will continue with its monitoring activities and issuance of monitoring reports.
For an information sheet with the highlights of the 2005 Telecom Monitoring Report please visit the CRTC's Reference Centre at http://www.crtc.gc.ca/eng/NEWS/RELEASES/2005/News2005.htm.
A complete version of the report is also available at http://www.crtc.gc.ca/eng/publications/reports.htm.
The CRTC
The CRTC is an independent, public authority which was established to sustain and promote Canadian culture and achieve key social and economic objectives by regulating and supervising Canadian broadcasting and telecommunications in the public interest. As an expert tribunal it takes into account the wants and needs of Canadian citizens, industries and various interest groups. The CRTC is governed by the Broadcasting Act and the Telecommunications Act and reports to Parliament through the Minister of Canadian Heritage.
Reference documents: 2005 Telecom Monitoring Report [.htm] [.pdf]
Information - Highlights of CRTC Telecom Monitoring Report 2005
- 30 -
Media Relations :
MediaRelations@crtc.gc.ca, Tel: (819) 997-9403, Fax: (819) 997-4245
General Inquiries:
Tel: (819) 997-0313, TDD: (819) 994-0423, Fax: (819) 994-0218
Toll-free # 1-877-249-2782
TDD - Toll-free # 1-877-909-2782
Copies of today's documents are available through our Internet site (http://www.crtc.gc.ca) or by contacting the documentation centre of any CRTC office. These documents are available in alternative format upon request.
City
Telephone
TDD
Fax
Edmonton
Dartmouth
Montreal
Ottawa-Gatineau
Regina
Toronto
Vancouver
Winnipeg
(780) 495-3224
(902) 426-7997
(514) 283-6607
(819) 997-2429
(306) 780-3422
(416) 952-9096
(604) 666-2111
(204) 983-6306
(819) 994-0423
(819) 994-0423
(819) 994-0423
(819) 994-0423
(819) 994-0423
(819) 994-0423
(604) 666-0778
(204) 983-8274
(819) 994-0218
(902) 426-2721
(819) 994-0218
(819) 994-0218
(819) 994-0218
(819) 994-0218
(604) 666-8322
(204) 983-6317
