Independent report confirms continued downward wireless pricing trends in Canada
July 14, 2014 – Ottawa – Industry Canada
Industry Minister James Moore today welcomed the findings published in Wall Communications' report on the telecommunications market in Canada. The 2014 Wall report confirms that wireless prices continue their downward trend in an environment of increased competition, falling 22 percent since 2008.
The Harper Government has been clear about its policy to support greater competition in the wireless industry and has taken deliberate, meaningful action to achieve that goal, such as:
- announcing the AWS-3 spectrum auction and its plan to set aside spectrum for operating new entrants;
- recently passing legislation to cap wholesale roaming rates on Canadian networks to prevent wireless providers from impeding competition;
- concluding the 700 MHz spectrum auction, which increased competition and generated $5.27 billion in revenue, the most successful wireless auction in Canada's history;
- strengthening rules requiring carriers to share cell towers to facilitate competition;
- enforcing a "use it or lose it" policy for spectrum use to ensure that wireless companies use their spectrum licences for the benefit of consumers, otherwise losing those licences;
- enabling access to spectrum for new entrants in recent and upcoming spectrum auctions to foster greater competition;
- applying Canada's spectrum licence transfer framework policy to all spectrum licence transfers to ensure consumers benefit from more competition; and
- committing to introduce enforcement measures to increase consumer protection.
Jake Enwright
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Industry
613-995-9001
Media Relations
Industry Canada
613-943-2502
media-relations@ic.gc.ca