CRTC and Wireless Competition

Fifth Wheel · #1 03-23-2018, 11:26 PM

Here's email I received from OpenMedia regarding wireless competition in Canada and our CRTC. Since the "Big 3" own the towers, I'm not sure what the right answer is. Should they be forced to allow competitors to buy access?

Yesterday, our federal regulator turned down a huge opportunity to lower your cell phone bill.[1]

The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) rejected a proposal to create more competition in our wireless markets.[2] It was a big win for the Big Three, and yet another loss for everyday Canadians.

Now, it's time to turn to the federal government to step in. Innovation Minister Navdeep Bains has said that the high prices Canadians face for mobile service is unacceptable.[3]

TELL MINISTER BAINS NOW: STEP IN AND LOWER OUR CELL BILLS: https://act.openmedia.org/MoreChoice?src=162450

It's not fair that you have to pay some of the highest cell phone bills in the world.[4]

Yesterday's announcement by the CRTC was a huge disappointment. Instead of taking steps to introduce competition to our wireless markets by allowing Wi-Fi mobile virtual network operators (MVNOs), they turned their back on Canadians and hid behind promises of yet another proceeding.[5]

We need action for lower cell phone prices now, https://act.openmedia.org/MoreChoice?src=162450. If Minister Bains is serious about addressing competition like he has said he is[6] he needs to step in now.

It will only take a minute: Send an email to Minister Bains now, https://act.openmedia.org/MoreChoice?src=162450, and tell him why you need him to step in and bring Canadians more choice on mobile.

-Katy, for your OpenMedia team

P.S. The fight for lower cell phone bills has us going up against huge telecom lobbyists. Please consider donating $5 or $10 to OpenMedia, https://act.openmedia.org/moreChoice/donate?src=162450, to keep up the fight for a free and open Internet.

Footnotes
[1] Big telcos not required to sell wholesale network access to tower-less rivals, CRTC says: CBC, http://www.cbc.ca/news/business/cell...ogle-1.4588327
[2] CRTC to study wireless affordability, stops short of mandating new business model: Globe and Mail, https://www.theglobeandmail.com/repo...ticle38330886/
[3] Innovation Minister Navdeep Bains takes aim at wireless affordability: Globe and Mail, https://www.theglobeandmail.com/repo...ticle35209177/
[4] Why Canadian cell phone bills are among the most expensive on the planet: National Post, http://nationalpost.com/news/canada/...-on-the-planet
[5] CRTC closes door on Wi-Fi-first MVNOs, launches new low-cost data-only plans consultation: MobileSyrup, https://mobilesyrup.com/2018/03/22/c...ireless-plans/
[6] Cellphone plan prices drop for millions of Canadians: Government of Canada, https://www.canada.ca/en/innovation-...canadians.html

Sleddawg · #2 03-24-2018, 01:04 AM

My cell phone bills are ridiculous. Constantly between $500-$1000, I use a lot of data working in remote areas sending and receiving emails and what not. I went onto Bells website about 2 months ago and seen 100GB/$105/month, I called right away and they said they couldn't find that offer anywhere. I told the lady I am looking at it right on my computer screen. Turns out it was an offer for Ontario only, if I wanted 70GB in Alberta it would cost me $455/month minimum. I am steady using around 60-70GB, so this route was cheaper than what I had been doing. Total joke. Wish I didnt need internet for work and entertainment when I am on the road.

67ZL1 · #3 03-24-2018, 10:43 AM

It’s all about protecting Canadian companies. Same reason the Fed’s won’t allow foreign airlines offer domestic flights in Canada.

markg · #4 03-24-2018, 08:32 PM

I have worked in this industry for nearly 20 years. It is ridiculous how expensive our rates are. The primary infrastructure has been in place for over a decade yet the companies constantly use the excuse that they are building out a network on a huge nation. This is patently false. There is a simple reason why our rates are so high, OLIGOPOLY.

Bell owns Vigin

Telus owns Koodo

Rogers owns Fido

In the last 2 years I have seen rate plans increase by $10 per month. I have seen the companies offer "premium plus plans" which are even more expensive and give you exactly the same service as regular plans but they are $20 more than plans were 2 years ago. What do you get for being a premium customer? a whopping $200 of the price of your handset. However multiply $20x24 months and your paying $480 dollars to your carrier to save $200. Wasnt that kind of them to help you out?

This industy verges on being criminal.

I will not sign another contract ever again. I will ping pong carriers for who ever can provide me with the lowest rate. I will buy my phones outright and take advantage of promo plans.

At least we have number portability and unlocked phones now thats at least was a win for the consumer.

skidderman · #5 03-24-2018, 08:58 PM

No contract for me. Three years on Koodo. $43 a month. But I don't use data much. Had a few dealings with Bell over the years. Complete ripoff artists. I wish they would go bankrupt!!!!!

Fifth Wheel · #6 03-24-2018, 09:31 PM

So it's protectionism vs. free trade, then? I get that it might be a good thing to protect Canadian jobs but it seems to me that free trade is better in the long run. It seems that NAFTA did us more good than harm. Lots of manufacturers survived and thrived by adapting.

But the telecoms are a bit unique due to the infrastructure they must first build. Should they be protected because they own those towers and networks?

The wireless bills are brutal, especially when the kids blow the limits on their shared plan every other month or so. (They owe us a lot when they are done with school and have real jobs)!

enfield303 · #7 03-24-2018, 10:12 PM

Who payed / subsidized their towers etc???

sillyak · #8 03-25-2018, 02:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sleddawg

My cell phone bills are ridiculous. Constantly between $500-$1000, I use a lot of data working in remote areas sending and receiving emails and what not. I went onto Bells website about 2 months ago and seen 100GB/$105/month, I called right away and they said they couldn't find that offer anywhere. I told the lady I am looking at it right on my computer screen. Turns out it was an offer for Ontario only, if I wanted 70GB in Alberta it would cost me $455/month minimum. I am steady using around 60-70GB, so this route was cheaper than what I had been doing. Total joke. Wish I didnt need internet for work and entertainment when I am on the road.

I work in the oilfield and have internet for emails, sending documents ect. I send and recieve a lot of work crap. Business use is maybe a gig or two a month. What sort of emails are using 70 gigs a month? Maybe it's time to trade in Netflix for a kindle??