Canadian Politics Today

Beyond Politics => General Discussion => Topic started by: Pinus or Vid or...????? on March 08, 2019, 01:58:23 pm

Title: The CRTC
Post by: Pinus or Vid or...????? on March 08, 2019, 01:58:23 pm
I'm beginning to question what good the CRTC has done, when Canadians pay the highest cell phone bills, and Telus, Bell, and Rogers continue to have a complete monopoly over the Industry.
Title: Re: The CRTC
Post by: wilber on March 08, 2019, 02:27:31 pm
Shaw is making some waves with Freedom. My daughters family is using it and so far so good. One nice thing is they include US coverage with 1 GIG of US data as part of their package.  She was using it in Vegas last week and it worked great.

Thinking of switching myself.
Title: Re: The CRTC
Post by: Michael Hardner on March 08, 2019, 03:03:16 pm
Freedom also has full service in the subway.  Somehow.
Title: Re: The CRTC
Post by: ?Impact on March 08, 2019, 03:17:19 pm
Freedom also has full service in the subway.  Somehow.

The cell network in the TTC was created by BAI Comunications. Freedom is the only partner that signed up to use it, at least so far. Transit systems are a focus area for BAI, and they also seem to be predominantly in English speaking countries (Canada, US, UK, Australia, and Hong Kong). They are not just providing public access in transit systems, but communications for the systems internal use as well.
Title: Re: The CRTC
Post by: kimmy on March 09, 2019, 01:34:42 pm
Good news may be on the horizon:  Science/Economic Development minister Navdeep Bains has issued a policy direction calling for more competition in the Canadian market. 

http://www.michaelgeist.ca/2019/02/enough-is-enough-bains-proposes-crtc-policy-direction-grounded-in-competition-affordability-and-consumer-interests/

The upshot appears to be that Bell/Telus/Rogers aren't going to be allowed to shut out "mobile virtual network operators", which should give Canadians more options.

 -k
Title: Re: The CRTC
Post by: TimG on March 09, 2019, 01:37:18 pm
The upshot appears to be that Bell/Telus/Rogers aren't going to be allowed to shut out "mobile virtual network operators", which should give Canadians more options.
Really? I did not realize they had the ability. Glad to see the change. When I travel now I always buy a local SIM card from a "virtual network operator" instead of paying for international roaming.
Title: Re: The CRTC
Post by: kimmy on March 09, 2019, 01:43:02 pm
Really? I did not realize they had the ability. Glad to see the change. When I travel now I always buy a local SIM card from a "virtual network operator" instead of paying for international roaming.

I'm not well versed on the issue, but the impression I get is that the CRTC has, until now, declined to license "MVNO" companies to operate in Canada because Bell/Telus/Rogers have lobbied CRTC reviews with arguments based around the costs of building infrastructure and so-on.  If Mr Geist is correct in interpreting Minister Bains' directive, that's going to change.

 -k