Financial Post: Canadians need wireless competition

Canadians pay too much for telecom service; we can see that in the response to our Stop The Squeeze campaign. In order for Canadians to obtain fair pricing there needs to be support for new independent carriers into the currently anticompetitive telecom market. And as this report shows, the government needs to do more to ensure that we achieve a fair and open telecom market so that we no longer are saddled with large telecom bills. Article by Jameson Berkow for the Financial Post Higher prices and lower-quality service will remain the standard for Canadian wireless customers, unless Ottawa completes its quest to make the industry more competitive, says a new report.

In a 42-page report published Wednesday, the SeaBoard Group praised the federal government for taking steps in recent years to allow more players into the sector. Wind Mobile, Videotron, Mobilicity and other new entrants have disrupted the long-held oligopoly of BCE Inc.’s Bell Canada, Rogers Communications Inc. and Telus Corp., the report said, driving prices down and forcing the Big Three to shake off decades of complacency.

However, the Montreal-based research firm cautioned there is “still work to do” if Ottawa’s goal of giving Canadians the best, most cost-effective wireless service possible is to be achieved. Read more »

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Read more at business.financialpost.com

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