Comments on: Open up the Canadian wireless networks! http://www.christophermercer.net/2007/12/06/open-up-the-canadian-wireless-networks/ Commentary on the technology you use! Tue, 06 Jan 2009 23:30:37 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.1.3 By: Matthew Kettle http://www.christophermercer.net/2007/12/06/open-up-the-canadian-wireless-networks/#comment-299 Matthew Kettle Fri, 07 Dec 2007 10:51:20 +0000 http://www.christophermercer.net/2007/12/06/open-up-the-canadian-wireless-networks/#comment-299 As it stands now, Canada is 29th out of 30 of the wireless countries. Which is pretty terrible and infuriating for Canadian Consumers. Aside from open networks, or simple sim card unlocking, our data rates are unbelievable when compared to other networks in other countries. For example, The closest thing to unlimited data we have up here are plans with Rogers for 500 mb a month. The last time I checked, that plan was about 220$ a month as well, compare that to a true unlimited data plan in the states on AT&T that goes for 20 $ a month. Ludicrous. But there aren't going to be any changes at the moment because the Providers at the moment have an oligopoly and have no reason to make anything any cheaper. However, Last week the conservative government passed a bill for the promotion of competition in the Wireless Industry. Normally, when there is a wireless spectrum auction, which is what's needed for cell phone communications, the three big guys buy it all up to block out an competition. As of now however, at least 40% of that is reserved for newcomers, and on top of that for the first few years of operation for any new wireless company, the existing carriers have to make reasonable roaming agreements for the newcomers to use their network. This makes starting a wireless company a viable option in Canada now. Excellent news for us up here, but we won't see any changes until late 2008, when the next auction is going to be held. As it stands now, Canada is 29th out of 30 of the wireless countries. Which is pretty terrible and infuriating for Canadian Consumers.

Aside from open networks, or simple sim card unlocking, our data rates are unbelievable when compared to other networks in other countries. For example, The closest thing to unlimited data we have up here are plans with Rogers for 500 mb a month. The last time I checked, that plan was about 220$ a month as well, compare that to a true unlimited data plan in the states on AT&T that goes for 20 $ a month. Ludicrous. But there aren’t going to be any changes at the moment because the Providers at the moment have an oligopoly and have no reason to make anything any cheaper.

However, Last week the conservative government passed a bill for the promotion of competition in the Wireless Industry. Normally, when there is a wireless spectrum auction, which is what’s needed for cell phone communications, the three big guys buy it all up to block out an competition. As of now however, at least 40% of that is reserved for newcomers, and on top of that for the first few years of operation for any new wireless company, the existing carriers have to make reasonable roaming agreements for the newcomers to use their network. This makes starting a wireless company a viable option in Canada now.

Excellent news for us up here, but we won’t see any changes until late 2008, when the next auction is going to be held.

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