EMILY JACKSON CRTC calls for cheaper, data-only wireless plans

Canada’s telecommunications regulator will not yet require the Big Three wireless carriers to open up their wireless networks to smaller players, but it will make them come up with cheaper, dataonly cellphone plans.

The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission issued a decision Thursday on wholesale wireless services after the federal government asked it to reconsider its rules in the name of affordability.

At stake was whether the regulator would force incumbents to open up their networks to smaller players that offered service over Wi-Fi first, but relied on the incumbents’ infrastructure when customers lost Wi-Fi connections. These providers don’t build complete facilities-based networks. As it stands, the Big Three may enter into agreements to provide such services, but it is not mandatory.

The CRTC did not change its existing rules. Instead, it promised to launch a review of the entire wholesale mobile wireless framework within a year. It said this is necessary given upcoming deployment of 5G networks and limited resale competition since the rules were first announced in 2015.

It also lowered mobile wholesale roaming rates by between 44 and 99 per cent, and will retroactively decrease prices paid since 2015. (Incumbents are required to provide roaming services to other wireless carriers.)

To address calls for affordability before its review of the entire wholesale system, the CRTC launched a consultation on lowercost, data-only plans. It will give BCE Inc., Telus Corp. and Rogers Communications Inc. one month to come up with such plans. It will then publish their proposals for the public to comment.

The federal government said it will review the decision, which it expects will result in new, more affordable wireless plans.

Officials from Telus, Rogers and Bell said the companies supported the CRTC’s decision to back facilities-based operators.