CRTC invites comments on the state of competition in the wholesale mobile wireless services market

CRTC invites comments on the state of competition in the wholesale mobile wireless services market


OTTAWA-GATINEAU, Feb. 20, 2014 /CNW/ - The Canadian Radio-television and
Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) today launched a public
consultation to review whether the wholesale mobile wireless services
market is sufficiently competitive, both now and in the future. The
CRTC will also hold a public hearing beginning on September 29, 2014,
in Gatineau, Que.



Through the consultation launched today, the CRTC is inviting comments
on:



-- the state of the market for wholesale mobile wireless services,
including wholesale roaming and wholesale tower sharing in
Canada

-- the impact that the wholesale mobile wireless services market
has on the retail market, and

-- whether greater regulatory oversight would be appropriate if it
were to find that the wholesale mobile wireless services market
is not sufficiently competitive.



Comments may be submitted until May 1, 2014. Canadians can participate
in this consultation, including the public hearing, by:



-- filling out the online form
-- writing to the Secretary General, CRTC, Ottawa, ON, K1A 0N2, or
-- sending a fax to 819-994-0218



Quick Facts


-- Following a fact-finding exercise conducted in mid-2013, the
CRTC had stated its intention to further examine, among other
things, the wholesale mobile wireless services market.
-- In December 2013, the CRTC launched
a proceeding
to study whether wireless service providers are placing their
Canadian competitors at an unfair competitive disadvantage
through wholesale roaming arrangements.
-- The CRTC is launching a public consultation to review whether
the wholesale mobile wireless services market is sufficiently
competitive, both today and in the future.
-- The CRTC is examining the wholesale services and arrangements
between wireless service providers. While these may have an
impact on the prices paid by Canadians for wireless services,
the CRTC does not regulate the retail rates charged by wireless
companies.
-- The CRTC will hold a public hearing beginning on September 29,
2014, in Gatineau, Que.
-- With nearly 28 million subscribers, the mobile wireless
services market is the largest and fastest growing sector in
the Canadian telecommunications industry.



Quote


"Through this consultation, we are reviewing whether the wholesale
wireless services market is fostering a sustainable level of
competition in the retail market, both today and in the future. This is
an important question. Sustainable competition between wireless service
providers can offer many benefits to Canadians, including access to
high-quality networks, innovative services and reasonable prices."



-- CRTC Chairman Jean-Pierre Blais


Related Products


Telecom Notice of Consultation CRTC 2014-xxx
Telecom Notice of Consultation CRTC 2013-685



SOURCE Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission

Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission

CONTACT: Follow us on Twitter @CRTCeng, hashtag #CRTC Media Relations:
Tel: 819-997-9403, Fax: 819-997-4245 General Inquiries:
Tel: 819-997-0313, TDD: 819-994-0423, Fax: 819-994-0218
Toll-free # 1-877-249-CRTC (2782)
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