Ottawa says it will maintain a decision by Canada’s telecom regulator, allowing the country’s largest internet companies to serve customers using fiber networks manufactured by their rivals – until they do this outside their main areas.
Industry Minister Meleni Jolie says in a statement that the CRTC’s decision will be “will immediately allow for more competition on existing networks for high -speed internet services across the country.”
In June, the regulator issued its final decision on the controversial case, which has raised Telos Corp against rivals BCE Inc. and Rogers Communications Inc., and many small providers opposed the structure.
The federal government had earlier asked the Commission to reconsider whether the larger three providers should be able to act as wholesalers under the rules, citing concern about the feasibility of small internet providers to act as an alternative.
Ottawa had a CRTC’s decision until August 13, but Jolie says that it did not decide to change the CRTC’s decision as it was “based on experts, competition bureau and over 300 public submissions with comprehensive consultation.”
The CRTC has stated that rules effectively balance the need for both competition and investment, while only reduces the “minor” proximity impact on the market share of the regional carrier.
