Helping shape Canada's digital future
Government consultation focuses on creating better cell phone service and value for the middle class
OTTAWA, Oct. 6, 2017 /CNW/ - The Government of Canada is looking to hear from Canadian businesses, organizations and individuals about how it can best use the airwaves over the next five years to make cell phone service more affordable for Canadians.
Monthly cell phone bills are a concern for many Canadians, who pay far more on average for entry-level cell service compared to residents of the United Kingdom and the United States.
The Government is continually looking at how to best allocate spectrum, which allows cell phones, tablets and other smart devices to operate. By making good spectrum decisions, it can help pave the way for greater competition, high-quality networks and lower prices for all Canadians.
Today, in keeping with the Government's commitment to ensuring that Canadians have the digital services and skills they need for the jobs and opportunities of the future, the Honourable Navdeep Bains, Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development, launched a consultation on potential spectrum releases over the next five years.
The consultation will help shape a plan that will affect current technologies such as Canadians' smartphones and will lay a solid foundation to help Canada play a role in ushering in emerging technologies such as connected cars.
The new consultation will support Canada's Innovation and Skills Plan by helping to ensure that innovators, businesses and the academic community can access the leading-edge telecom services they need, while fostering an environment where Canada's innovators and job creators can thrive.
Quotes
"Canadians said that they find the cost of cell phone services too high, and our government is listening. We've launched a public consultation that will help us come up with a plan that puts Canadians first while also supporting competition, investment and innovation in Canada's telecommunications sector so that Canadians continue to benefit from next-generation technologies and that Canada remains at the forefront of innovation."
? The Honourable Navdeep Bains, Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development
Quick facts
- Canadian consumers pay more for entry-level cellphone service than consumers in the U.S. and the U.K.
- Canada's networks rank second among G7 countries for average wireless connection speeds.
- 98 percent of Canadians have access to the latest wireless technologies.
Related products
- Minister Bains addresses the Canadian Telecom Summit
- Launch of consultation on proposals to auction 600 MHz spectrum
Follow Minister Bains on Twitter: @MinisterISED
SOURCE Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada
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