Local internet service providers warn Canadians that their access to competitive and affordable services may diminish unless federal government regulators take immediate action.
As a critical decision deadline approaches in February 2025, the Competitive Network Operators of Canada (CNOC) has initiated a digital and social media campaign aimed at mobilizing Canadians to advocate against the entry of the Big Three—TELUS, Bell and Rogers—into the internet resale market.
In August 2024, the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) made a significant ruling that mandated TELUS and Bell to provide wholesale fiber access to smaller providers. However, the ruling also permitted these major companies to participate in the resale market, raising concerns among independent internet service providers and two of the three large carriers.
The current interim regime allows the Big Three and their subsidiaries to resell fiber internet outside their established networks, which the CRTC justified by suggesting that the advantages of this arrangement would likely surpass the associated risks.
Critics, including CNOC, argue that the CRTC's decision contradicts its own objectives of promoting competition. They caution that the Big Three will initially attract customers with bundled wireless and internet services at competitive prices, effectively sidelining smaller regional and independent providers.
Once this temporary surge in competition subsides, these large companies are expected to revert to their traditional practices, eliminating discounts and increasing prices.
In a joint submission made in the fourth quarter of 2024, CNOC and other operators urged the CRTC to reconsider the long-term implications of service bundling by the incumbents. The latest campaign aims to raise awareness against CRTC, motivating them to close the existing loophole and ensure genuine choice for Canadians in telecommunications.
Related: CRTC Sets Competitive Rates to Boost Fiber Access Across Canada
