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19h ago

Ottawa Upholds CRTC Rule for National Wholesale Fibre Access

Ottawa’s decision enforces national wholesale rules to boost competition in Canada’s high-speed internet market under regulated rates.

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The Telus sign outside the company’s offices in downtown Toronto, is photographed on July 27, 2021. Fred Lum/The Globe and Mail.
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Overview

  • Federal cabinet declined appeals from Eastlink, Cogeco, CNOC and SaskTel to vary the CRTC’s mandatory wholesale framework, solidifying the regulator’s August ruling ahead of an Aug. 13 deadline.
  • The CRTC framework mandates that Bell, Rogers, TELUS and smaller ISPs share existing fibre networks beyond their core regions at government-set wholesale rates.
  • Bell Canada cut $500 million in planned infrastructure investments and slowed its fibre rollout by 1.5 million premises in response to the policy.
  • TELUS hailed the ruling as a landmark decision and pledged $2 billion in broadband spending over five years in Ontario and Quebec.
  • The CRTC will closely monitor market dynamics and may adjust rates or terms to maintain a balance between competition and infrastructure investment.