Canada’s wireless industry is one of the weakest in the developed world
According to this story in the Vancouver Sun:
“Merrill Lynch ranks current Canadian wireless penetration [...] dead last among 22 developed countries. Similarly, the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) has tracked a steady decline in Canada’s wireless penetration rank: from 35th in 1998 to 128th in 2008.”
Similarly, the Globe & Mail reports that Canadian cell phone rates are among the highest in the world.
“Cellphone users in Canada are paying more for wireless service than those in most other Western countries.”
The media seems focused on cell phones and residential internet access, but lost is the impact on business. High prices for wireless, landline and internet service combine to ensure that Canada is fast becoming one of the worst places to run a Technology company.
By the time the government wakes up and relaxes foreign ownership rules we will be in serious trouble. Given that Canada’s economy is likely to continue to shed manufacturing jobs and we envision ourselves as transitioning to a service based economy, this will be disastrous.