The commission said it could change course when it releases a final review this summer.
Feb 4, 20251:02 PM EST
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The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) upheld a temporary decision that allowed incumbent telcos like Bell, Rogers and Telus to resell access to their fibre networks to each other, despite significant concern from smaller players.
As a quick refresher, the CRTC made the initial decision as part of its fibre wholesale framework intended to improve competition and affordability. The framework mandated that incumbents allow smaller players to access fibre networks at set rates. However, it also allowed incumbents to resell their fibre networks to other incumbents — which sparked concerns about harm to competition.
Cabinet asked the CRTC to review whether incumbents should be allowed access to wholesale rates, and on Monday, the commission said it would not change the policy, though it said it would keep considering the matter as part of a review of the final framework set to arrive in summer 2025.
The commission said in its analysis that incumbent access to wholesale fibre led to consumer benefits like “increased choice for Canadians and more intense competition between [internet service providers (ISPs)].” The CRTC also said that incumbent access “did not demonstrate that there has been a negative impact on investment.”
Telus, which leveraged wholesale access to launch fibre internet service in Ontario and Quebec via Bell’s network, argued in favour of keeping incumbent wholesale access. It was one of the few to do so, breaking ranks with Rogers and Bell, which both asked the CRTC to ban incumbents from accessing fibre networks. Telus even went so far as to start a petition to “protect internet competition,” despite concerns that keeping the incumbent access decision could harm regional and independent telcos.
Unsurprisingly, Telus told the Globe and Mail it “commended” the decision in an email.
Rogers expressed disappointment in the decision when speaking to the Globe, but said it was encouraged by the commission’s focus on long-term investment and competition.
“Deferring a decision on this today, hurts competition tomorrow. The CRTC must move quickly to close this loophole, so that Canadians can have more choice and affordable options for internet services,” said Paul Andersen, president and chair of Competitive Network Operators of Canada (CNOC), in an email to MobileSyrup.
So far, Telus is the only incumbent to have used the framework, in part because it initially opened access to fibre networks in Ontario and Quebec, which is mostly covered by Bell fibre. However, the final decision, which comes into effect on February 13th, extends access requirements across the country. That means Bell will be able to access Telus’ fibre networks in Western Canada.
Source: CRTC Via: The Globe and Mail
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