Public opinion data from a research report by the Canadian Internet Registration Authority (CIRA) shows that a majority (60 per cent) of Canadians support new regulations to promote greater wireless competition by forcing Canada’s largest carriers to share their infrastructure with smaller providers. The findings come as the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) begins a two-week long hearing on the status of Canada’s wireless market.

One of the key questions facing the Commission is whether they will mandate wholesale network access so mobile virtual network operator (MVNO) competitors can enter the Canadian market. MVNOs are cell phone providers like Ting or Google Fi who do not operate their own spectrum network and instead buy access to unused space on existing networks to sell service.

Additional report findings include:

• About two-thirds (65 per cent) of Canadians continue to support the principle of net neutrality.
• More than 8 in 10 (86 per cent ) say universal access to high-speed internet is important for Canada’s overall economic growth and prosperity.
• 8 in 10 (80 per cent ) believe it is important that Canada’s internet service providers and online service companies invest in building up internet infrastructure inside Canada’s borders.

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Categories: Articles, Broadband, Consumer Behaviour, ISP, Research, Spectrum, Telco