Canadians Win Big With Affordable Fiber Internet Access

The original mandate came in July 2015 after a lengthy, and sometimes heated, year-long discussion during which the CRTC (Canadian Radio-Television Telecommunications Committee) listened to the opinions of telecom providers, industry groups and consumer advocates among others. At the conclusion of these discussions, the CRTC voted to require the major Canadian ISPs to provide fiber cable access to independent internet service providers at wholesale cost. In October 2015, a major ISP petitioned to have the ruling overturned, to no avail.

On May 11, 2016, Navdeep Bains, Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, upheld the CRTC decision regarding fiber internet access. Thanks to the nearly 80,000 signatures on an emergency internet petition and to the actions of experts, businesses and local governments, telecom giants will indeed have to give independent internet service providers, like Ebox (Ebox), access to their fiber optic networks at wholesale prices.

What Does This Means for Providers?

By upholding the CRTC ruling, the federal cabinet has created an exciting avenue of growth for independent internet service providers. Small ISPs can now look forward to a number of benefits which include the following.

• A level playing field that increases the survival rate of smaller internet service providers.
• An Increased market share at both the regional and provincial level.
• Better retail competition allowing for increased company profits and decreased consumer prices.

The ruling effectively grants smaller internet service providers the ability to offer their customers affordable access to high-speed fiber optic networks. This access gives us the opportunity to increase our offerings to consumers and continue to secure our place in the internet service industry.

What Does This Means for Consumers?

Consumers are, perhaps, the biggest winners in terms of the CRTC mandate. Here are some of the many ways our customers come out on top.

• All Canadians can look forward to the availability of affordable, high-speed fiber internet access.
• Consumers can anticipate an increased number of internet service providers from which to choose.
• Providers can look ahead to offering a wider range of options to better meet the internet needs of individual consumers.
• High-speed fiber access will provide consumers with improved access to emerging smart technologies such as home security and surveillance applications.

Consumers will no longer be limited to paying the often exorbitant prices charged by a select few big name providers to reap the benefits of fiber internet access. Increased provider options and plan choices mean that all Canadians, including middle-class and low-income families, can potentially have access to affordable high-speed internet from a provider of their own choosing.

The ultimate goal of the CRTC ruling is to provide Canada’s internet consumers with reasonable prices, more choices and innovative services. With many companies already investing in fiber all across the country, it makes sense that every person have affordable access to high-speed internet services. It also makes sense from an economic perspective that these services be made available through independent providers as well as industry giants. It’s an exciting time as we and our customers at Ebox look forward to ultra-fast fiber internet access.