In a recent announcement, the Government of Canada has said it will set out to encourage the advancement of telecommunication services by putting a focus on what it is saying are the three things that matter most to Canadian families and businesses: high-quality networks, broad-reaching coverage and affordable prices.
At a time when middle-class Canadians are concerned about the rising cost of these services, Navdeep Bains, Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development for the Canadian government, said at the Canadian Telecom Summit that the country will encourage more private sector competition and investment in services that have become essential in a digital economy. The summit is an annual gathering of business leaders and policy-makers that represent the country's telecommunications, broadcasting and information technology industries.
The newly revealed “Innovation and Skills Plan” is a multi-year strategy that is designed to create more well-paying jobs for the middle class and ensure that Canadians develop the skills for these jobs. Under the plan, the Government will work with industry players to encourage low-cost Internet services.
The government said it is also encouraging providers to offer all Canadians: more options at better price points in part by possibly reconsidering a recent decision to exclude Wi-Fi-based service providers from access to roaming services; better coverage through a streamlined licensing framework to support the deployment of next-generation satellites and allow more satellite-based providers to enter the market and extend high-speed Internet services to Canadians in rural and remote communities across the country; and faster networks, which process will begin with a public consultation on the release of spectrum to support the deployment of 5G wireless networks
"The prosperity of Canadians depends on their access to affordable Internet and wireless services,” Bains said. “These services are no longer luxuries. They are basic tools for all Canadians regardless of where they live. They need these services to do their jobs, conduct business, learn new skills and build communities. Our government is prepared to work with this country's telecom providers to ensure that Canadians have access to the services that allow them to compete in a global and digital economy. Together, we can ensure that Canada remains a global leader in the development and adoption of new telecom technologies."