With Canada in the midst of an affordability crisis, and the incredible increase in demand for reliable FTTP services expedited by the rise in remote work and the COVID-19 pandemic, the situation today is far more severe than it was during CRTC proceeding 2013-551. [...] In light of wholesale-based ISPs’ current inability to compete with incumbents on retail Internet services, and the unprecedented rate at which these small providers are disappearing from the market, urgently facilitating access to incumbents’ FTTP facilities will provide the fastest and most impactful relief to both customers and wholesale-based providers to prevent a total collapse of the compet. [...] By prioritizing access to FTTP facilities within the scope of this proceeding, the CRTC will be adhering to obligations of ISED’s 2023 policy direction to the Commission. [...] Of the respondents who are currently subscribed to fibre, 60.55% said they want the option to switch providers.9 The ability to choose both the services and providers of choice is critical to ensuring that customers have access to appropriate plans that adequately meet their needs. [...] According to April 2023 survey respondents, over 96% of those who are not currently subscribed to fibre would be more likely to make the switch if it was more affordable, indicating the need and desire for a fibre internet connection if the price did not place it out of reach.11 These subscribers require urgent action from the CRTC to make fibre more affordable in the interests of closing the digi.
- Pages
- 15
- Published in
- Canada
