The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) has announced a significant ruling that will allow the country’s three major telecom companies – Rogers, Telus, and Bell – to share each other’s fibre-optic networks. This decision will enable them to sell high-speed internet and other services outside of their traditional territories. The ruling follows a federal government request for the CRTC to reconsider its initial decision from November 2023.
That decision mandated access to existing fibre-optic networks in Ontario and Quebec to foster competition. The CRTC’s final decision, issued last August, expanded this mandatory access nationwide. The goal was to boost consumer choice and service innovation.
Telus, which has developed extensive fibre-optic infrastructure in Alberta and British Columbia, has already started offering high-speed internet services in Ontario and Quebec. They are paying a wholesale price to use networks built by competitors. Richard Gilhooley, Telus’s director of public affairs, said, “This decision marks a significant step toward fostering greater competition, affordability, and innovation for millions of Canadians.”
However, the ruling has sparked concerns among smaller internet providers.
Paul Andersen, chair of the Competitive Network Operators of Canada (CNOC), expressed worry that smaller players could be driven out of the market. “We’re concerned that smaller players who’ve already been hampered by delays in getting access to fibre will slowly be eliminated,” he said.
Major telecoms to share networks
Andersen noted that large companies might bundle services to offer more competitive pricing, which smaller Internet-only companies can’t match. Bell Canada and other independent regional providers have echoed these concerns. They argue that the access could stifle investment in broadband.
The CRTC countered that consumer benefits from access by large incumbents outweighed any adverse impact on investment. Despite these worries, the CRTC reiterated that changing the temporary decision would not serve the public interest. It has received requests to review its final August decision and plans to complete this review by the summer of 2025.
Regional telecommunications company Cogeco also expressed frustration at the continued delays in finalizing the wholesale regime. “At a time of growing economic uncertainty, Canada cannot afford inaction on policies that directly impact competition and consumer choice,” Cogeco stated. The company emphasized the need for swift measures to ensure regional players can continue providing Canadians with more options and better services.
The industry’s smaller players and large incumbents alike await the CRTC’s next steps, slated for a mid-2025 completion. For now, the sharing of fibre-optic networks among the big three is set to continue, marking a notable moment in Canada’s ongoing efforts to balance competition and innovation in the telecom sector.
