CanWISP welcomes the Government of Canada’s continued focus on improving competition and affordability in the telecommunications sector, as outlined in the Spring Economic Statement. Efforts to strengthen competition are essential to ensuring Canadians, particularly those in rural and remote communities, have access to reliable and affordable connectivity.
However, competition policy must be grounded in the realities of how networks are built and operated outside major urban centres. CanWISP members are facilities-based providers, deploying and maintaining infrastructure in high-cost, low-density environments where traditional market incentives are limited. In these areas, competition is not driven by resale models, but by local investment, spectrum access, and sustainable operating conditions.
As the Government advances a Telecommunications Competition Roadmap, it is critical that policy frameworks developed by Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada and the CRTC are aligned, timely, and practical. Too often, policy intent is not matched by implementation, limiting the ability of rural and remote providers to act on new opportunities.
To ensure the roadmap delivers meaningful outcomes, CanWISP recommends:
- Recognition of facilities-based competition as a cornerstone of long-term affordability and resilience
- Timely and affordable access to spectrum resources, particularly in rural areas
- Improved access to transport and backhaul infrastructure at reasonable rates
- Policy and regulatory timelines that reflect the urgency of rural connectivity needs
- A balanced approach that supports both investment and competition, rather than prioritizing resale-based models alone