Wireless Communications: A Stronger Signal for a Stronger Canada
Submitted by Canadian Wireless Telecommunications Association 2010–07–13 15:11:03 EDT
Theme(s): Digital Infrastructure
Executive Summary
The wireless industry in Canada makes profound contributions to the economy and social fabric of the country. The industry delivers an economic benefit of some $39 billion annually, creates nearly 300,000 high–value jobs, and contributes numerous national social programs to enhance civic participation and public safety in communities across the country.
The move to next generation wireless networks is already well underway in Canada, driven by Canadians' heavy adoption and usage of wireless technologies, and the convergence of those technologies with high–speed broadband access.
Globally, the mobile Internet is growing faster than the desktop Internet grew in the 1990s.
Canadian wireless carriers invested $9.3 billion in wireless capital and spectrum costs in 2008 and 2009. As a result, numerous independent studies over recent months have noted Canada's competitive position in terms of broadband penetration (currently leading the G7 in the number of homes with access to multiple broadband providers) and wireless download speeds.
Data traffic on wireless networks is expected to double every year through 2014, as more Canadians use more devices that consume more bandwidth. To avoid network traffic jams that would otherwise compromise the economic and social benefits inherent in advanced wireless broadband networks, wireless carriers will be under constant pressure to increase the already heavy pace of capital and spectrum investments.
As a critical element of its Digital Economy Strategy, the Government must act immediately to make available additional spectrum to help alleviate the impending network data crunch.
Government can also play a key role in reducing and removing policy and regulatory disincentives to continued network investment.
If the following document is not accessible to you, please contact the person below for assistance in obtaining the documents in the appropriate format.
Guylaine Verner
Industry Canada | Industrie Canada
300 Slater Street, Ottawa ON K1A 0C8 | 300, rue Slater, Ottawa ON K1A 0C8
Guylaine.Verner@ic.gc.ca
Telephone | Téléphone 613-990-6456
Facsimile | Télécopieur 613-952-2718
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