Canada at the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS)

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Universal Access to Information & Knowledge

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Final WSIS Assessment 2005
(PPT, 38 KB, 11 pages)

Telecommunications: Backbone of the nation

  • Telecommunication facilities and services — enable social and economic growth in era of Information Societies
  • Sector is technology driven:
    • Cellular expansion, PDAs, satellites, computers
    • Internet: home and business; e-commerce, e-health
    • Digitalization; convergence issues
  • Canadians — avid users of communications facilities, services
  • Telecoms includes radio frequency spectrum — an international resource shared by all countries and several telecommunications services

Telecommunications Policy & Regulatory Roles

Policies

Industry Canada

  • Telecommunications
  • Radiocommunications

Canadian Heritage

  • Broadcasting

Regulation

Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission

  • Telecommunications
  • Broadcasting

Industry Canada

  • Radiocommunications

Canada's Legislative Framework

  • Telecommunications Act — 1993
    • economic focus, technology neutral
  • Broadcasting Act — 1991
    • nurture Canadian culture
  • Radiocommunication Act — 1989
    • spectrum management
  • Competition Act — 1985
    • general anti-trust framework
  • Changing technology requires adjustments — foster enabling environment
  • Open world economy imposes more competitive approach

Outcomes: Canada's World Class Network Infrastructure
Wireline Communications Network

  • One of the most developed telecommunications networks in the world:
    • More than 99% of the lines are linked to a digital network
    • Nation-wide fibre-optic network
    • More than 98% of households have at least one telephone
  • A well developed cable distribution network:
    • 92% of households have access to cable
    • 74% of these actually subscribe to cable
    • 70% of households have access to high speed cable internet

Outcomes: Canada's World Class Network Infrastructure
Wireless Communications

  • Three national wireless networks
  • National satellite communications network (Telesat)
  • Competitive radio carriers and service providers
  • Over the air television and radio broadcasting
  • Two Direct To Home satellite broadcasting licenses
  • Satellite mobile services
  • Fixed wireless, e.g., MDS

Canada's Communications Service Industries
Key Players

Canada's Communications Service Industries Key Players

*Bell & Partners includes Bell Mobility, Aliant Mobility, SaskTel Mobility and MTS Mobility.
Source: Statistics Canada, Survey of Telecommunications Service Providers (April 2004) and CRTC, Broadcast Distribution Statistical and Financial Summaries (April 2004).

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