Should Canada's cellular network be nationalized?

[Rupert S. Lander]

Now that the vast majority of Canadians own cell phones, is it time to consider nationalizing the country's cellular network? I am referring strictly to things like the cell towers, etc. as opposed to the cellular providers themselves. I base this proposal on the rationale that the public sector ought to be able to provide better and more consistent service across the country (particularly in rural areas) compared to the private sector's current performance, and that the cellular network could now reasonably be deemed essential infrastructure that should be owned by the public sector as opposed to the private sector.

[cybercoma]

Cellphones and Internet, as well as banking, utilities, and insurance.

[andromeda]

we should allow technology and the innovation of private enterprise to take its course. in the not too distant future cell towers may be a thing of the past.

[cybercoma]

we should allow technology and the innovation of private enterprise to take its course. in the not too distant future cell towers may be a thing of the past.

There is no enterprise in this space due to infrastructure costs. It's an industry with a propensity towards monopoly. You could say it's an oligopoly, but the companies don't compete and also own shares in each other. So there is no "free enterprise" when it comes to telecomm.

[kimmy]

I'm not sure about the idea of nationalizing the existing network, but perhaps there is a role for government in expanding coverage in remote areas where low populations make cell service commercially unprofitable. They could set up towers in remote areas and allow the commercial carriers to use them.

-k

[TimG]

Now that the vast majority of Canadians own cell phones, is it time to consider nationalizing the country's cellular network?

Absolutely not. Governments are incompetent at running anything and any attempt to run such vital infrastructure would turn Canada into a technological backwater within a generation.

The appropriate way to deal with such industries is regulation and competition and, when necessary, subsidies for services in areas which are not economically viable.

Edited April 10, 2016 by TimG

[bush_cheney2004]

Was Canada's telecommunications industry nationalized before cellular services existed ? Was landline telephony previously nationalized to assure equal service and access for all Canadians ? If not, what is different about cellular networks ?

[andromeda]

Rupert s says he wants to nationalize infrastructure but not the companies themselves. how would nationalizing infrastructure which may soon be outdated be beneficial to anyone? future technological advances may well lead to increased competition. what we need is more competition and not government run monopolies.

[bush_cheney2004]

Rupert s says he wants to nationalize infrastructure but not the companies themselves. how would nationalizing infrastructure which may soon be outdated be beneficial to anyone? future technological advances may well lead to increased competition. what we need is more competition and not government run monopolies.

This is consistent with numerous CBC reader comments concerning cable, internet, and cellular phone services (access, cost, and performance).

[Argus]

If the government was in charge we'd still be using brick phones, and the coverage areas would be half what they are now with double the cost. Government does not engage in anything remotely new or take any chances. There'd be no move towards HD TV or even digital TV if government was in charge there, either. Government likes things static (no pun intended) and change comes very, very, very, very slowly, if at all.

[Smallc]

Where I live, we had nationalized phones. We had party lines. Nationalize insurance though, I'm fine with that. It's not much other than a scan.

[blueblood]

Cellphones and Internet, as well as banking, utilities, and insurance.

Da comrade!! Lmfao

How about deep 6 the crtc and open it up to the americans to compete and set up shop.

Our cell service is shite because the companies bide behind the crtc as a shield.

[Smallc]

Da comrade!! Lmfao

How about deep 6 the crtc and open it up to the americans to compete and set up shop.

Our cell service is shite because the companies bide behind the crtc as a shield.

We in Manitoba shouldn't complain about cell service. The rest of the country wishes they had what Manitoba and Saskatchewan have here.

[blueblood]

We in Manitoba shouldn't complain about cell service. The rest of the country wishes they had what Manitoba and Saskatchewan have here.

Its 100$ a month for a cell phone which thanks to tech doubles as a computer. Reception is spotty at best and no lte. We also have crown corporations competing with private entities however under the umbrella of the crtc. Maybe having the americans comes in drops said phone bill and puts some more towers up...

[TimG]

Maybe having the americans comes in drops said phone bill and puts some more towers up...

Not likely. The Canadian market is too small to support a large number of competing providers. Letting foreign firms in would just result in Canadian firms being bought out by foreign rivals with deeper pockets. The best we can hope for is a market dominated by 2 or 3 players that compete with each other. That is why sensible regulation is an important part of the mix. Edited April 10, 2016 by TimG

[Smallc]

Its 100$ a month for a cell phone which thanks to tech doubles as a computer. Reception is spotty at best and no lte. We also have crown corporations competing with private entities however under the umbrella of the crtc. Maybe having the americans comes in drops said phone bill and puts some more towers up...

There is no crown corporations with phone service. Both Rogers and MTS have LTE in Dauphin, never mind the rest of the province, and MTS has an unlimited data plan for $60. You can't get that anywhere but here.

[Derek 2.0]

Its 100$ a month for a cell phone which thanks to tech doubles as a computer. Reception is spotty at best and no lte. We also have crown corporations competing with private entities however under the umbrella of the crtc. Maybe having the americans comes in drops said phone bill and puts some more towers up...

That's sounds......uhhh....great......Here in British Columbia, citizens such as myself and my wife, Party members in good standing, are only required to pay $150 a month for two phones, unlimited local calling, more data then either of us could ever use and unlimited Canada wide long distance......and we live in British Columbia (I'm on my patio barefoot in shorts and tee-shirt, what's the weather like in Manitoba right now?)

[Smallc]

https://www.mts.ca/residential/wireless/coverage-and-roaming/manitoba

https://www.mts.ca/residential/wireless

[Smallc]

I recently switched to Rogers because of roam like home. With insurance on two phones, unlimited long distance calls, and 6GB of shared data, I pay $160 all taxes included.

[blueblood]

There is no crown corporations with phone service. Both Rogers and MTS have LTE in Dauphin, never mind the rest of the province, and MTS has an unlimited data plan for $60. You can't get that anywhere but here.

Sask has a crown corporation as per your last post.

Thats lte in dauphin, brandon, swan, yorkton, pa, etc the rural areas are iffy as the population isnt there.

[blueblood]

I recently switched to Rogers because of roam like home. With insurance on two phones, unlimited long distance calls, and 6GB of shared data, I pay $160 all taxes included.

Are you paying for highspeed at home though?

[Bryan]

Was Canada's telecommunications industry nationalized before cellular services existed ? Was landline telephony previously nationalized to assure equal service and access for all Canadians ?

Yes.

[Smallc]

Are you paying for highspeed at home though?

I live in Waterhen so don't have a choice other than netset. There's no cell service here, and no other high speed provider other than Xplorenet. Because I use 300GB of data a month (cut the cord), I pay almost $200 a month.

[blueblood]

Not likely. The Canadian market is too small to support a large number of competing providers. Letting foreign firms in would just result in Canadian firms being bought out by foreign rivals with deeper pockets. The best we can hope for is a market dominated by 2 or 3 players that compete with each other. That is why sensible regulation is an important part of the mix.

But what would those foreign firms have to offer? I think the usa has a few large players and they do a good job in getting the infrastructure across

[Rupert S. Lander]

If the government was in charge we'd still be using brick phones, and the coverage areas would be half what they are now with double the cost. Government does not engage in anything remotely new or take any chances. There'd be no move towards HD TV or even digital TV if government was in charge there, either. Government likes things static (no pun intended) and change comes very, very, very, very slowly, if at all.

By that logic, service in Saskatchewan should be crap compared to the rest of the country. Living near the AB-SK border, I can tell you that simply isn't the case.