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>>Canada needs improved cellular services and it needs them now. In what way does Canada require improved cellular service? I'm nodding my head to the other po

>>Canada needs improved cellular services and it needs them now. In what way does Canada require improved cellular service? I'm nodding my head to the other points you've made but this one puzzles me. If you're talking about pricing, then I would agree there given more numerous and more transparent wireless competition in other countries. Canada's mobile networks are generally comparable to advanced (but not cutting edge) cellular networks around the world.

sandworm101 8y ago
Yes, in Toronto and Vancouver. But drop a random pin on a map of Canada and it is a different story. There are towns only 50km from downtown Vancouver that lack any reliable cell coverage. I've been involved in a few SAR events, at major tourist spots beside highways, where the lack of cell coverage was a huge issue. Canada's distances also mean that there remain a great many communities without wired internet services. Satellite is very expensive, and increasingly difficult at higher latitudes. Cellular-based broadband is the only realistic option. http://www.comparecellular.com/images/assets/coverage-maps/bell-coverage-map-english.png http://www.comparecellular.com/images/assets/coverage-maps/b... Setting aside the north, take a look at how much of BC lacks any real cell coverage.
- otoburb 8y ago
  There's huge demand for cellular-based broadband. I wasn't aware that TELUS' wireless coverage in the Interior was so bad, and slightly surprised that there isn't more negative news coverage when TELUS and Bell tout "national coverage". I'm sure the CRTC's roaming caps[1] will change some of the profitability scenarios per set of cell-sites. I will note that Saskatchewan (through SaskTel) seems to cover the province quite well even outside of Regina and Saskatoon. Re. cellular-based broadband - while there is huge demand in rural regions, the pricing is challenging. Basically, cellular-based "broadband" usually operates at a loss, but at least it's a loss that more carriers are willing to shoulder, in (small) part due to the CRTC's renewed call for action to review "universal broadband service"[2] in 2019. [1] https://crtc.gc.ca/eng/archive/2018/2018-99.pdf https://crtc.gc.ca/eng/archive/2018/2018-99.pdf [2] https://crtc.gc.ca/eng/internet/internet.htm https://crtc.gc.ca/eng/internet/internet.htm
- jtl999 8y ago
  Large swaths within an hour of downtown Vancouver had 6Mbps ADSL or highly asymmetrical cable as their only option until ~2012-2013.

sandworm101 8y ago

Yes, in Toronto and Vancouver. But drop a random pin on a map of Canada and it is a different story. There are towns only 50km from downtown Vancouver that lack any reliable cell coverage. I've been involved in a few SAR events, at major tourist spots beside highways, where the lack of cell coverage was a huge issue. Canada's distances also mean that there remain a great many communities without wired internet services. Satellite is very expensive, and increasingly difficult at higher latitudes. Cellular-based broadband is the only realistic option. http://www.comparecellular.com/images/assets/coverage-maps/bell-coverage-map-english.png http://www.comparecellular.com/images/assets/coverage-maps/b... Setting aside the north, take a look at how much of BC lacks any real cell coverage.

otoburb 8y ago
There's huge demand for cellular-based broadband. I wasn't aware that TELUS' wireless coverage in the Interior was so bad, and slightly surprised that there isn't more negative news coverage when TELUS and Bell tout "national coverage". I'm sure the CRTC's roaming caps[1] will change some of the profitability scenarios per set of cell-sites. I will note that Saskatchewan (through SaskTel) seems to cover the province quite well even outside of Regina and Saskatoon. Re. cellular-based broadband - while there is huge demand in rural regions, the pricing is challenging. Basically, cellular-based "broadband" usually operates at a loss, but at least it's a loss that more carriers are willing to shoulder, in (small) part due to the CRTC's renewed call for action to review "universal broadband service"[2] in 2019. [1] https://crtc.gc.ca/eng/archive/2018/2018-99.pdf https://crtc.gc.ca/eng/archive/2018/2018-99.pdf [2] https://crtc.gc.ca/eng/internet/internet.htm https://crtc.gc.ca/eng/internet/internet.htm
jtl999 8y ago
Large swaths within an hour of downtown Vancouver had 6Mbps ADSL or highly asymmetrical cable as their only option until ~2012-2013.