“Responsible” wireless browsing to remain in Canada: NBI

A "big yawn" is how Brian Platts, a wireless analyst with research and consulting firm NBI/Michael Sone Associates, describes the past 12 months in the Canadian wireless industry. The next 12 to 18 months could prove a little more interesting though. In Part I of a two-part Report on Wireless series, Platts describes the trends he believes will emerge over the next year and a half in terms of data pricing in Canada, and the United States. The second article will look at the technology choices for Canadian CDMA carriers Bell Mobility and Telus Mobility. Platts also offers some insight on the upcoming advanced wireless services (AWS) spectrum auction. On wireless data, Canadian wireless carriers have moved their prices lower, and the Big Three all offer some flavour of "limited" unlimited, all-you-can-eat wireless plan. Their packages may contain unlimited voice, texting and email, but they certainly won't include unlimited browsing. "The browsing remains a bone of contention within all the service providers' psyches," explains Platts. Canada's mobile providers have long been criticized for charging exorbitant rates for wireless services, particularly wireless data services. New entrant wannabes and other organizations turned up the heat on the Big Three, lobbing volley after volley of evidence to suggest that Canada's low rate of wireless penetration was a direct result of high wireless prices. Last year, the big Canadian carriers began lowering their data prices. "I think what you're going to see (over the next 12 to 18 months) is a proliferation and a refining, if you like, of the offerings. It's going to happen that fast," Platts tells RoW, noting that when it comes time for next year's report, data written two or three months prior to publishing the report will have to be verified to make sure it is still correct. But, Platts suggests, we shouldn't expect to see unlimited plans à la United States. "Responsible data use is here to stay and it's going to be an all-you-can-eat at a reasonable cost per month," he says. Responsible can be described as using the full browser on the mobile device for perhaps a few minutes per day. "You're mobile and you want to know where the nearest restaurant is, or how much money you've got in the bank," Platts notes as activities that can be considered responsible. Other things such as downloading a movie to watch while in the back of limo on route from one location to another won't be considered responsible and will be priced accordingly, he adds. Caveats, according to Platts, will help define the next-generation of pricing plans, including what is allowed, and how users can be automatically pumped to a higher priced plan if they exceed the package's guidelines. As Canada continues down the path of "reasonable" and "responsible" wireless plans, the American wireless operators might soon look north of border for pricing inspiration. According to Platts, some US operators could soon run into capacity problems as a result of their unlimited plans as device makers rush to come out with products to compete with the iPhone. He says it's not unreasonable to expect the mobile operators to begin using deep packet inspection (DPI) technology in their wireless networks as a way to manage their traffic more effectively. DPI is currently under considerable scrutiny because of Bell Canada's decision to implement the technology to manage its Internet traffic better.

“Responsible” wireless browsing to remain in Canada: NBI

News | April 28, 2008

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