CTA’s Ghiz urges feds to treat telecom infrastructure as nation-building pillar, calls for lighter regulation & pro-investment policies

TORONTO—Telecommunications should be recognized as a national strategic priority, the Canadian Telecom Summit (CTS) was told on Tuesday, June 3. As the first day of the two-day conference was coming to a close, Canadian Telecommunications Association (CTA) president Robert Ghiz delivered a keynote presentation emphasizing telecom’s role in the Canadian economy. He called on the federal government to recognize telecom infrastructure as a core part of its nation-building agenda and argued that Canada’s major providers need lighter regulations to encourage investment in their networks. “ is more than phones and data plans,” Ghiz told attendees. “It is economic infrastructure, as vital to Canada as roads, railways, and airports.” Ghiz pointed to figures from a recent PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) report, commissioned annually by the CTA and released ahead of the summit, which stated that telecoms helped generate $87.3 billion of Canada’s GDP across different industries in 2024 — $30.1 billion of which it says came from business directly within the telecom sector. Ghiz also noted price declines in wireless and home internet services over the past four years, citing an inflation-adjusted 65 per cent drop in the lowest average monthly cost of a 10GB mobile plan (from $69 to $28) and a 40 per cent drop in the lowest average cost for a 50/10 megabits-per-second (Mbps) home internet plan (from $82 to $59). Statistics Canada data also reflects the trend, but according to numbers gathered by Innovation, Science, and Economic Development Canada (ISED) in 2023, the country's costs rank high among its international peers. Despite the reported improvements, Ghiz warned that high spectrum costs, slowing revenue growth, and “regulatory uncertainty” are reducing incentives for companies’ to invest in expanding their infrastructure. He urged Ottawa to cut annual spectrum licence fees, “eliminate outdated regulations,” and “reject policies that encourage the largest telecom providers in Canada to become resellers instead of builders,” taking a jab at the CRTC’s wholesale decision. “Quite simply, , , , and their affiliates, should not be permitted to take advantage of mandated wholesale high-speed access anywhere in the country over any technology,” said Ghiz, echoing CTA members’ arguments that it cuts infrastructure investment incentives. While the CRTC is considering the long-term effects of incumbent access to the wholesale framework, and has said it intends to issue a decision by this summer, the regulator has argued that the overall framework is necessary to ensure affordability and consumer choice in a concentrated market. “If want to have more connectivity in rural and remote areas, they need to make sure that they have policies in place that promote investment,” said Ghiz in a follow-up interview with The Wire Report Tuesday. Immediately following Ghiz’s calls for reduced regulations, CRTC vice-chair of telecommunications Adam Scott took to the stage to highlight the regulator’s recent efforts to increase competition, expand access, and protect consumers. In addition to the wholesale fibre framework, he cited the mobile virtual network operator (MVNO) framework and upcoming hearings on making it easier for consumers to shop for internet services. “We expect continued downward pressure on telecom prices as a result of the changes we've made, and indeed, we're extremely encouraged that year-over-year, prices for internet and cell phone services are trending in the right direction,” said Scott. “But despite what the numbers say, many Canadians are telling us that they aren't seeing those savings.” Scott noted that although consumer telecom prices seem to be on the decline, the CRTC is looking at measures to ensure Canadians see concrete benefits. The regulator has ongoing proceedings that are, among other things, considering improved labeling of service plans, new notification rules for expiring plans or discounts, and reducing barriers to switching plans or providers. “I'm thrilled that increased competition has led to more and better service offerings in the marketplace,” said Scott. “But the job isn't done until Canadians see improvements in the bills on their kitchen tables.” phalentm@thewirereport.ca

CTA’s Ghiz urges feds to treat telecom infrastructure as nation-building pillar, calls for lighter regulation & pro-investment policies

Regulatory |
By Phalen Tynes-MacDonald
| June 4, 2025

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CTA’s Ghiz urges feds to treat telecom infrastructure as nation-building pillar, calls for lighter regulation & pro-investment policies

Regulatory | By Phalen Tynes-MacDonald | June 4, 2025

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By Phalen Tynes-MacDonald
| June 4, 2025