Canada lagging behind other countries on 5G performance: report

Despite being a global leader in 5G adoption, Canada is falling behind other countries in overall connectivity, according to a new report. The study, published by the international organization GSMA on Tuesday, ranked Canada 21st out of 46 countries on its 5G Connectivity Index, despite it boasting some of the world’s highest coverage rates and lowest prices. “The gap between Canada’s extensive 5G coverage and its overall index ranking shows population coverage alone is not enough to secure 5G leadership,” reads the report. “Higher-ranked markets typically combine broad coverage with deeper progress across the 5G lifecycle, including faster migration to standalone networks, earlier 5G-Advanced deployment and clearer monetization strategies.” The report found 5G coverage reached approximately 94 per cent of Canada's population as of earlier this year, representing twice the global average. However, the GSMA also identified a concentrated political and regulatory focus on reducing mobile prices for Canadians, which it suggested could restrict private sector investment in new infrastructure builds moving forwards, resulting in limited performance potential for the country’s network. According to GSMA, certain European markets have previously worked to lower prices, including the U.K. (24th on the index), France (25th), and Italy (30th), all of whom have fallen behind Canada on the organization’s 5G connectivity rankings in recent years. “Canada's own index profile shows early signs of the same pattern,” wrote the organization, a London-based industry and research group that focuses on the telecommunications sector. “Low prices and mid-ranking network performance tend to appear together.” Canada’s largest carriers have warned of falling capital expenditures in recent years, which the CRTC confirmed in its latest telecoms market report. Industry players have largely attributed the drop-off to regulatory burden caused by the commission’s decisions on wholesale network access, among other things, though the GSMA also suggested 5G deployment in Canada is approaching “saturation,” leading service providers to prioritize monetization. The GSMA remained optimistic the rollout of 5G-Advanced and 5G RedCap, the latter of which is intended to bridge the gap with 4G networks, could instigate an additional “investment cycle” in 5G infrastructure across Canada. “The next phase of 5G will depend less on expanding coverage and more on demonstrating how the technology can create measurable value for consumers, enterprises and industry,” read the report. “This means generating returns through a mix of enhanced consumer services, fixed wireless access, private networks, enterprise solutions and sector-specific applications that improve productivity, efficiency and user experience.” This marks the GSMA’s first Canadian policy report. “ warns that Canada is at a turning point in telecom policy,” reads a release issued by the group. “While years of focus on affordability and competition have importantly helped lower consumer prices, GSMA argues that the focus must now also shift toward creating the conditions for sustained investment in advanced 5G networks, AI infrastructure and eventually 6G.” The GSMA called for a “policy reset” centred on “investment-led competition and asset protection.” In particular, the group recommended developing a long-term spectrum roadmap, improving timely access to mid- and low-band spectrum, and enhancing deterrents against infrastructure theft and vandalism. The GSMA 5G Connectivity Index is topped by Kuwait, U.A.E., Qatar, Finland, and China. The report found Canada’s mobile ecosystem supported nearly 200,000 jobs in 2025 (including 150,000 direct jobs) and generated $120 billion in economic value, representing 5.4 per cent of the national GDP. GSMA anticipates that contribution will increase to $170 billion by the end of the decade because of “improvements in productivity and efficiency brought about by the continued expansion of mobile services.” “By 2030, mobile’s contribution to value added is expected to have grown at a CAGR (compound annual growth rate) of 6.3%, more than three times overall GDP growth for the same period,” wrote the group. dlegree@thewirereport.ca

Canada lagging behind other countries on 5G performance: report

Telecom |
By Davis Legree
|October 20, 2026

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Canada lagging behind other countries on 5G performance: report

Telecom | By Davis Legree |October 20, 2026

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By Davis Legree
|October 20, 2026