Canadian Cell Phone Rates Throttle Mobile Web Innovation
- Image via Wikipedia
Canadians pay among the highest cellphone rates in the western world, according to a new international report by the OECD that has reignited calls for greater competition and regulation in Canada’s wireless sector.
Any way you slice it, technology consultant Jesse Hirsh said Canadians aren’t getting a good deal from the country’s three large carriers because the trio — Telus, Rogers and Bell — make up an oligopoly that “are all ex-monopolies and they think and act like monopolies. They’re less interested in innovation and more interested in the least amount of effort that they can make to charge the highest price.”
That is why the iPhone was so long delayed here in Canada and you should not expect that the exciting innovation represented by Google Voice will be available in Canada anytime soon.
The Mobile Web is a major sector for technological investment and innovation. It is heart-breaking that Canadian involvement is severely weakened by the dog-in-the-manger attitude of the Canadian cellphone oligopoly. Their short-sighted focus on maximising short term revenues from existing customers does both them and the Canadian economy a major disservice. One can only hope that the Canadian Government puts a high priority on changing this situation. In terms of reward on effort, it would be one of the most important dossiers they have.
Related articles by Zemanta
![Reblog this post [with Zemanta]](http://img.zemanta.com/reblog_e.png?x-id=f9b653a5-9339-499d-b25f-31884d4f443e)
Go To Top
BPWrap
August 17th, 2009 at 1:09 am
Barry, believe it or not, the unbeatable trio will be soon devastated, as they cannot monopolise the cell phone markets forever. The lack of innovation would be the main killing point for the mighty trio!
August 17th, 2009 at 6:38 am
I find it so amazing how the US and Canada differ in terms of rolling out this technology. My feeling is that people will be getting their hands on the technology regardless of the borders – domestic of International. The trouble is always coverage. For example, here in the states, the iphone is using AT&T instead of the popular Verizon coverage. Apple will have to give in at some point if they want to expand their usage.
August 18th, 2009 at 1:05 am
We used to have similar problems with monopolies in Slovenia, but since one of the cell phone companies started to lower their prices, all that slowly came to an end. Unfortunately now I think they are starting to make an agreement on both having expensive services again, which is the worst that could happen..
August 18th, 2009 at 6:47 am
I don’t think it is just in Canada that the problems exist. It is just the same in the UK tariff’s remain far too high. And try those data charges when you go overseas. My last Vodafone bill was over £400 for a 5 day trip!
August 19th, 2009 at 1:51 pm
While it’s certainly unfortunate that this has so far been the situation in Canada, I don’t think it can last for long. The Canadian Big 3 telecom providers are eventually either going to get too much pressure and finally lower prices or they’ll start seeing real competition from a smaller provider offering the same (or better) services at lower cost. Either way, it is a fact that companies must innovate to stay on top – complacency always leads to downfall.
August 20th, 2009 at 2:17 am
I accept its the same with UK. But that haven’t stopped it from having new mobile technologies.
August 30th, 2009 at 1:50 am
Here in China too. Iphone is not sold here, though a few factories manufacture and transport them to the rest of the world.
September 6th, 2009 at 3:35 pm
so that’s the reason why recently Iphone is very hard to come by, was waiting for long time.
September 7th, 2009 at 4:30 am
We had the same situation on the mobile market in Russia, and it DID change, when new operators arised, and the marked demonopolized.
I believe thing will change in Canada as well