Good news for Canadians?
Tue Jul 22, 2003 8:09 am
So, what do you folks in the frozen north think about this? Will it help you all get online easier?
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Story
Canada Phone Regulator Bans Exclusive Net Access
Mon Jul 21, 4:57 PM ET
By Jeffrey Hodgson
TORONTO (Reuters) - Canada's former telephone monopolies must now offer high-speed Internet service to upstart rivals' residential customers in a ruling regulators said on Monday will bolster competition for local phone service.
The ruling from the country's telecommunications watchdog forces BCE Inc.'s (Toronto:BCE.TO - news) Bell Canada unit, Aliant Inc. (Toronto:AIT.TO - news), Telus Corp. (Toronto:T.TO - news) and government-owned Sasktel to scrap their policy of offering high-speed Internet service only to customers who use their phone service.
The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission's ruling sparked a rally in the stock of Sprint Canada parent Call-Net Enterprises Inc. (Toronto:FON.TO - news), one of the few challengers to the former provincial monopolies.
Call-Net class B stock surged 40 Canadian cents, or more than 9 percent, to C$4.60.
Call-Net had complained to the commission that the old policy discouraged residential customers from signing up for its local and long-distance phone service.
"Today's decision is about removing the obstacles to fair competition," commission Chairman Charles Dalfen said in a statement.
"Making the incumbents' high-speed Internet services available to the competitors' subscribers will give customers more choice when it comes to choosing local telephone service providers and should enhance competition."
The ruling is the latest in a series from Ottawa's regulator favoring newer, smaller phone companies over the former monopolies.
Market watchers say the commission is trying to spur competition because new players have largely failed to make inroads into the local market. Call-Net has complained that new players control less than 1 percent of the market six years after local phone competition was allowed.
"This restriction that the incumbent phone companies had in place was a very real obstacle to alternative players like Sprint Canada," said Lawrence Surtees, director of telecom and Internet research with IDC Canada in Toronto.
"(Call-Net chief executive) Bill Linton has got to be tickled pink...it's something that has definite market implications."
Linton said he was "thrilled" with the ruling and expects the former monopolies to comply immediately.
"This milestone decision will open a number of new sales opportunities for Sprint Canada and improve the efficiency of our sales process," he said in a statement.
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Story
Canada Phone Regulator Bans Exclusive Net Access
Mon Jul 21, 4:57 PM ET
By Jeffrey Hodgson
TORONTO (Reuters) - Canada's former telephone monopolies must now offer high-speed Internet service to upstart rivals' residential customers in a ruling regulators said on Monday will bolster competition for local phone service.
The ruling from the country's telecommunications watchdog forces BCE Inc.'s (Toronto:BCE.TO - news) Bell Canada unit, Aliant Inc. (Toronto:AIT.TO - news), Telus Corp. (Toronto:T.TO - news) and government-owned Sasktel to scrap their policy of offering high-speed Internet service only to customers who use their phone service.
The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission's ruling sparked a rally in the stock of Sprint Canada parent Call-Net Enterprises Inc. (Toronto:FON.TO - news), one of the few challengers to the former provincial monopolies.
Call-Net class B stock surged 40 Canadian cents, or more than 9 percent, to C$4.60.
Call-Net had complained to the commission that the old policy discouraged residential customers from signing up for its local and long-distance phone service.
"Today's decision is about removing the obstacles to fair competition," commission Chairman Charles Dalfen said in a statement.
"Making the incumbents' high-speed Internet services available to the competitors' subscribers will give customers more choice when it comes to choosing local telephone service providers and should enhance competition."
The ruling is the latest in a series from Ottawa's regulator favoring newer, smaller phone companies over the former monopolies.
Market watchers say the commission is trying to spur competition because new players have largely failed to make inroads into the local market. Call-Net has complained that new players control less than 1 percent of the market six years after local phone competition was allowed.
"This restriction that the incumbent phone companies had in place was a very real obstacle to alternative players like Sprint Canada," said Lawrence Surtees, director of telecom and Internet research with IDC Canada in Toronto.
"(Call-Net chief executive) Bill Linton has got to be tickled pink...it's something that has definite market implications."
Linton said he was "thrilled" with the ruling and expects the former monopolies to comply immediately.
"This milestone decision will open a number of new sales opportunities for Sprint Canada and improve the efficiency of our sales process," he said in a statement.
Tue Jul 22, 2003 8:21 am
I have had high speed internet for a couple of years now anyway. The problem here is cost. I don't know what you pay but I pay about $50/month for high speed and they offer "ultra high speed" for around $70/month.
It is still widely available in most large cities in Canada, but the rural areas are not very well served. Hopefully this will assist those areas in getting DSL more quickly.
It is still widely available in most large cities in Canada, but the rural areas are not very well served. Hopefully this will assist those areas in getting DSL more quickly.
Tue Jul 22, 2003 2:53 pm
Maybr for people in the sticks, but in most mid to large size cities, Canada leads most of the world in broadband availability, pricing, and acceptance.
Tue Jul 22, 2003 3:18 pm
hey tommy never noticed where your from what part of toronto
Tue Jul 22, 2003 3:28 pm
percapita there are probably more places in the US which do not have high speed internet access compared to Canada.
I've had highspeed for a couple years now, with Sasktel, and pay under $40 a month.
I've had highspeed for a couple years now, with Sasktel, and pay under $40 a month.
Tue Jul 22, 2003 3:32 pm
I havn't had that much problem getting on line. Once the dogs are fed, and I've hooked up the sled, I take the lap-top computer from above the pot-bellied stove (where I keep it warm), slide it under my parka and take the team down to Inulikavuk. Once there, it's but a short time to get the lap top unfrozen (and me too) by the Unulikavuk Variety store (also gas station--for skidoos, bank, post office, real-estate agents, mayors office and tavern) pot-belly stove. After that, we oil the telegraph with a bit of walrus blubber and, after interfacing it with Microsoft Telegraph Explorer, we can bang away to our hearts content. You may have wondered why laptops in Canada are sold with tiny ball-point hammer--it's used for the special telegraph brass plate.
Well, it's great to be on-line with you folks down south of the border.
Keekanoo.
Well, it's great to be on-line with you folks down south of the border.
Keekanoo.
Tue Jul 22, 2003 3:35 pm
Originally posted by lil_Tigga
hey tommy never noticed where your from what part of toronto
right downtown man...King West Willage...
I am a good 4 iron away from King/Bathurst. LOL.
Tue Jul 22, 2003 6:13 pm
cool
Wed Jul 23, 2003 5:20 pm
yea high speed is expensive.
Wed Jul 23, 2003 5:55 pm
I have Optimum Online, a US Broadband company. I live in NJ. Here is what I pay and get:
Monthly: $50
Modem: Free
Speed: 10mbit download, 1mbit upload
Normal speeds for me are:
6mbit down, 800kbit up on router
9mbit down, 900kbit up when I'm off my router
Monthly: $50
Modem: Free
Speed: 10mbit download, 1mbit upload
Normal speeds for me are:
6mbit down, 800kbit up on router
9mbit down, 900kbit up when I'm off my router
Thu Jul 24, 2003 11:17 am
Originally posted by Keekanoo
Microsoft Telegraph Explorer
almost choked on my coffee.
lol
(btw "coffee," Keek, is a warmed beverage served in most 1st world countries and actually contains NO Beer)
Fri Jul 25, 2003 12:30 am
Originally posted by Keekanoo
I havn't had that much problem getting on line. Once the dogs are fed, and I've hooked up the sled, I take the lap-top computer from above the pot-bellied stove (where I keep it warm), slide it under my parka and take the team down to Inulikavuk. Once there, it's but a short time to get the lap top unfrozen (and me too) by the Unulikavuk Variety store (also gas station--for skidoos, bank, post office, real-estate agents, mayors office and tavern) pot-belly stove. After that, we oil the telegraph with a bit of walrus blubber and, after interfacing it with Microsoft Telegraph Explorer, we can bang away to our hearts content. You may have wondered why laptops in Canada are sold with tiny ball-point hammer--it's used for the special telegraph brass plate.
Well, it's great to be on-line with you folks down south of the border.
Keekanoo.
Fri Jul 25, 2003 3:26 am
Originally posted by Evan
I have Optimum Online, a US Broadband company. I live in NJ. Here is what I pay and get:
Monthly: $50
Modem: Free
Speed: 10mbit download, 1mbit upload
Normal speeds for me are:
6mbit down, 800kbit up on router
9mbit down, 900kbit up when I'm off my router
And this is relevant to the topic.. how?
Fri Jul 25, 2003 8:47 am
I pay 29 a month for DSL and my ping is around 35-40 is that good?