Statistics Canada released some interesting numbers last week on cellular adoption (two thirds of homes have access to at least one mobile phone) and cable or VoIP service (more than 10%).
I found it interesting that in both cases, Alberta leads all other provinces – 80% of Alberta households have cellular phones and, at 13% penetration, Albertans are 30% more likely to be using a VoIP or cable phone service. Contrast these numbers with Quebec and New Brunswick around 57.5% cellular adoption, or Newfoundland and Labrador with fewer than 5% using VoIP or cable telephony. Quebec may lag in cellular, but it is close to Alberta in VoIP and cable telephony.
| Proportion of households by type of phone service, December 2006 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Land-line | Cell phone | Cable telephone/VoiP | |
| Canada | |||
| Newfoundland and Labrador | |||
| Prince Edward Island | |||
| Nova Scotia | |||
| New Brunswick | |||
| Quebec | |||
| Ontario | |||
| Manitoba | |||
| Saskatchewan | |||
| Alberta | |||
| British Columbia | |||
Why? What are the factors that influence Alberta leading in both categories, and so far in the lead in cellular adoption per household?
Are these statistics tied to provincial government policy initiatives, such as the Alberta Supernet, stimulating the population to examine alternate technology solutions? Are they tied to Albertan’s income profile or booming oilfields? Are they a reflection of the particular demographic profile that has been turbo charging the Alberta economy.
Home relocations – moving – is an opportunity for people to re-examine their choice of communications services providers. Moving represents a discontinuity in the inertia for people’s relationships with their status quo.
How can service providers improve their share of these customers?
The Statistics Canada report shows that people cutting the cord completely and migrating strictly to cell phone use is growing, but at a slower pace: about 5.0% of households reported having only a cell phone in December 2006, compared to 4.8% in December 2005. In 2004, only 2.4% of Canadians had cell phones only. What caused the slowdown?
How many cell phone users are using VoIP as a backup or for more affordable long distance? Interesting information to be mined.
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Statistics Canada, Alberta, VoIP, cable telephony, mobile service, market statistics