On Tuesday, June 4, 2019, at The 2019 Canadian Telecom Summit, Eric Smith, VP, Regulatory Affairs for the Canadian Wireless Telecommunications Association moderated a panel entitled “5G: Evolution or Revolution?”, reprising his role from 2018.

Panelists were:
•  Alexander Brock, SVP, Network Technology, Rogers
•  Ian Fogg, VP Analysis, Opensignal
•  Anoop Kulkarni, Global Head of Sales for 5G Network Planning, Optimization and Analytics, Nokia
•  Sean Newman, Sr VP and Director PM, Corero Network Security

Will 5G be evolutionary or revolutionary?

As recounted in the CARTT.ca account of the panel, the moderator, Eric Smith said: “When I got the assignment, I did what any deep thinker does: I Googled ‘is 5G an evolution or revolution?'” The results, he said, varied from headlines saying 5G will be as revolutionary as electricity for the automobile and ‘5G, don’t believe the hype’, to ‘5G is a CIA plot’.

Evolution or Revolution (or CIA plot)? You can view the complete discussion.

For many delegates, The Regulatory Blockbuster continues to be an annual highlight of The Canadian Telecom Summit and the 2019 edition lived up to their expectations.

Once again, the session was moderated by Greg O’Brien, editor and publisher of CARTT.ca, Canada’s news leader covering the Canadian cable, radio, television and telecom sectors.

The panel consisted of:
•  Samer Bishay, President & CEO, Iristel & Ice Wireless;
•  Andy Kaplan-Myrth, VP, Regulatory & Carrier Affairs, TekSavvy Solutions;
•  Robert Malcolmson, SVP, Regulatory Affairs, Bell Canada;
•  CJ Prudham, Chief Legal Officer, Xplornet Communications;
•  David Watt, SVP, Regulatory, Rogers; and,
•  Ted Woodhead, SVP, Strategic Policy Advisor, TELUS.

Each year, this session gives an opportunity to explore the most pressing regulatory and policy issues being reviewed in the Nation’s Capital. This year, the panel had identified more than a dozen potential topics, but never got past the first.

It was a lively discussion that brought in views from the audience as well.

Your comments are welcome.

As someone who has been an observer of government consultations, it is easy to sometimes be cynical about whether Ottawa actually is willing to incorporate suggestions to improve the preliminary views that have been circulated.

In the case of the 2019 Policy Direction to the CRTC, there are a number of subtle but important changes between the original and final text. Here is a ‘track changes’ version of the main body:

1. the Commission, when relying on regulation, should consider how the measures used its decisions can promote competition, affordability, consumer interests and innovation, namely in particular the extent to which they
   1. encourage all forms of competition and investment,
   2. foster affordability and lower prices, particularly when there is potential for telecommunications service providers to exercise market power,
   3. ensure that affordable access to high quality telecommunications services is available in all regions of Canada including rural areas,
   4. enhance and protect the rights of consumers in their relationships with telecommunications service providers, including rights related to accessibility,
   5. reduce barriers to entry and barriers to competition for new, regional or smaller telecommunications service providers,
   6. enable innovation in telecommunications services, including new technologies and differentiated service offerings, and
   7. stimulate investment in research and development and in other intangible assets that support the offer and provision of telecommunications services; and
2. the Commission, when relying on regulation, in its decisions, should demonstrate its compliance with this Order and should specify how the measures used those decisions can, as applicable, promote competition, affordability, consumer interests and innovation.

Subtle, but significant changes, demonstrating that the consultation considered the representations brought forward. I find that to be refreshing.

You can find the final text below:

2019 Policy Direction to the CRTC

On Wednesday, June 5, Rita Trichur, Senior Editor – Report on Business at The Globe and Mail, reprised her role as moderator for the Artificial Intelligence panel at The 2019 Canadian Telecom Summit that looked at “Debating Human Autonomy vs. Human Innovation.”

The panel included:
•  Marc Bellini, CTO – Canada Market Team, Nokia
•  Seth Jamison, Principal Systems Architect for FlashBlade, Pure Storage
•  Raed Kadri, Director, Automotive Technology and Mobility Innovation, Ontario Centres of Excellence

As Rita says in her panel introduction, AI has become a buzzword with every sector experimenting with AI, in the belief that artificial intelligence will improve the human condition and improve economic prosperity so most people will be much better off. Detractors warn of a loss of control and perhaps losing some of our intelligence. The potential for misuse of AI is high.

What is clear is that Canada cannot afford to squander the AI opportunity. But we also can’t afford to get it wrong.

Should we embrace or fear what’s coming?

Our panelists have lots to say.

On June 5, Eros Spadotto, EVP – Technology Strategy and Business Transformation at TELUS delivered a different perspective in his keynote address at The 2019 Canadian Telecom Summit.

His slides didn’t include a corporate logo. Instead, he said that he was speaking as an “Engineer, father, proud Canadian”.

His slides begin by drawing a comparison between Canada’s mobile networks and the national railroad to unite the country.

He continued, speaking about the need for a regulatory and policy framework that makes spectrum available and encourages capital investment, to ensure Canada’s wireless networks continue to be rated as world leading.

He concludes with an important message on the nature of global supply chains, a consideration that applies to all equipment suppliers.

I thought you might be interested in seeing his talk. You should be.