With more competition in mobile wireless around the corner, Canadians are going to have more choices for broadband services as well.

Most Canadians already have access to broadband service from multiple facilities-based suppliers: twisted pair; coaxial cable; fixed and mobile wireless; and, satellite. In fact, Canadians have among the world’s leading number of choices of suppliers.

A new report from 3G Americas [ pdf, 1.5MB] talks about the evolution of broadband services delivered over mobile networks.

Earlier today, Rogers announced the launch of its world-leading HSPA+ network, starting off in Canada’s 5 largest markets, with the capability to deliver 21Mbps on mobile devices.

Rogers, Bell and TELUS will be joined by multiple new entrants offering a variety of plans that could encourage a wireless substitution for broadband services perhaps in parallel to some people giving up their home phone service.

In current deployments, HSPA users regularly experience throughput rates well in excess of 1 megabit per second (Mbps) under favorable conditions, on both downlinks and uplinks, with 4 Mbps downlink speed commonly being measured. Planned enhancements such as dual-carrier operation will double peak user-achievable throughput rates.

Broadband in Canada is faster and more competitive than most countries and well ahead of our neighbours to the south.

Twisted pair, coax, fixed wireless, mobile wireless, satellite: how many choices of facilities do you have to connect?

In the Cabinet’s December 2006 Policy Directive, the CRTC was told to rely on market forces to the greatest extent possible.

In Section 1(a)(ii), the CRTC was told

when relying on regulation, use measures that are efficient and proportionate to their purpose and that interfere with the operation of competitive market forces to the minimum extent necessary to meet the policy objectives;

On Friday, the CRTC opened a consultation to get input on issues associated with the incumbent telephone companies’ obligation to serve, basic service objectives, and local service subsidy regime.

Parties are to address the relationship between the obligation to serve, basic service objectives, and local service subsidies; and changes that have occurred in the telecom industry since these measures were first implemented (e.g. level of competition, technological change, regulatory environment, other jurisdictions).

According to an article on CBC, PIAC plans to argue that high speed internet services should be added to the list of basic service obligations. This raises an interesting issue, given that the telephone companies were second to market and have a smaller share than their cable counterparts.

In a competitive telecom sector, with a wide variety of service providers using a number of technology alternatives, what is the appropriate regulatory framework?

MTS Allstream has turned to the public for support of its cabinet appeal. The official comment period has closed on the Gazette Notice, but the broad coalition of ISPs on the Competitive Broadband home page is looking to influence Cabinet to overturn the CRTC’s Decision from last December.

Under the Telecom Act, Cabinet has one year from the date of the original decision to act on the appeals.

The website contains various links to the materials filed by MTS Allstream and a Top 10 list of reasons why the coalition would like to see the Commission’s decision overturned. It includes a reference to the flawed OECD study that erroneously said that Canada has among the highest cost, slowest broadband:

Canada already has more expensive and slower broadband services than many countries. Within the OECD, Mexico and Turkey are the only countries where broadband services are more expensive.

The Competitive Broadband coalition misses the point that Canadians already enjoy among the world’s highest levels of intermodal competition – the vast majority of us have access to broadband service over twisted pair, coaxial cable, fixed and mobile wireless as well as satellite.

Cabinet has to balance the interests of value added service providers, such as those represented in this new Coalition, against the interests of facilities based service providers – the companies making massive investment in infrastructure in a competitive environment.

Canadian Press covers the story here.

Labour Day has marked the end of summer for most of us, which means it is time for attention to turn toward the preliminary planning for The 2010 Canadian Telecom Summit (June 7-9: registrations are open).

We are already hearing from a number of companies that are proposing speakers: we welcome proposals for participation at all levels.

At the event this past June, it was great to see participation by leaders of smaller ISPs and communications service providers. The diversity of voices contributed to the broader understanding of the issues.

Your suggestions are welcome.

IIC is holding its annual conference in Montreal, October 26-27. This is a major policy conference, this year looking at a theme of Trends in Global Communications: Wrestling with unpredictability.

The conference is being hosted by CRTC Chair Konrad von Finckenstein, who is the President of the Canadian Chapter, International Institute of Communications. Confirmed speakers include Heritage Minister James Moore.

Prices increase after September 11.