{"id":6423,"date":"2013-06-03T08:45:45","date_gmt":"2013-06-03T12:45:45","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/mhgoldberg.com\/blog\/?p=6423"},"modified":"2013-06-02T20:22:00","modified_gmt":"2013-06-03T00:22:00","slug":"opening-remarks-2013","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mhgoldberg.com\/blog\/?p=6423","title":{"rendered":"Opening remarks – 2013"},"content":{"rendered":"

Earlier this morning, at The 2013 Canadian Telecom Summit<\/a>, these were my opening remarks.<\/p>\n

Twenty one years of competitive telecommunications and look at where we are today.<\/p>\n

The promise of new competition in mobile services, made possible by the AWS spectrum set-aside 5 years ago, is at risk of collapse as new entrants scramble for capital.<\/p>\n

Still, each year, Michael and I have observed that all of us continue to use our various forms of communications more than ever; and each year we continue to increase our raw consumption of bits, of radio spectrum, of fiber capacity.<\/p>\n

This continues to be the trend and it continues to raise substantive policy issues as service providers \u2013 new entrant and incumbent alike – try to stay ahead of the demand.<\/p>\n

How do we create the right policy framework to attract and incent continued investment in Canadian telecommunications? How do we provide a stable, predictable regulatory and policy environment?<\/p>\n

How do we ensure that spectrum is made available in a manner that creates an appropriate balance between the various stakeholders\u2019 interests?<\/p>\n

How do we balance the need to build more towers with local residents who secretly crave 5-bars of signal, just as long as the tower can\u2019t be seen within eyesight of their homes.<\/p>\n

These issues are as relevant to this year\u2019s event as they have ever been.<\/p>\n

The sector continues to generate blockbuster business deals that grace the headlines. Whether it is a convergence deal like Bell \u2013 Astral, an acquisition like TELUS \u2013 Mobilicity, or a business transaction like Rogers \u2013 Shaw, companies are continuing to push the limits to gain their own competitive business advantages.<\/p>\n

We have been waiting for years for the release of a national digital strategy. As speakers may discuss over the next few days, whether or not Canada ever releases a National Strategy for the Digital Economy, we will need to find options to look beyond the urban\/rural divide \u2013 especially as we recognize that broadband access has become virtually universal, thanks to wireless and satellite.<\/p>\n

We cannot wait for leadership from Ottawa. It is up to us, those of us who have gathered at The Canadian Telecom Summit. We represent the leading stakeholders in Canada\u2019s innovation agenda.<\/p>\n

How do we create the right conditions for Canada to lead in a global digital economy?<\/p>\n