Alternative Canadian ISPs Gain Access to Higher Speeds
The Canadian regulatory authority CRTC is ordering big network operators like Bell and Telus to offer smaller wholesale companies higher internet speeds in a move to strengthen competition and accomplish reasonable pricing levels for broadband services.
Network owners will soon be required to offer whatever internet speeds they themselves sell to retail customers to smaller companies that rent portions of their networks. Bell and Telus offer Internet connections of up to 25 and 15 megabits per second respectively over newer fiber-based networks, but smaller providers can typically offer speeds of no more than five megabits per second over older copper-based infrastructure.
Cable companies are also required to modify their existing Internet access services to make it easier for alternative providers to connect to them. Cable companies are already required to offer matching speeds.
However, alternative providers were denied their request to require phone and cable companies to reconfigure their networks to offer additional services, such as television. Forcing such a reconfiguration “would constitute a disincentive to network investments without necessarily enhancing innovation or competition,” the CRTC said.
More: Small internet providers get higher speeds: CRTC
Also Noteworthy:
CRTC orders rebate for Bell Canada, Bell Aliant, Telus and MTS Allstream’s home telephone customers and approves a plan to bring broadband Internet to 287 communities (CRTC).
Broadband Pricing in US and Europe falls (The Register).
Source: CBC news
