CRTC Code for Wireless Services Now Available

The Canadian Radio-television Telecommunications Commission (CRTC)
has published a draft of the code which will govern contracts for wireless services in Canada. Consumers have voiced displeasure about the terms of their service contracts and other aspects of pre-paid and post-paid cellular service in Canada. The CRTC invites review and comments of the Code up to and including 15 February 2013.

There are a number of areas that will effect consumers and enterprises using wireless services.

Review the Draft Code

HOUSEHOLD CELL PHONE PENETRATION AT 78% IN CANADA

More than three-quarters (78%) of Canadian households indicated they had a cell phone in 2010, up from 74% in 2008, according to Statistics Canada's new Residential Telephone Service Survey. The proportion of households with cell phones was highest in three western provinces – Alberta (87%), Saskatchewan (83%) and British Columbia (82%) – and in Ontario (81%).

In addition, more households are abandoning their traditional landline telephones in favour of wireless phones only. In 2010, 13% of households reported they used a cell phone exclusively, up from 8% in 2008. This was particularly the case for young households. In 2010, 50% of households in the 18-to-34 age bracket were using only cell phones, up from 34% two years earlier.

The Residential Telephone Service Survey monitors residential phone penetration rates across all provinces in Canada. Approximately 19,000 households were surveyed in December 2010 as a supplement of the Labour Force Survey.
STATS CANADA REPORT