Telecom Trends

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?