OTTAWA – The Canadian Wireless Telecommunications Association (CWTA) is crediting government policies that promote facilities-based competition for Canada’s status as a “global 4G superpower with the fastest wireless networks in the G7.”
The lobby group, which represents companies that provide wireless services and products, referenced reports such as November’s Ookla Speedtest Global Index that found that Canadian wireless networks have download speeds that are 144.3% faster than the global average, making Canada's networks the fourth fastest in the world and tops amongst G7 nations.
CWTA president and CEO Robert Ghiz also highlighted CRTC data from its 2018 Communications Monitoring Report that said advanced LTE networks were available to 99% of Canadians at the end of 2017, and that the average Canadian with a data plan consumed over 30% more data in 2017 than the previous year, plus used 163% more data than in 2014.
"These results are only possible because of capital investments of approximately $50 billion by Canada's facilities-based operators," added Ghiz in the release. "It takes that level of investment to build the world-class networks Canada enjoys today, creating what OpenSignal has referred to as a 'global 4G superpower.' And as we approach the 5G wireless revolution, that means Canada is in a strong position to further its global lead in innovation and wireless technology."
CWTA added that the wireless industry generates over 138,000 full-time jobs and contributes in excess of $25 billion in GDP to the Canadian economy.
