OTTAWA – The CRTC has sent a letter to the largest carriers requesting a status update on negotiations for access to their wireless networks by mobile virtual network operators.
The letter, dated yesterday, asks Bell, Rogers, Telus and SaskTel to provide the commission by February 8 a list of regional carriers that have made requests to begin negotiations for that access and when those requests were made; the current status of any negotiations and whether rates have been discussed; and a timeframe for when they expect agreements can be executed.
If the parties cannot come to an agreement on rates, they can resort to final offer arbitration through the CRTC, wherein the commission will select the price.
“The implementation of wholesale MVNO access is of critical importance to support more competition in the mobile wireless sector, and it is in the interests of Canadians to have this service operationalized,” the commission said in the letter.
CRTC chair Vicky Eatrides told Cartt in an interview last Friday that she wanted an update on where those talks are.
It has been over three months since the CRTC in October released the terms and conditions for the MVNO regime, spawned by an April 2021 decision and that provides a guide to the large carriers and regional providers to begin those negotiations. Only regional providers that have infrastructure and spectrum can force negotiations for access.
Cogeco, which does not have a wireless business, said it has 30 to 40 people working on its wireless network plan, but whether it has entered into an MVNO negotiation is to be seen.
