OTTAWA – The CRTC has launched a proceeding on whether the mandated mobile virtual network operator regime should include large business customers and internet of things (IoT) segments.
The regulator said that those markets may be more concentrated and, therefore, is requesting feedback on whether they should be included in the MVNO framework established in April 2021 that allows regional providers with spectrum and infrastructure to force negotiations with the large carriers for customer access to their wireless networks.
In the lead-up to the release of the terms and conditions of the MVNO framework in October, providers said the enterprise, IoT and machine-to-machine segments are necessary to a full functioning business. The regulator said it would launch a proceeding on the matter at a later date.
The regulator is asking a number of questions Wednesday related to the matter, including whether preventing regional carriers from using the wholesale MVNO regime for those new segments would cause an illegal preference for the larger carriers; how the enterprise and IoT segments differ from other retail markets; how should those new markets be defined; what demand is like and whether there are substitutes; and are those markets essential for a customer’s business activities.
The deadline for comments is March 31, with replies due April 17.
The CRTC has already asked the large carriers for formal updates about the status of MVNO negotiations with regional providers. In the most recently publicized spat, Videotron said it has made “little progress” after it was denied an arbitration hearing with Bell over that access.
As 5G becomes more commonplace, there is an expected explosion of growth in devices that connect to those networks. Those include any product that connects and transmits data over the internet, including appliances, watches and cameras, and for industrial uses such as agriculture and mining.
