More Cellphone Choice?

...I wish. The choice we have for cellphone carriers here in Canada just plain sucks. RoBellus (Rogers/Bell/Telus) seems to be quite content with charging Canadians more for less, when other countries are far ahead of us in coverage and services.

Now the goverment is auctioning off wireless spectrum, not for 'putting money in the government's pocket' as Iain Grant, managing director of the SeaBoard Group has said, but hopeing to promote competition resulting in better rates for canadian cell phone consumers.

This is all fine in theory, but its not quite that simple. The big 3 are allowed to bid on a large part of the auctioned spectrum, with the rest being available only to 'smaller' startups (like Alberta based Shaw Communications), but which must be at least 53% Canadian owned.

To me, all this is just to placate the critics. These smaller startups will just get bought up by the existing cellphone carriers and we will be right back in the same place we are now. Talk about a let down.

It's time we stop baby sitting Candian companies, make it easier for carriers from other countries like the US be able to come into Canada and offer services. Thats the only way we are going to improve the competition situation in Canada. Otherwise, RoBellus will enjoy the same safe haven it always has, and we will still be charged whatever they think we are willing to pay. The same goes for TV networks, radio, and airlines. Let whoever wants to do business in Canada go for it, as long as Canadian companies have the same opportunites in those countries as well. By providing a sheltered environment to do business, all we are guarenteed is that the service we get will suck. The current state of Canadian TV, cellphone and ISPs is clear proof of that.