Canada - Telecoms, Mobile and Broadband

Description

Merger plan of two of Canada's telcos remains uncertain

Canada's telecom market is dominated by the facilities-based service providers including Bell, Quebecor, Rogers, Shaw, and Telus. These companies, including their affiliates, account for about 87% of total sector revenue. While the market shares of the top five companies change slightly from year-on-year, merger and acquisition activity results in more significant market share changes.

Over the years there have been some failed deals, including one in late 2020 when Rogers and Altice USA made an unsolicited offer to acquire Cogeco. Under the proposed deal Altice would have bought Cogeco and have sold the Canadian assets to Rogers. Cogeco rejected the takeover bid.

A prolonged an ongoing merger involving Rogers and Shaw is now uncertain on competition grounds. In March 2021, Rogers had acquired Shaw's Class A shares and Class B shares for some CA$26 billion, including about CA$6 billion of debt. The deal was subject to approvals from Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED), the Competition Bureau, and the CRTC. The CRTC approved the deal in March 2022, which has implications for Shaw's unit Freedom Mobile in that final approval includes the requirement that the merged operator divest its wireless business. To this end, Rogers opened talks with potential buyers of Shaw's wireless assets, including mobile spectrum. This would satisfy existing federal policy aimed at ensuring that there was sufficient competition in the mobile market, with at four wireless providers required to be operating in any given area.

Following completion of the deal, Rogers and Shaw planned to merge their telecom and cable operations, becoming a larger company better able to invest in networks upgrades and expansion projects. However, the Competition Bureau remains opposed to the merger.

1 Key statistics

2 Country overview

3 Telecommunications market

3.1 Overview

4 Regulatory environment

4.1 Regulatory authorities
4.2 Mobile network developments

5 Mobile market

5.1 Market analysis
5.2 Mobile statistics
5.3 Mobile infrastructure
5.4 Major mobile operators
5.5 Mobile content and applications

6 Fixed-line broadband market

6.1 Introduction and statistical overview
6.2 Hybrid Fibre Coax (HFC) networks
6.3 Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) networks
6.4 Fibre-to-the-Premises (FttP)
6.5 Other fixed broadband services

7 Digital economy

7.1 E-health
7.2 E-Learning
7.3 E-commerce

8 Fixed network operators

9 Telecommunications infrastructure

9.1 Overview of the national telecom network
9.2 International infrastructure
9.3 Smart grid developments

10 Appendix Historic data

11 Glossary of abbreviations

12 Related reports

Table 1 Top Level Country Statistics and Telco Authorities- Canada 2022 (e)
Table 2 Telecom and broadcasting revenue (CA$ billion) 2012 2020
Table 3 Telecoms revenue by type (CA$ billion) 2012 2020
Table 4 Telecom revenue by type of provider (CA$ billion) 2012 2020
Table 5 Telecoms investment by type (CA$ billion) 2012 2020
Table 6 Telecoms investment in spectrum 2012 2020
Table 7 Average household spend on telecom services by type ($ per month) 2012 2017
Table 8 Proportion of mobile contract plans by term length 2013 2018
Table 9 Growth in the number of mobile subscribers and penetration rate 2012 2027
Table 10 Change in the share of mobile retail revenue by operator 2016 2020
Table 11 Development of mobile revenue by service type (CA$ million) 2012 2020
Table 12 Retail wireless revenue 2012 2021
Table 13 Mobile ARPU 2012 2020
Table 14 Average mobile data user per subscribers 2014 2020
Table 15 Mobile device penetration by type 2012 2020
Table 16 Mobile broadband availability by technology 2012 2020
Table 17 Text messages sent per month 2012 2020
Table 18 Average number of text messages daily 2014 2020
Table 19 Growth in the number of active mobile broadband subscribers and penetration 2012 2027
Table 20 LTE and LTE-A availability for households 2017 2020
Table 21 Rogers Wireless revenue, operating profit (CA$ million) 2012 2021
Table 22 Rogers Wireless pre and postpaid subscribers (million) 2012 2021
Table 23 Rogers Wireless annualised churn 2012 2021
Table 24 Rogers Wireless annualised ARPU (CA$ / month) 2012 2021
Table 25 Bell Wireless operating data 2012 2021
Table 26 Bell Wireless financial data (CA$ million) 2012 2021
Table 27 Development of Telus Mobility's financial data (CA$ million) 2012 2021
Table 28 Telus Mobility prepaid and postpaid subscribers (million) 2012 2021
Table 29 Telus Mobility ARPU and monthly churn rate 2012 2021
Table 30 Development of SaskTel Mobility's revenue 2012 2022
Table 31 SaskTel Mobility subscribers 2012 2021
Table 32 Development of Videotron's mobile revenue 2012 2021
Table 33 Growth in the number of Videotron's mobile subscribers 2012 2021
Table 34 Videotron mobile annualised ABPU 2017 2021
Table 35 Shaw Communications' mobile subscribers (thousand) 2016 2022
Table 36 Shaw communications mobile revenue and capex (CA$ million) 2016 2022
Table 37 Retail fixed broadband market revenue 2012 2020
Table 38 Total fixed internet revenue 2013 2020
Table 39 Change in the number of DSL and cable broadband subscribers (million) 2012 2019
Table 40 Growth in the number of fixed-line broadband subscribers and penetration 2012 2027
Table 41 Proportion of residential broadband connections by data rate 2015 2020
Table 42 Household broadband availability by platform 2012 2020
Table 43 Household broadband availability by data rate 2011 2019
Table 44 Market share of fixed internet subscribers by platform 2012 2019
Table 45 Fixed broadband traffic by subscribe (GB per month) 2012 2021
Table 46 Broadband ARPU 2012 2020
Table 47 Shaw Communications subscribers (thousand) 2012 2022
Table 48 Shaw Communications revenue 2012 2022
Table 50 Rogers Cable subscriber data (thousand) 2012 2021
Table 51 Change in the number of Videotron's subscriber (million) 2012 2021
Table 52 Cogeco subscribers by sector (thousand) 2012 2022
Table 53 Decline in the number of DSL broadband subscribers 2012 2019
Table 54 Bell Canada (BCE) financial data (CA$ million) 2012 2021
Table 55 Bell Canada revenue by division (CA$ million) 2012 2021
Table 56 Change in the number of Bell Canada's subscribers by sector (million) 2012 2021
Table 57 Development of Telus's financial data (CA$ billion) 2012 2021
Table 58 Telus subscribers by sector (million) 2012 2021
Table 59 SaskTel financial data (CA$ million) 2012 2022
Table 60 Change in the number of SaskTel's subscribers by sector (thousand) 2012 2022
Table 61 Proportion of homes connected by fibre (incumbent telcos) 2014 2020
Table 62 Growth in the number of fibre broadband subscribers 2012 2019
Table 63 Wi-Fi hotspots in service by province 2018 2019
Table 64 Change in e-commerce and total retail sales ($ billion) 2016 2022
Table 65 Proportion of fixed-only and wireless-only households 2012 2017
Table 66 Change in the number of fixed-lines in service and penetration 2012 2027
Table 67 Fixed-line retail voice revenue 2012 2020
Table 68 Fixed-line retail and wholesale revenue (CA$ billion) 2012 2020
Table 69 International internet bandwidth 2012 2016
Table 70 Historic - Wireless subscribers and penetration 2000 2011
Table 71 Historic - Mobile revenue by service type (CA$ million) 2002 2011
Table 72 Historic - Multiple SIM card use as proportion of subscribers 2011 2015
Table 73 Historic - Prepaid and post-paid sector revenue (CA$ million) 2010 2016
Table 74 Historic - Market share of subscribers by operator 2015 2016
Table 75 Historic - Text messages sent per month 2002 2011
Table 76 Historic - Rogers Wireless revenue, operating profit (CA$ million) 2002 2011
Table 77 Historic - Bell Wireless operating data 2006 2011
Table 78 Historic - Bell Wireless financial data (CA$ million) 2006 2011
Table 79 Historic - MTS wireless revenue, ARPU 2007 2014
Table 80 Historic - Telus Mobility revenue, EBITDA, capex (CA$ million) 2003 2011
Table 81 Historic - Telus Mobility ABPU and monthly churn rate 2002 2011
Table 82 Historic - Take-up of services by type 2009 2015
Table 83 Historic - Bell Aliant subscribers by sector (thousand) 2008 2014
Table 84 Historic - Bell Aliant financial data (CA$ million) 2008 2014
Table 85 Historic - MTS financial data (CA$ million) 2007 2014
Table 86 Historic - MTS revenue by sector (CA$ million) 2007 2014
Table 87 Historic - MTS subscribers by sector (thousand) 2007 2013
Table 88 Historic - Retail fixed broadband market revenue 2004 2011
Table 89 Historic - Fixed-line retail and wholesale revenue (CA$ billion) 2006 2011
Table 90 Historic - SMS and MMS sent 2009 2016
Table 91 Historic - SaskTel Mobility subscribers 2007 2011
Table 92 Historic - DSL and cable broadband subscribers (million) 2004 2011
Table 93 Historic - Proportion of residential broadband connections by data rate 2014 2018
Table 94 Historic - Cable broadband revenue ($ billion) 2008 2016
Table 95 Historic - Development of Telus's financial data (CA$ billion) 2006 2011
Table 96 Historic - SaskTel financial data (CA$ million) 2007 2011
Table 97 Historic - SaskTel subscribers by sector (thousand) 2007 2011
Table 98 Historic - Fixed-line retail voice revenue 2006 2011
Table 99 Historic - International internet bandwidth 2002 2011
Table 100 Historic - Telecom and broadcasting revenue (CA$ billion) 2007 2011
Table 101 Historic - Telecoms revenue by type (CA$ billion) 2006 2011
Table 102 Historic - Telecoms investment by type (CA$ billion) 2006 2011
Table 103 Historic - Telus subscribers by sector (thousand) 2007 2011
Table 104 Historic - Growth in the number of fibre broadband subscribers 2006 2011
Table 105 Historic - Proportion of fixed-only and wireless-only household 2004 2011
Chart 1 Telecom and broadcasting revenue 2012 2020
Chart 2 Telecoms revenue by type 2012 2020
Chart 3 Telecom revenue by type of provider 2012 2020
Chart 4 Telecoms investment by type 2012 2020
Chart 5 Telecoms investment in spectrum 2012 2020
Chart 6 Average household spend on telecom services by type 2012 2017
Chart 7 Proportion of mobile contract plans by term length 2013 2018
Chart 8 Growth in the number of mobile subscribers and penetration rate 2012 2027
Chart 9 Change in the share of mobile retail revenue by operator 2016 2020
Chart 10 Development of mobile revenue by service type 2012 2020
Chart 11 Retail wireless revenue 2012 2021
Chart 12 Mobile ARPU 2012 2020
Chart 13 Average mobile data user per subscribers 2014 2020
Chart 14 Mobile device penetration by type 2012 2020
Chart 15 Text messages sent per month 2012 2020
Chart 16 Average number of text messages daily 2014 2020
Chart 17 Growth in the number of active mobile broadband subscribers and penetration 2012 2027
Chart 18 Rogers Wireless revenue, operating profit 2012 2021
Chart 19 Rogers Wireless pre and postpaid subscribers 2012 2021
Chart 20 Rogers Wireless annualised churn 2012 2021
Chart 21 Rogers Wireless annualised ARPU 2012 2021
Chart 22 Bell Wireless financial data 2012 2021
Chart 23 Development of Telus Mobility's financial data 2012 2021
Chart 24 Telus Mobility prepaid and postpaid subscribers 2012 2021
Chart 25 Development of SaskTel Mobility's revenue 2012 2022
Chart 26 SaskTel Mobility subscribers 2012 2021
Chart 27 Development of Videotron's mobile revenue 2012 2021
Chart 28 Growth in the number of Videotron's mobile subscribers 2012 2021
Chart 29 Videotron mobile ABPU 2017 2021
Chart 30 Shaw Communications' mobile subscribers 2016 2022
Chart 31 Shaw communications mobile revenue and capex 2016 2022
Chart 32 Retail fixed broadband market revenue 2012 2020
Chart 33 Total fixed internet revenue 2013 2020
Chart 34 DSL and cable broadband subscribers 2012 2019
Chart 35 Growth in the number of fixed-line broadband subscribers and penetration 2012 2027
Chart 36 Proportion of residential broadband connections by data rate 2015 2020
Chart 37 Market share of fixed internet subscribers by platform 2012 2019
Chart 38 Fixed broadband traffic by subscriber 2012 2021
Chart 39 Broadband ARPU 2012 2020
Chart 40 Shaw Communications subscribers by type 2012 2022
Chart 41 Shaw Communications revenue 2012 2022
Chart 42 Rogers Cable financial data 2012 2021
Chart 43 Rogers Cable subscriber data 2012 2021
Chart 44 Change in the number of Videotron's subscriber 2012 2021
Chart 45 Decline in the number of DSL broadband subscribers 2012 2019
Chart 46 Bell Canada (BCE) financial data 2012 2021
Chart 47 Bell Canada revenue by division 2012 2021
Chart 48 Change in the number of Bell Canada's subscribers by sector 2012 2021
Chart 49 Development of Telus's financial data 2012 2021
Chart 50 Telus subscribers by sector 2012 2021
Chart 51 SaskTel financial data 2012 2022
Chart 52 Change in the number of SaskTel's subscribers by sector 2012 2021
Chart 53 Growth in the number of fibre broadband subscribers 2012 2019
Chart 54 Change in e-commerce and total retail sales 2016 2022
Chart 55 Proportion of fixed-only and wireless-only household 2012 2017
Chart 56 Change in the number of fixed-lines in service and penetration 2012 2027
Chart 57 Fixed-line retail voice revenue 2012 2020
Chart 58 Fixed-line retail and wholesale revenue 2012 2020
Chart 59 International internet bandwidth 2012 2016
Exhibit 1 AWS-3 auction results March 2015
Exhibit 2 700MHz auction results February 2014
Exhibit 3 700MHz auction licensees by province February 2014
Exhibit 4 2.5GHz spectrum auction results April 2015
Exhibit 5 Major submarine cables landing in Canada

Canada - Telecoms, Mobile and Broadband - Statistics and Analyses