Canada - assessment of markets

CRTC Releases First Combined Communications Monitoring Report
see also full text of report

The Canadian regulator has released the first combined communications and broadcasting report, which provides a range of data on the two converging industries.

Global Insight Perspective

Significance - The CRTC Communications Monitoring Report 2008 provides a wealth of information on the converging industries of broadcasting and telecoms.

Implications - Access independent VoIP saw 38.9% growth y/y as incumbents continued to lose lines to wireless, cable and internet VoIP. While broadcasting provides new revenue opportunities for the telcos, the total revenues are limited in comparison with those generated by telecoms services.

Outlook - While the trends of the last couple of years continue, the core growth areas of wireless and internet are beginning to show signs that they are reaching a plateau as growth slows.

The CRTC has released an exhaustive report into the telecoms and broadcasting industries, as well as examining related technology use. The Communications Monitoring Report 2008 contains industry statistics and survey data consolidating information from a variety of sources and for the first time combines data collection by the CRTC and Industry Canada as the regulator copes with convergence and eliminates overlaps in data gathering.