Canada launches roadmap to improve telecom competition

The Government of Canada has launched the Telecom Competition Roadmap to improve competition and increase the choices for Canadians.

The roadmap outlines actions that the government will implement:

More choice – to increase competition and give consumers more choices, the government will make it easier for competitors to access existing networks and expand their networks.

Better prices- to help Canadians take advantage of more affordable plans, the Canadian government will spotlight competitive offers, make it easier to shop around and switch providers and eliminate unnecessary fees.

High-quality networks – the Canadian Government will make sure consumers benefit from high-quality services across the country, and the government will help companies deploy the latest fibre-optic networks, experiment with new technologies and strengthen access to reliable connectivity in rural and Indigenous communities.

The government will monitor the progress using indicators such as pricing, switching behaviour, network speeds, coverage and consumer complaints. The Government of Canada says that parts of the roadmap have already been underway, offering benefits for consumers.

Why this roadmap is important

When you think telecoms in Canada, everyone thinks of the Big Three: Bell, Telus and Rogers, and even if you think of a sub-brand like Koodo or Lucky Mobile, those are also owned by the Big Three. And while there are other options like Freedom Mobile, owned by Quebec’s Videotron, the lack of competition and options in the country has led to incredibly expensive phone plans, especially compared to other countries.

In November of 2025, the federal budget detailed the country’s plan to increase telecom competition. This includes the ‘dig once’ policy approach to help speed up deployment and allow telecoms to work together and share more of their fibre optic networks.

Source: Government of Canada