The telecommunications landscape in Canada is at a crossroads. The CRTC has mandated that incumbent ISPs share their fibre infrastructure with competitors — a step intended to foster competition and improve access. But several providers, including Eastlink, have responded by threatening to freeze investments or withdraw service, particularly in rural areas.
From my nearly 15 years working in the telecom industry, I see this as a critical failure of the current infrastructure ownership model. When private companies control the network, service decisions are driven by profit, not the public good.
I’ve addressed these concerns in a letter to the Minister of Public Safety and the Minister of Canadian Identity and Culture who are responsible for critical infrastructure and the CRTC, respectively, proposing a bold but practical solution: transfer ownership and management of telecom infrastructure to a public Crown corporation. This would ensure equal, fair access for all service providers and safeguard Canadians everywhere from losing essential connectivity.
You can read my full letter here:
Canada’s Internet Infrastructure — My Letter to the Minister
I invite the IT community and concerned citizens to share their perspectives on this important issue.
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