International Telecommunication Union
Promoting Broadband
The Case of Canada
Eric Lie
Strategy and Policy Unit
International Telecommunication Union
1
The views expressed in this presentation are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect
the opinions of ITU or its Membership. The author can contacted by e-mail at eric.lie@itu.int.
International Telecommunication Union
Overview
• Geography
• Demographics and
Internet use
• Competition and
regulation
• Initiatives promoting
broadband
2
Broadband users, top 10 by
density per 100, 2002
Korea (Rep.)
21.3
Hong Kong, China
14.6
Canada
11.5
Taiwan, China
9.4
Iceland
8.7
Denmark
8.6
Belgium
8.4
Sweden
7.7
Austria
6.6
Netherlands
6.5
Source:
Source: ITU World Telecommunications Indicators Database
International Telecommunication Union
Geography
Distribution of served and unserved communities
3
Source:
Source: National Broadband Task Force
International Telecommunication Union
Geography
Small communities less likely to have broadband
• Broadband is available
in 1,282 communities
• Represents 85% of the
population but only
24% of all communities
• Policy focus is on
connecting the
remaining 15%
scattered over more
than 3,500
communities
Communities with access to
broadband by population, %
100
100
90
78
80
70
60
50
50
40
24
24
30
20
8
10
0
0
10
0
0
10
00
0
-5
00
5
0
00
-1
0
0,
00
10
,0
00
1
,0
00
00
4
Source:
Source: National Broadband Task Force
10
0
0
,0
0+
C
ad
an
a
International Telecommunication Union
Demographics and Internet use
• Affluent
• Highly
educated
• Internet
penetration of
43.5 per 100
• Use of Internet
for high
bandwidth
activities
•
5
playing
games,
downloading
music, online
learning
Internet use by household, %
46.1
E-mail
44.3
General browsing
30.1
Medical/heatlh information
27.4
Travel info
26.3
View the news
25.6
Government info
24.4
Playing games
Obtaining/saving music
23.3
Formal education/training
22.9
Financial info
22.8
Sports related info
22.1
Electronic banking
21.6
16.2
Search for employment
Chat groups
13.7
Purchasing goods/services
12.7
Listening to radio
12.3
Other Internet services
Source:
Source: Statistics Canada
21.1
International Telecommunication Union
Competition
Intermodal Competition
Growth of cable Internet and DSL subscribers, 1999-2001
2.5
2
No. of Subscribers
(millions)
1.5
DSL
Cable
1
0.5
0
Q
4
4
3
3
Q
2
Q Q1
:
01
20
Q
Q
4
2
Q Q1
:
00
20
Q
3
Source:
Source: Industry Canada
Q
2
Q Q1
:
99
19
6
International Telecommunication Union
Competition
Broadband pricing
• Affordable pricing
•
e.g. Bell Sympatico ADSL - 1Mbit/s (downstream)
160kbit/s (upstream) at C$44.95 (US$28.40)
• Tiered services
•
Introduction of “lite” services. e.g. Bell Sympatico
“lite” – 128 kbit/s (downstream) 64 kbit/s (upstream)
at C$24.95 (US$15.70)
• Bit cap charges
•
•
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Download limits imposed e.g. 10 Gbit for ADSL
Separation of heavy and light users
Commoditisation of broadband services
International Telecommunication Union
Regulation
• Market entry and licensing
•
•
FBOs need only register before commencing
operations
Regulatory forbearance from Internet service
market
• Rights of way
•
CRTC jurisdiction over disputes between
municipalities and carriers
• Local loop unbundling
• Cable open access
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International Telecommunication Union
Initiatives
Key drivers
• Federal
•
•
Connecting Canadians
Broadband for Rural and Northern Development
Pilot Program
• Provincial and territorial
•
e.g. Alberta SuperNet, Villages branches du
Quebec
• Community
•
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“Community champions” e.g. Upper Canada
Networks
International Telecommunication Union
Initiatives
Infrastructure deployment strategies
• Demand aggregation model
•
•
•
•
Community champions
Condominium fibre builds
Wireless networks
Internet exchanges
• Public infrastructure model
•
•
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Public utility model
Public sector network model
International Telecommunication Union
Initiatives
Application and content development
• Government supported broadband R&D
•
•
•
Individual government departments
CANARIE
Communications Research Centre (CRC)
• Focus on delivery of public services
•
•
11
e-Learning
Tele-health
International Telecommunication Union
Thank You
http://www.itu.int/broadband
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