CRTC Announces Broadband Targets

The following is from a CRTC press release of May 3..2011 and is posted without commentary at this time.

“The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) today set a target for broadband Internet access services across Canada. By the end of 2015, the CRTC expects all Canadians to have access to broadband speeds of at least 5 megabits per second (Mbps) for downloads and 1 Mbps for uploads.

"A well-developed broadband infrastructure will serve as a gateway for Canadians to participate in the digital economy," said Konrad von Finckenstein, Q.C., Chairman of the CRTC. "The target we have established is the minimum speed we believe consumers in rural and remote areas should be able to receive. The industry is actively responding to market demands and we have every confidence in its ability to meet the target."

The CRTC anticipates that this target will be reached through a combination of private investments, targeted government funding and public-private partnerships. The launch of new satellites and advances in wireless technologies will make it possible to provide Canadians in rural and remote regions with reliable broadband connections at reasonable rates and higher speeds than those available today.

Despite Canada's unique geography, 95% of households currently have access to Internet download speeds of at least 1.5 Mbps through telephone, cable or fixed-wireless networks. Over 80% of households already have access to download speeds of 5 Mbps or higher.

The CRTC will closely monitor the industry's progress in reaching the target”