The Canadian Radio-television and Communications Commission (CRTC) has approved TELUS’s expansion of fiber optic services into Eastern Canada.
The ruling comes after extreme pressure from Eastern Canadian telecoms to restrict TELUS’s access to fiber-to-the-premises (FTTP) infrastructure.
The CRTC’s decision supports new rules requiring Canada’s big three carriers—Bell Canada, Rogers Communications, and TELUS—to allow smaller and regional players to utilize their fiber optic networks at regulated rates. The move permits outside internet service providers to enter British Columbia and Alberta via TELUS’s network, and it provides consumers with more options for high-speed internet services.
Moreover, the ruling will enable TELUS to expand into Ontario and Quebec by leveraging Bell’s fiber optic infrastructure, a move strongly contested by Eastern Canadian telecom companies, particularly Bell.
An Order in Council requesting CRTC to reconsider the interim decision was made in 2023. However, the CRTC announced its final rulings in favor of TELUS.
Richard Gilhooley, TELUS’s spokesperson, highlighted the company’s acknowledgment of the ruling, stating, “This decision marks a significant step toward fostering greater competition, affordability, and innovation for millions of Canadians.”
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