For decades Canada’s mobile phone service industry has been divided up by three companies: Bell, Telus and Rogers. However, Verizon, one of the major mobile carriers in the US, is looking to expand its company into Canada. This could mean terrible news for Canadian mobile communication companies. It’s so frightening to them that they’ve banded together to keep Verizon out of the country!
They’re not asking the government to ban Verizon; they just want Canada to look less appealing. The three companies have banded together and started a public ad campaign to get Canada’s anti-consolidation laws abolished.
As it stands, none of the major Canadian companies can purchase smaller companies to expand their power. However, the same rules don’t apply to foreign companies. Since the three major companies in Canada can’t buy up all the smaller companies, Verizon can swoop in and buy them all to create a fourth major mobile communication entity. Abolishing the laws would allow the other companies to bid on the smaller companies too, thus raising the price and making the move a lot less affordable.
The three companies also want Canada to allow bids on a broader spectrum range like the one allowed in the US, which would increase service options. Whether or not the government agrees to these changes will be a matter of long debate. If Verizon acts fast, it may be able to take over before any changes are made.
Source – The Verge
