The CRTC has announced new minimum speed targets for broadband Internet access in Canada.
The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission said Tuesday in a news release that by the end of 2015, all Canadians should 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 CRTC chairman Konrad von Finckenstein said in a news release.
"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 said that 95 per cent of Canadian households currently have access to Internet download speeds of at least 1.5 Mbps through telephone, cable or fixed-wireless networks and that more than 80 per cent households already have access to download speeds of 5 Mbps or higher.
"The CRTC anticipates that this target will be reached through a combination of private investments, targeted government funding and public-private partnerships," the release said. "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."
The commission said it will "closely monitor" the industry's progress in reaching that target.
Meanwhile, the commission announced that large telephone companies must continue to offer residential subscribers a basic telephone line at a reasonable rate. Companies will have the flexibility to gradually increase rates for this service over the next three years, to a maximum of $30 per month.
The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission said Tuesday in a news release that by the end of 2015, all Canadians should 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 CRTC chairman Konrad von Finckenstein said in a news release.
"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 said that 95 per cent of Canadian households currently have access to Internet download speeds of at least 1.5 Mbps through telephone, cable or fixed-wireless networks and that more than 80 per cent households already have access to download speeds of 5 Mbps or higher.
"The CRTC anticipates that this target will be reached through a combination of private investments, targeted government funding and public-private partnerships," the release said. "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."
The commission said it will "closely monitor" the industry's progress in reaching that target.
Meanwhile, the commission announced that large telephone companies must continue to offer residential subscribers a basic telephone line at a reasonable rate. Companies will have the flexibility to gradually increase rates for this service over the next three years, to a maximum of $30 per month.