Leaders of Canada’s three biggest telecom companies emphasized that the cost of phone and internet services is going down while speaking to MPs. They pointed to factors such as increased data usage, high spectrum costs, and regulatory conditions as reasons why Canadians may feel differently.
Rogers Communications Inc.’s Tony Staffieri, BCE Inc.’s Mirko Bibic and Telus Corp.’s Darren Entwistle virtually attended a meeting of the House of Commons industry committee after being summoned unanimously by its members last month.
The committee decided to investigate the accessibility and affordability of wireless and broadband services after Rogers announced it would raise prices by an average of $5 for wireless customers not on contract.
Bibic did not confirm whether Bell intends to follow suit with similar price increases, emphasizing the company’s focus on lowering costs. Entwistle expressed confidence in the decrease of prices for Canadians but could not discuss specific price settings.
When asked whether the timing of Rogers’ price increase was “tone deaf,” Staffieri informed the MPs that the increase affected customers on older plans and that the company aimed to provide them with options, including an alternative offering better value.
Some committee members expressed concerns about the high costs of cellphone and internet services in Canada, while the CEOs referenced recent Statistics Canada data indicating a 16 per cent decrease in wireless prices over the past year.
