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CRTC Finalizes Fibre Wholesale Rates and Requires Online Plan Changes

The move is meant to speed competition by lowering switching hurdles for customers.

Overview

  • Canada’s telecom regulator, in paired decisions released Friday, set final cost‑based rates for access to big carriers’ fibre networks and ordered self‑serve options to change or cancel plans.
  • The final wholesale rates use the CRTC’s actual‑cost method, closely track earlier interim prices, and give providers pricing certainty while keeping investment incentives in place.
  • The fibre access decision enables independent providers to sell services over incumbent networks, with competitive offers already planned for up to 8.5 million households.
  • All internet and wireless companies must let customers upgrade, downgrade, or cancel through an app, a website, or by email, which cuts the hassle of waiting on a sales agent to switch.
  • The CRTC linked these steps to a broader consumer plan that scrapped extra switching fees, improved expiry and discount notices, and will move to monitor outcomes and review codes for simpler rules.