Canada - Broadband Market - Insights, Statistics and Forecasts

Synopsis

Canada is not among the leading OECD nations for broadband penetration, though operator investments both in fixed-line and mobile technologies are addressing shortfalls. Government policy has encouraged widespread broadband availability, particularly in rural and regional areas, resulting in 95% of Canadians being able to access broadband. Cable still leads DSL in terms of subscriber numbers, with networks upgraded with DOCSIS 3.0 technology igniting cable subscriber growth as services of up to 200Mb’s become more widely available. Fibre deployments are also gaining momentum. Prominent WiMAX network deployments include those of Barrett Xplore and Shaw Communications, which in early 2012 abandoned plans for a cellular network in favour of WiMAX/WiFi. The regulator has also upgraded the targets for basic broadband to be 5Mb/s downloads by the end of 2015. This should lead to a period of sustained development in the Canadian regional broadband sector. This report provided updated statistics, analysis and forecasts on the Canadian fixed-line and mobile broadband sector, providing statistical overviews and an analysis on operator strategies.

Key developments:

Bell acquires Quebec’s Astral Media for C$3.38 billion; Shaw Communications begins extending its WiFi network; Eastlink launches 200Mb/s service; Rogers Communications discontinues WiMAX service; regulator’s mid-2011 market data update; company operating and financial data to Q1 2012; market developments into 2012.

Companies covered in this report include:

Shaw Cablesystems, Rogers Cable Communications, Vidéotron Ltée, Cogeco Cable, Bell Canada, TELUS Corporation, MTS Allstream and SaskTel.

Table of Contents

• 1. Synopsis
• 2. Industry overview and analysis
  • 2.1 Broadband policy initiatives
  • 2.2 Broadband statistics
• 3. Cable modems
  • 3.1 Overview and statistics
  • 3.2 Major cable broadband providers
    • 3.2.1 Shaw Cablesystems GP
    • 3.2.2 Rogers Cable Communications Inc
    • 3.2.3 Vidéotron Ltée
    • 3.2.4 Cogeco Cable
• 4. Digital subscriber line (DSL)
  • 4.1 Overview
  • 4.2 Major DSL providers
    • 4.2.1 Bell Canada
    • 4.2.2 Bell Aliant
    • 4.2.3 TELUS Corporation
    • 4.2.4 MTS Allstream
    • 4.2.5 SaskTel
    • 4.2.6 Other providers
• 5. Fibre-to-the-Home/Node (FttH/FttN)
• 6. Wireless broadband
  • 6.1 WiFi
  • 6.2 WiMAX
  • 6.3 Satellite
  • 6.4 HSPA and LTE
• 7. Forecasts
  • 7.1 Broadband subscriber forecasts to 2015
  • 7.2 Notes on scenario forecasts
• 8. Related reports

• Table 1 – Internet revenue – 2001 - 2013
• Table 2 – Broadband availability through Economic Action Plan – 2010 - 2012
• Table 3 – Residential DSL and cable broadband subscribers – 2001 - 2012
• Table 4 – Broadband penetration in leading OECD countries – 2001; 2006; 2011
• Table 5 – Broadband penetration – 2004 - 2012
• Table 6 – Proportion of broadband subscribers by data rate – 2006 - 2012
• Table 7 – Proportion of broadband subscribers by platform (cable, dial-up, DSL) – 2006; 2010
• Table 8 – Cable modem subscribers by major operator – 2003 - 2011
• Table 9 – Broadband data speeds; proportion of subscribers – 2006 - 2012
• Table 10 – Cable broadband subscribers – 2006 - 2012
• Table 11 – Shaw Communications subscribers – 2010 - 2012
• Table 12 – Shaw Communications revenue – 2009 - 2012
• Table 13 – Rogers Cable financial data – 2010 - 2012
• Table 14 – Rogers Cable subscriber data – 2010 - 2012
• Table 15 – Videotron subscriber data – 2008 - 2011
• Table 16 – Cogeco financial data – 2010 - 2012
• Table 17 – Cogeco subscribers by sector – 2009 - 2012
• Table 18 – DSL subscribers by major operator – 2004 - 2011
• Table 19 – Bell Canada (BCE) financial data – 2008 - 2012
• Table 20 – Bell Canada revenue by division – 2008 - 2012
• Table 21 – Bell Canada subscribers by sector – 2008 - 2012
• Table 22 – Bell Aliant subscribers by sector – 2008 - 2012
• Table 23 – Bell Aliant financial data – 2008 - 2012
• Table 24 – TELUS financial data – 2006 - 2011
• Table 25 – TELUS subscribers by sector– 2007 - 2011
• Table 26 – MTS financial data – 2007 - 2011
• Table 27 – MTS revenue by sector – 2007 - 2011
• Table 28 – MTS subscribers by sector – 2007 - 2011
• Table 29 – SaskTel financial data – 2007 - 2011
• Table 30 – SaskTel subscriber by sector – 2007 - 2011
• Table 31 – Mobile broadband subscribers by type – 2010 - 2012
• Table 32 – Forecast residential DSL, cable, FttH and 4G wireless broadband subscribers – lower market growth scenario – 2011 - 2015
• Table 33 – Forecast residential DSL, cable, FttH and 4G wireless broadband subscribers – higher market growth scenario – 2011 - 2015

• Chart 1 – Residential DSL and cable broadband subscribers – 2001 – 2012
• Chart 2 – Cable modem subscribers by major operator – 2003 – 2011
• Chart 3 – Shaw Communications subscribers – 2010 – 2012
• Chart 4 – Rogers Cable subscriber data – 2010 – 2012
• Chart 5 – Videotron subscriber data – 2008 – 2011
• Chart 6 – Cogeco subscribers by sector – 2009 – 2012
• Chart 7 – DSL subscribers by major operator – 2004 - 2011
• Chart 8 – Bell Canada (BCE) financial data – 2008 – 2012
• Chart 9 – Bell Canada revenue by division – 2008 – 2012
• Chart 10 – Bell Canada subscribers by sector – 2008 – 2012
• Chart 11 – Bell Aliant subscribers by sector – 2008 – 2012
• Chart 12 – Bell Aliant financial data – 2008 – 2012
• Chart 13 – TELUS subscribers by sector– 2007 – 2011
• Chart 14 – MTS revenue by sector – 2007 – 2011
• Chart 15 – MTS subscribers by sector – 2007 – 2011
• Chart 16 – SaskTel financial data – 2007 – 2011
• Chart 17 – SaskTel subscriber by sector – 2007 – 2011

• Exhibit 1 – Example of major fibre project – the Alberta SuperNet
• Exhibit 2 – Example of WiMAX developments – Barrett Xplore