Canada - Wireless Communications - Overview, Statistics and Forecasts

Synopsis

The Canadian wireless industry witnessed relatively strong subscriber growth during 2010 and early 2011 following the end of the country’s economic recession in late 2009. Nevertheless, wireless penetration levels still remain low by OECD standards. Though voice revenues per subscriber are declining, overall industry revenue growth remains strong, underpinned in particular by growth in data revenues.

Data revenues will become even more important with the upgrades to HSPA+ networks and then to 4G LTE platforms. During 2011/12 the budget-segment of the market is expected to experience increased competition, at least in certain areas, with the entry of several new participants who launched wireless services during 2010, after successfully winning spectrum at the 2008 Advanced Wireless Services auction.

This report provides an overview and analysis of the Canadian wireless market and the major operators, together with key statistics and select forecasts.

Companies covered in this report include: Rogers Wireless, Bell Mobility, Virgin Mobile Canada, TELUS Mobility, SaskTel Mobility, MTS Allstream, Globalive’s Wind Mobile, Mobilicity, Public Mobile, Vidéotron Wireless, and Shaw Communications. 

Table of Contents

• 1. Synopsis
• 2. Analysis 2010/11
• 3. Overview of Canada’s Wireless market
  • 3.1 Introduction
  • 3.2 Wireless statistics
• 4. Regulatory overview
  • 4.1 CRTC and Industry Canada
  • 4.2 Spectrum licensing
    • 4.2.1 Advanced Wireless Services auction
    • 4.2.2 2500MHz and 700MHz auctions
• 5. Wireless technologies
  • 5.1 Personal communications services (PCS)
  • 5.2 GSM
  • 5.3 Third Generation (3G) wireless
  • 5.4 Long-term evolution (LTE) wireless
  • 5.5 WiMAX
• 6. Major wireless operators
  • 6.1 Rogers Wireless
  • 6.2 Bell Mobility
    • 6.2.1 Virgin Mobile Canada
  • 6.3 TELUS Mobility
  • 6.4 SaskTel Mobility
  • 6.5 MTS Allstream
  • 6.6 New entrants
    • 6.6.1 Globalive’s Wind Mobile
    • 6.6.2 Mobilicity
    • 6.6.3 Public Mobile
    • 6.6.4 Vidéotron Wireless
    • 6.6.5 Shaw Communications
• 7. Wireless services
  • 7.1 Prepaid and postpaid services
  • 7.2 Wireless data services
  • 7.3 Text messaging (SMS)
  • 7.4 Multimedia messaging service (MMS)
  • 7.5 Mobile TV
• 8. Forecasts
  • 8.1 Wireless penetration and revenue 2011-2016
  • 8.2 Notes on scenario forecasts
• 9. Related reports

• Table 1 – Wireless provider market share by province – 2009
• Table 2 – Wireless industry revenue by service type – 2002 - 2009
• Table 3 – Rogers Wireless pre and postpaid revenue, operating income – 2002 - 2010
• Table 4 – Rogers Wireless pre and postpaid subscribers, churn and ARPU – 2009 - 2010
• Table 5 – Bell Wireless revenue, subscribers, churn and ARPU – 2009 - 2010
• Table 6 – TELUS Mobility revenue, EBITDA, penetration and coverage – 2003 - 2010
• Table 7 – TELUS Mobility prepaid and postpaid subscribers – 2009 - 2010
• Table 8 – TELUS Mobility ARPU and monthly churn rate – 2002 - 2010
• Table 9 – SaskTel Mobility revenue, subscribers, ARPU and annual change – 2009 - 2010
• Table 10 – MTS Allstream wireless revenue, subscribers, ARPU – 2009 - 2010

• Chart 1 – Wireless subscribers and annual change – 2000 - 2010
• Chart 2 – Wireless subscribers by major provider – 2004 - 2010
• Chart 3 – Wireless operator market share – 2006; 2010
• Chart 4 – Prepaid subscribers by major operator – 2004 - 2010
• Chart 5 – Postpaid and prepaid shares of wireless market – 2010
• Chart 6 – Text messages sent per month – 2002 - 2010
• Chart 7 – Forecast wireless subscriber penetration and industry revenue – lower growth scenario – 2011 - 2016
• Chart 8 – Forecast wireless subscriber penetration and industry revenue – higher growth scenario – 2011 - 2016