The Canadian Press
OTTAWA – Canada’s telecom regulator is banning wireless carriers from imposing exclusivity conditions in contracts that forced smaller firms to use more expensive roaming networks.
The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission says the move is aimed at enhancing competition in the wireless marketplace.
The CRTC launched public hearings last December to see whether some wireless service providers were imposing unjust terms, conditions and discriminatory roaming rates on smaller competitors.
The regulator says it found “clear instances of unjust discrimination” by Rogers Inc. through its so-called Communications Partnership.
Rogers imposed exclusivity clauses in roaming agreements that prevented smaller service providers from using networks from any other firm, says the CRTC.
Rogers then charged some new Canadian service providers significantly higher roaming rates than those offered by other wireless service providers, said the regulator.
