The Seaboard Group released a report yesterday critical of Canada's big cellular providers. Titled, "Lament for a Wireless Nation - A Cross-National Survey of Wireless Service Prices: Canada, the United States and Europe," the paper says Canadians pay too much for their wireless services. More importantly, that additional cost means fewer people per-capita use mobile devices in Canada and we continue to fall behind countries in the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development.

"Canada is dead last in the 30-country OECD measurement of wireless penetration. Oddly enough, Canada's wireless prices lead the world — there may well be a correlation," the report said.

The report's conclusions are as follows:

• Heavy cellphone users in Canada pay 1.5 times more than their U.S. couterparts

• Canadian wireless penetration rests at 58%, second last in the OECD.

• It's a full 20 percentage points behind the United States, the country's main trading partner.

How does Canadian cellphone penetration compare with other major industrialized countries?

• Canada has 56 cellphones in use for every 100 Canadians, less than any other industrialized country.

• The United States has 75 cellphones for every 100 Americans.

• Britain has 102.2 per 100 people.

• Germany has 86.4 in use per 100 people.

Of course, the Canadian cellphone providers are saying that the Seaboard report is a biased publication paid for by companies who are trying to enter the Canadian market. CBC reports:

Telus Mobility vice-president of wireless, broadband and content policy Michael Hennessy dismissed the study, saying he viewed it as the first salvo in an attempt to allow other companies to piggyback on local carriers and enter the wireless industry.

Whatever the reason for the report, these figures show that Canadians are losing out on the growing and economically essential mobile infrastructure marketplace. If we fall (...read more...)