[StirCrazy]

Originally Posted by bvlester

There are about 6 cell companies in Canada 3 of which piggy back on either Telus or Bell's networks. Rogers has thier own network which they have been working endlessly to upgrade I believe all of Alberta is finished now and They have started on BC.

Price setting is illegal in Canada and the companies can get hug fines for it, In there defence when one company changes their service the others have to follow suit to be competitive. so they undercut the other company. They have seen what this does to them in the 90' when they all brought in unlimited longdistance calling. they lost a tunn of money and now that Shaw is cutting into there phone profits they need to look to the futur insted of just reacting to te present. This is all theyare doing right now just reacting to what is happening with Shaw. Video phone is the way for the future and fiber to the home. Telus has tried many projects in Vancouver with no real seccess with fiber to the home. Ed Tel tried also and Telus after they bought EdTel. We are moving forward slowly one day we will get there, it is looking like things are getting closer.

Bill

Bell and telus share systems and are in the middle of merger talks which willbe completed with in the next two years. rodger has its own network. so there are two major players in reality. now the other 3 or 4 companies are all leasing space off of telus/bell or rodgers systems which means they have to agree to pricing scheams or they get there access cut.

yes price fixing is ileagal and when it comes to cell phones in the 16 years I have had a cell phone the rates have only gone up since digital has come along. every now and then there will be a good deal on a plan, but it is replaced befor the next cycle so you have to stay with the one you have or pay more for a better plan. no cell company in canada has price wars, I agree undercutting and such is happening with the cable and home phone side, but thats because the CRC opened thes sides wide up for compatition and busted the monopolys that were in place. in the cell side, in canada there is no compatition and rodgers and telus/bell are happy to keep it that why that is why they are sinking a ton of money into fighting the laitest CRC proposal of letting new cell companies have garentees access to the celular infastructure for a modest CRC regulated price which the big 2.5 companies cannot regulate. also the fact that you will be able to take your phone with you to a different company soon to. so I can keep my storm and go to rodgers and use it there. so the goverment is making steps in the right direction but I think they need to do like the US did and declair the celualr system a national infastructure, compensate telus and rodgers and then the CRC control the sales of system access. I know there are 3 US companies just waiting for the final ruling so they can move into canada and undercut the hell out of the cell companies we have now.

Steve