Final domestic-roaming tariffs approved, for now

The CRTC has accepted, for the time being, tariffs proposed by the wireless incumbents for what smaller carriers in Canada have to pay to have their customers roam on the bigger companies' networks. The commission said in a notice Thursday that the proposed tariffs from Rogers Communications Inc., BCE Inc. and Telus Corp. are effective from Nov. 23, the day they were filed. However, the CRTC added: "Final determinations, including whether to make the final rates retroactive to 5 May 2015, will be made following the process to review the associated regulatory economics studies filed in support of the proposed cost-based rates." May 5 is when the CRTC issued the decision that it would regulate rates incumbents charge smaller carriers to piggyback on their networks. That decision said the three national wireless carriers must justify their tariffs in relation to the costs they incur to provide roaming access, which they attempt to do in economic studies filed to the commission with the tariff rates. As reported last week by The Wire Report, the tariffs proposed by incumbents for voice and texting were significantly lower than what they were charging before. However, the prices incumbents suggested for data roaming are largely in line with tariffs that were in effect, and even slightly higher in the case of Bell and Rogers. Bell proposed a final roaming rate of 3.11 cents per minute for calls, 0.1 cent per text message and 3.55 cents per megabyte for data. The interim rate, according to a filing the company made earlier in November, was 7.7 cents a minute for voice, 0.9 cent per text and 3.3 cents per MB. Telus suggested a final tariff 3.23 cents per voice minute, 0.1979 cent per text message and 3.773 cents for every MB of data, compared to the previous charges of 9.5 cents per minute of voice, 1.1 cents per text message and 4.7 cents per MB. Rogers suggested final rates of 1.16 cents per voice minute, 0.0013 cent per text message and 2.52 cents per MB of data. It had been charging 5.4 cents per minute of voice, 1.42 cents per text and 2.51 cents per MB for data. Quebecor Inc.’s Videotron said in an emailed statement: “We will not be commenting on the proposed final rates until we have conducted a much fuller analysis of the incumbent cost studies.” Wind Mobile did not respond to a request for comment. — With reporting by Derek Abma at dabma@thewirereport.ca and editing by Shruti Shekar at sshekar@thewirereport.ca

Final domestic-roaming tariffs approved, for now

News | December 3, 2015

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Final domestic-roaming tariffs approved, for now

News | December 3, 2015

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