HomeMy WebLinkAboutLEG 10-22Report to Council
Report Number: LEG 10-22 Date: April 25, 2022
From: Paul Bigioni
Director, Corporate Services & City Solicitor
Subject: Intergovernmental Partnership to Improve Digital Infrastructure and Address the Digital Divide
- File: A-3700
Recommendation:
1. That the Government of Ontario be requested to:
a. Ensure that incremental investments in broadband from other orders of government are made in urban areas and directed to fill gaps in the GTHA;
b. Identify Provincially owned fibre assets that can be leveraged to help close the digital divide – such as schools, hospitals and traffic corridors;
c. Review existing legislation to include provisions on open access to
telecommunications cabling and trenching activities for all developments;
2. That the Government of Canada be requested to:
a. Ensure that incremental investments in broadband from other orders of government are made in urban areas and directed to fill gaps in the GTHA;
b. Recognize high-speed internet as an essential service, including a definition for
affordability that combines fixed and mobile costs as a percentage of household income;
c. Collect and share local level data on assets, internet speeds, and service terminations/collection activities, in cooperation with internet service providers (ISPs);
d. Request that the Canadian Radio-communications and Telecommunications
Commission examine supports for municipal carriers who wish to promote access to their fibre broadband networks for public and private service providers;
3. That this Report be forwarded to the Federation of Canadian Municipalities, the Association of Municipalities of Ontario, the Premier of Ontario and the Prime Minister;
and
4. That appropriate City of Pickering officials be authorized to take the actions necessary to implement the recommendations in this Report.
LEG 10-22 April 25, 2022
Subject: Intergovernmental Partnership to Improve Digital Infrastructure
and Address the Digital Divide Page 2
Executive Summary: This Report recommends that City Council make requests to the
Provincial and Federal governments to improve the City's ability to address the digital divide – the gap between households who have reliable and affordable access to digital technologies and the internet, and those who do not – through improved digital infrastructure, as well as for other orders of government to make policy changes and investments that will improve digital
connectivity for residents and businesses.
Access to high-speed internet is necessary for residents to equitably participate in the economy and in day-to-day life. Not all residents have sufficient internet service. For example, in Toronto approximately 30% of low-income households struggle with the costs of internet,
and half of low-income households with no internet connection cite costs as the primary barrier
(Brookfield, 2021). According the CRTC, households in the lowest income quintile spend five times more on telecommunications services than those in the highest income quintile, this represents approximately 9% of annual household income in the lowest tier versus 1.8% in the highest. The inability to access high-speed internet impairs residents' ability to participate in
the economy, receive essential services such as education and healthcare, and participate
fully in their communities. The pandemic has highlighted gaps, vulnerabilities and the need for adequate internet services to be more accessible and affordable for everyone. Urban and rural communities are both impacted by the digital divide. In urban areas, the
challenge is predominantly one of affordability and of lower quality services provided in
communities where there are limited market incentives for internet service providers (ISPs) to invest in high capacity, and more costly infrastructure. In rural areas, in addition to affordability challenges, there is often a lack of primary digital infrastructure necessary to connect households to high-speed internet. This is despite significant Federal and Provincial
government investments in expanding rural digital infrastructure as well as their policy
decisions and modest ongoing programs that lower costs for consumers including low-income households. Targeted investments are needed in broadband across the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area’s (GTHA) urban and rural communities, including incremental investments into urban areas that are not currently benefiting from Provincial and Federal funding for improved
digital infrastructure.
Municipal, Provincial, and Federal governments have an opportunity to work in partnership with each other and the private sector to bridge the digital divide and better enable residents to participate in the economic and social fabric of the City and of the entire GTHA. Municipalities have a role in achieving this by leveraging municipally-owned fibre in partnership with the
broader public and private sectors while ensuring deployment in the right-of-way continues to
balance multiple policy objectives.
This Report has been prepared jointly by the members of the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area Digital Working Group, which consists of representatives from Regional Municipality of Durham, Regional Municipality of Halton, Regional Municipality of Peel, Regional Municipality
of York, City of Brampton, City of Hamilton, City of Mississauga, Town of Oakville, City of
Pickering, and City of Toronto. A Report substantially in this form, together with the above Recommendations, is being presented to the Council of each GTHA Digital Working Group
LEG 10-22 April 25, 2022
Subject: Intergovernmental Partnership to Improve Digital Infrastructure
and Address the Digital Divide Page 3
Member municipality. City of Pickering staff recommend that City Council approve the
Recommendations in this Report.
Financial Implications: There are no financial implications arising from this Report.
Discussion: Digital equality – the equal opportunity for all individuals to benefit from the economic, social, and educational potential of digital technologies and internet connectivity – is a precondition for the health and well-being of our residents, visitors and for cities as a whole. Precarious and unaffordable internet connectivity makes finding
employment, obtaining education, and accessing essential services more challenging. It
compounds the risk of broader, knock-on costs associated with poverty, including costs absorbed by healthcare, social, and housing services.
Digital access and affordability barriers correlate to underlying issues of social equity; with low-
income, racialized, and elderly communities having fewer options for reliable broadband
access available to them. The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted and amplified the
consequences of precarious and insufficient access to household internet; with significant
costs absorbed by public schools and libraries through their efforts to bridge connectivity gaps
in low-income communities.
• Families on fixed income, such as Ontario Works or Ontario Disability Support Program,
are forced to make difficult decisions between rent, food, and internet.
• Low-income households are often forced to choose between fixed or mobile
connectivity when faced with combined costs that exceed their ability to pay.
• The cost of connectivity is not equitable across the GTHA, with some residents in
remote/rural locations forced to use expensive cellular services because wired internet
services are poor quality or non-existent.
• While internet service providers offer reduced rate programs for low-income
households, these services do not support the download and upload speeds required to
support working remotely or participation in online schooling.
• During lockdown periods, students were directed to online schooling. Families with no
internet service found that the only way for their children to participate in online school
was to take their van full of kids – even in inclement weather – to the local public library
or restaurant and remain in their parked cars and access the Wi-Fi services of these
establishments.
• The digital divide can create heightened feelings of isolation. Community members can
become disengaged with places of worship and community culture centres when they
have no means to join virtually. Seniors living in long-term care feel isolated when they
cannot have in-person visits with loved ones and have no access to a computer to
connect virtually.
LEG 10-22 April 25, 2022
Subject: Intergovernmental Partnership to Improve Digital Infrastructure
and Address the Digital Divide Page 4
• Community organizations face barriers in delivering services to their clients when the community organization itself cannot access high-speed internet.
• GTHA municipalities continue to learn about the issues that our communities and residents face on a daily basis, and these issues will persist beyond the pandemic.
Municipal Role
Municipalities are well positioned to improve digital equity by leveraging public assets for public good. Although municipalities have traditionally been absent in oversight and public policy surrounding Canada's broadband service market, cities do have a vital role to play in achieving
digital equality, and ensuring their communities are well served. Municipalities have an
opportunity to adopt a forward-looking policy position that recognizes broadband internet as an essential service, one that must be available regardless of financial means or circumstances. This policy position is not intended as a means of overseeing, competing with, or
compromising the activities of incumbent ISPs; these entities are strictly regulated by the
Federal government. Adopting the principle that broadband internet is an essential service signals a municipality's intention to leverage its assets and expertise in public service delivery to work within the CRTC's regulatory framework in an effort to enhance local competition, and support digital access for communities in need. Inequality in the availability and affordability of
essential services are issues highlighted across a range of existing municipal operations and
activities; including in public transportation, education, housing, and public health. Municipal policy and planning activities have recognized the interconnected nature of the services traditionally delivered by municipalities. For example, the public health outcomes
associated with lack of affordable housing and transportation inequity. Municipal investment in
digital infrastructure and services has the potential to enhance efficiencies in municipal operations and services, facilitate job creation in industries that rely on high-quality broadband, and create a supportive environment for economic growth and prosperity.
Municipalities across the GTHA have been working together to build back better. Municipal
staff have been having focused discussions and collaboration to determine how the region can best address the digital divide, in partnership with other governments and the private sector. Through this partnership, senior staff of GTHA municipalities have shared their experiences, approaches and rationales for the deployment of fibre broadband infrastructure. They have
also shared data and resources to better understand gaps in broadband availability and
affordability across the GTHA, as well as reviewed delivery models for Municipal Broadband Network (MBN) deployment.
GTHA municipalities have identified key policy, legislative and regulatory changes that could
be made by the Provincial and Federal governments to better enable all governments to
address the digital divide. Provincial and Federal policy objectives, such as healthcare,
education, economic development, and access to justice – are enhanced when more residents
and businesses are connected to high-speed internet.
LEG 10-22 April 25, 2022
Subject: Intergovernmental Partnership to Improve Digital Infrastructure
and Address the Digital Divide Page 5
Invest in the GTHA
There is an opportunity for the Provincial and Federal governments to ensure that incremental
investments in broadband are made in urban areas and directed to fill gaps in the GTHA. The
Provincial and Federal governments have made positive, much needed investments in
broadband, including:
• a commitment of nearly $4 billion by the Provincial government to achieve universal
connectivity across Ontario;
• a Joint investment of $362 million to enhanced delivery of high-speed internet in
Eastern Ontario; and,
• $14.7 million in approved funding for rural and First Nations high-speed internet through Ontario's Improving Connectivity for Ontario (ICON) program.
Investments are largely focused on rural communities, which have more limited broadband access compared to urban centres. Residents in urban centres also face a significant barriers
to obtaining and maintaining household connectivity. Affordability in urban areas remains
problematic, with low-income households (>$30,000 per year) devoting an average of 10% of their incomes to maintaining connectivity (Communications Monitoring Report, 2019; Brookfield Institute, 2021). While governments have implemented programs to provide more affordable internet services to low-income households, these often take the form of discounted
service packages with reduced internet speeds. These initiatives have not been sufficient to meaningfully address the affordability challenge faced by many households. Private ISP's have no obligations to maintain these programs over the long-term, posing a risk for low-income households who may come to depend on them.
The Federal government’s Connectivity Strategy has set 50/10 Mbps (upload/download) as a
minimum speed for Canadians. Many residents in the GTHA receive speeds below this minimum. As shown in Figure 1, residents in significant portions of the GTHA indicate gaps in the availability of 50/10Mbps internet service in urban areas, despite the existence of digital infrastructure in neighbourhoods that have the capacity to provide these internet speeds. The map on the left depicts where 50/10 Mbps internet speeds area available,1 while the map on
the right depicts residents' self-reported internet speeds using public diagnostic tools.2 In addition to rural communities that are generally known to lack high-speed internet access, large areas in urban centres also lack adequate connectivity.
In August 2021, the Governments of Canada and Ontario announced an investment of $230
million to bring high-speed internet to Central Ontario. The blue dots on the below maps
1 Data was derived from the National Broadband Data - Roads dataset downloaded from the Canadian Government's Open
Data Portal (data extract last updated March 2020)
2 Data retrieved from Measurement Lab’s (M-Lab) Network Diagnostic Tool between January and April 2021, which collects
speed test data from a variety of common speed test platforms.
LEG 10-22 April 25, 2022
Subject: Intergovernmental Partnership to Improve Digital Infrastructure
and Address the Digital Divide Page 6
indicate communities benefiting from this funding in the GTHA.3 While many rural communities
are receiving needed investments, there is an opportunity to make incremental digital
infrastructure investments in urban areas of the GTHA.
Figure 1: Internet Speeds across the GTHA
There are opportunities to make investments in broadband infrastructure in the GTHA to improve broadband access, quality, and affordability. Broadband funding is most impactful when it is non-discretionary, directed at communities where there is evidence-based and
demonstrable need, and where local competition between service providers is enhanced.
Many rural areas of the GTHA meet these criteria and Provincial and Federal investments are needed.
In addition, in many urban areas it can be cost prohibitive for ISPs to deploy higher capacity fibre infrastructure, especially in neighbourhoods comprised of older multi-dwelling units. In
these scenarios, incumbent service providers have few market incentives to upgrade legacy
infrastructure where higher cost services are otherwise unaffordable for low-income households. This dilemma is compounded where there are little to no local competitors. Investments from Provincial and Federal governments to subsidize upgrading of legacy
3 Data retrieved from https://news.ontario.ca/en/backgrounder/1000678/ontario-and-canada-bringing-high-speed-
internet-to-central-ontario
LEG 10-22 April 25, 2022
Subject: Intergovernmental Partnership to Improve Digital Infrastructure
and Address the Digital Divide Page 7
infrastructure, and incentivize new ISPs to deploy additional fibre, can improve the affordability
of high-speed internet for low-income urban households.
Enable municipalities to invest in and use existing fibre more effectively
GTHA municipalities own broadband fibre across the GTHA. Municipalities across the GTHA have identified and mapped municipally owned fibre that may be leveraged, to help close the
digital divide. The purpose and use of municipally-owned fibre varies across the region. Some
municipalities primarily utilize their fibre to support municipal operations, such as transit systems and traffic management systems. Other municipalities have developed delivery models to allow private internet service providers to lease the use of municipally-owned fibre to provide high-speed internet services to residents without incurring the significant costs of
deploying "middle mile" fibre infrastructure themselves. These cost savings can then be
passed on to the customer. Open access models such as this, where private ISP's provide residential and business services by connecting to municipally owned fibre broadband networks, are examples of public sector investments being leveraged to provide affordable high-speed internet to residents. Municipalities are not taking on the role of an ISP, but rather
working within the existing competitive market to enhance competition and lower costs.
Identify Provincially owned fibre that can be leveraged to help close the digital divide
GTHA municipalities would benefit from the Province identifying Provincially owned fibre assets that can be leveraged to help close the digital divide. Provincially-owed fibre – for example at hospitals, universities, colleges, and regional transit – can be used for to help
address the digital divide. By identifying where Provincially-owned fibre exists across the
GTHA, municipalities could work with the broader public sector to leverage our collective fibre assets. The Province could play a leadership role by supporting the identification and mapping of this fibre. In turn, the Province could work with municipalities to leverage collectively owned fibre and work in partnership with ISPs to address the digital divide.
Collect and share local level data
GTHA municipalities would be better positioned to invest in and use municipally-owned fibre more effectively if the Federal government collects and shares local level data on assets, internet speeds, and service terminations/collection activities, in cooperation with internet service providers (ISPs). Internet service disconnections resulting from inability-to-pay are
problematic, especially for low-income households with children. Research indicates internet
service disconnections can compromise a low-income household's ability to work within already strained household budgets. Cities do not have access to this data from ISPs. This inhibits municipalities' ability to make data-informed decisions on how to most effectively leverage municipal resources and municipally-owned fibre to address the digital divide. Having
access into ISPs assets, internet speeds available across the region, and data on service
terminations, along with mapping of Provincially owned fibre, would better enable municipalities to make targeted investments and work with service providers more effectively to ensure residents receive adequate internet connectivity. The competitive interests of ISPs – who benefit from significant investments of public capital and resources – can still be
maintained with data sharing agreements containing appropriate non-disclosure provisions.
LEG 10-22 April 25, 2022
Subject: Intergovernmental Partnership to Improve Digital Infrastructure
and Address the Digital Divide Page 8
Enable municipalities to more easily promote access to their fibre
The Federal government has an opportunity to enable municipalities to more easily promote access to their fibre for public and private services by requesting the CRTC to define municipal entities as a special class of carrier subject to exemption from sections of the Telecommunications Act, and with specific conditions related to service capacity. The CRTC
has the authority under the Telecommunications Act to exempt classes of carriers from
obligations under the Act if it deems doing so is in the public interest. Currently, cities can be perceived as having an undue advantage compared to ISPs when using their broadband to provide access to residents. Defining municipal entities as a special class of carrier subject to exemptions under the Telecommunications Act would create more options and flexibility for
cities in providing broadband services on their own networks, especially in markets dominated
by incumbents.
No revisions to the Telecommunications Act are requested, rather, GTHA municipalities request clear guidelines for the CRTC in adjudicating on matters related to municipal carrier entrants to the internet service market (i.e. as facilities based resellers). This could be
accomplished through an exemption order made by the CRTC. Non-dominant service
providers constitute a fraction of revenues from national telecommunications services. Municipal carrier entrants, operating under strict capacity and revenue conditions, would not enjoy undue advantage nor pose a risk of disrupting competition in their local markets.
Ensure that new developments include digital infrastructure
GTHA residents would benefit from the Provincial government reviewing legislation to include
provisions on open access to telecommunications cabling and trenching activities for all developments. This could be achieved by amending the Planning Act, Section 41 (Site Plan Approval) and Section 51 (Subdivision Approval). Developers currently submit development coordination plans, but there is no requirement for this plan to include details about how a new
development will be connected to the internet. Currently, developers may negotiate exclusive
access agreements with preferred ISPs, which reduces competition and options available to residents. In the case of multi-unit dwellings, these agreements risk contravening provisions in the Telecommunications Act meant to prevent anti-competitive practices.
Amending sections 41 and 51 of the Planning Act to require internet connectivity as a
component of development approvals would give municipalities the ability to ensure that all
new development includes the digital infrastructure that residents and businesses need to thrive and compete in the digital economy. GTHA municipalities will collaborate with appropriate stakeholders to ensure these changes are implemented effectively. Requiring internet connectivity could take the form of ensuring that all new development have adequate
conduits that can be used for fibre optic cable, along with the usual duct bank. This would give
municipal planners a role in closing the digital divide by ensuring that all developments have proper connectivity. Well planned developments typically include adequate internet connectivity; however making it a requirement would ensure high-speed internet in all new developments and prevent both anti-competitive practices and the continued use of outdated
technology such as co-axial cable connections. New, innovative technology, such as 5G, will
LEG 10-22 April 25, 2022
Subject: Intergovernmental Partnership to Improve Digital Infrastructure
and Address the Digital Divide Page 9
require extensive hard-wired fibre optic connectivity. This proactive requirement would avoid
further risk to already congested public rights-of-way, particularly in the GTHA's downtowns and urban centres – including in designated Urban Growth Centres such as Pickering. Given the essential nature of an internet connection, it is important that connectivity be
recognized as an important planning feature, in the same way that we plan for other essential
infrastructure such as sewer and water connections. Adding connectivity to the planning approval process will also enable municipalities to help deliver on key Provincial policy objectives including remote delivery of health care services and accelerated access to justice with expansion of remote hearings and digital case management.
Recognize broadband as an essential service
A firm Federal position is still required to recognize high-speed internet access as an essential service, with a commitment to ensure access regardless of financial means. Such a declaration is most effective coming from the CRTC, as opposed to Provincial or Municipal
governments who have little to no regulatory authority in telecommunications. The CRTC has
the most impactful legislative and policy tools available to ensure access. In 2016, the CRTC defined broadband as a "basic" service, signaling the Commission's intention that the service should be universally available to households. The CRTC did not, however, exercise its authority to direct network deployments, and has not compelled ISPs to provide broadband to
all households. By declaring broadband access as an essential service, it would be given the
prominence of other services deemed vital to health, safety and societal functioning, and provide a rationale for direct statutory intervention in its provisioning and pricing.
A focused effort on the affordability of high-speed internet is critical to address the digital divide. Across the GTHA, and especially in urban areas, the inability for residents to access
adequate connectivity is often a result of unaffordable prices for low-income households. A
foundational step in addressing affordability is creating a definition for affordability that combines fixed and mobile costs as a percentage of household income. This should be set by the Federal government. Currently, there is no accepted definition of affordable internet service. Unlike parallel essential utilities and services (e.g., electricity), retail broadband pricing
does not benefit from direct regulatory oversight. A definition of affordability would, however,
create a critical target for government and private sector partners to aim for. According to the CRTC, fixed and mobile internet costs average 6% for low-income households versus 1.5% for higher-income users.
Attachments:
1. Brookfield, 2021: Mapping Toronto's Digital Divide.
2. Communications Monitoring Report, 2019.
LEG 10-22 April 25, 2022
Subject: Intergovernmental Partnership to Improve Digital Infrastructure
and Address the Digital Divide Page 10
Prepared/Endorsed By:
Paul Bigioni Director, Corporate Services & City Solicitor
PB:ks
Recommended for the consideration of Pickering City Council
Marisa Carpino, M.A. Chief Administrative Officer
Original Signed By:
Original Signed By:
4/19/22, 3:57 PM Mapping Toronto’s Digital Divide – Brookfield Institute for Innovation + Entrepreneurship
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Mapping Toronto’s Digital Divide
REPORT
This report analyzes Toronto's home internet and device access, quality, affordability,
and usage, during pandemic closures of businesses, schools, and community
organizations.
Illustration by: Zaynab Choudhry
About the Report
The digital divide in Canada is often described as an urban-rural divide. There are acute
disparities in access to broadband internet in many parts of rural and remote Canada, and
progress has been relatively slow in closing those gaps. In Toronto — Canada’s largest city,
Attachment #1 to Report LEG 10-22
brookfield
institute
for Innovation+ entrepreneurship
4/19/22, 3:57 PM Mapping Toronto’s Digital Divide – Brookfield Institute for Innovation + Entrepreneurship
https://brookfieldinstitute.ca/mapping-torontos-digital-divide/2/8
with access to the nation’s fastest internet service— approximately 95% of residents had access
to home internet service according to a 2018 Statistics Canada study, an overall access rate
equivalent to other urban areas in Ontario, and significantly higher than the 90% access rate
outside of metropolitan areas.
However, this overall rate can mask critical dimensions of Toronto’s digital divide — who is not
connected and why, and whether the internet access of those who are connected is sufficient
and affordable. The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunication Commission (CRTC)
declared the internet a basic service in 2016, but reliable, affordable, sufficiently fast
connectivity, and the devices and literacy needed to use it, is still often plagued by disparities
that often map onto other socioeconomic inequalities.
In the COVID-19 pandemic, Toronto, like many other jurisdictions around the world, has
experienced varying levels of public service and business closures, or capacity and use limits as
part of public health responses to the global pandemic. This included schools, public libraries,
employment centres, community drop-in spaces, cafes and restaurants where internet and/or
computers are available. At the same time, the need for internet and personal devices, such as
computers, smartphones or tablets that enable access to the internet, has expanded as work,
education, health care, services and social interactions in general have shifted remotely to
reduce in-person interactions. Home internet and internet-enabled devices make it possible for
many to isolate or quarantine; to reduce their contacts and risk of illness; and to remain
connected to family, friends, work, school and services.
To get an up-to-date and detailed understanding of the digital divide, or rather a series of
divides, a joint Brookfield Institute and team surveyed Toronto
residents on their home internet and internet-enabled devices, affordability, speed, quality,
usage, and the impacts of not having access at home. Our findings, particularly in the context
of the digital shift during the pandemic, reinforce the need to continue scaling programs to
close the remaining gaps in internet and device access. They also highlight notable gaps in
internet quality and affordability along lines of income, age and race that urgently require
greater policy and programmatic response.
Read this report to help you:
Ryerson Leadership LabRyerson Leadership LabRyerson Leadership LabRyerson Leadership LabRyerson Leadership Lab
Understand the demographics and geographies of who is not connected or cannot afford
home internet in Toronto, with comparisons to provincial and national data, how they get
online, and where in Toronto they live.
•
Unpack the digital divide beyond basic access: speed, affordability, quality, and devices per
household member.
•
Identify gaps in existing programs and services meant to close the digital divide.•
4/19/22, 3:57 PM Mapping Toronto’s Digital Divide – Brookfield Institute for Innovation + Entrepreneurship
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Key findings from the report:
98% of Toronto households have home internet access, but 38% of households report
download speeds below the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications
Commission (CRTC) national target of 50 megabits per second (Mbps). Half of Toronto’s
low-income households (52%) and of those aged 60 and older (48%) report download
speeds below the national target of 50 Mbps.
•
34% of Toronto households are worried about paying their home internet bills over the
next few months, with rates of worry greatest among low-income, newcomer, single
parent, Latin American, South Asian, Black and Southeast Asian residents. Of the 2% of
Toronto households not connected to home internet, half are not connected due to the
cost, and 61% say it is impacting their ability to access critical services and information.
•
Those aged 60 and older have lower rates of access to home internet (95%) and are more
likely to lack a device that can connect to the internet, compared to younger residents.
•
42% of those in Toronto without home internet access use the public library for access,
compared to 16% overall.
•
Toronto households earning under $50,000 have less than one computer for each
person (average of 0.7 computers per person), lower than the national average of 1.0;
and 15% of households with less than $20,000 income and 20% of those aged 60 and
older do not have a smartphone.
•
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Methodology
This research study used a mixed-method approach to explore the digital divide in the City of
Toronto. Data were collected through anonymous voluntary surveys online and by phone to
2,500 Toronto residents aged 16 and older in November/December 2020. As previous research
indicated that low-income households and older adults were least likely to have internet access
and to be underrepresented in online surveys, the telephone survey sample targeted select
forward sortation areas that had the highest incidence of low-income households and/or older
adults as of the 2016 census. The study used a national survey conducted by the Ryerson
Leadership Lab in Spring 2020 to compare the Toronto results and builds on the Brookfield
Institute’s past body of work on and the Ryerson Leadership Lab’s work on the
responsible governance of technology. Additional data were also collected and analyzed from
Statistics Canada, Toronto school boards, the Toronto Public Library and the federal
government’s Connecting Families initiative.
digital literacydigital literacydigital literacydigital literacydigital literacy
Our Partner
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Our Funder
This project was made possible in part by funding from the City of Toronto. In June 2020, the
Mayor’s Economic Support and Recovery Task Force identified opportunities to collaboratively
undertake research to address urgent COVID-19 needs with Toronto’s eight universities and
colleges through the CivicLabTO program.
Our Contributors
•Zaynab Choudhry, Design Lead, Ryerson Leadership LabZaynab Choudhry, Design Lead, Ryerson Leadership LabZaynab Choudhry, Design Lead, Ryerson Leadership LabZaynab Choudhry, Design Lead, Ryerson Leadership LabZaynab Choudhry, Design Lead, Ryerson Leadership Lab
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INCLUSIVE GROWTH
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4/19/22, 4:07 PM Communications Monitoring Report 2019 - Communications Services in Canadian Households: Subscriptions and Expenditures 2…
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Home Plans and Reports General Communications Monitoring Report 2019
Communications Monitoring
Report 2019
Download PDF (11.77 MB)
Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission
Table of contents
Pricing in Canada
Communications services in Canadian households:Subscriptions and expenditures 2013-2017
This snapshot provides an overview of the adoption of communications technologies by Canadian
households from 2013-2017, and illustrates the trends in household communications expenditure.
The data presented here was drawn from Statistics Canada’s Survey of Household Spending and
CRTC sources. Additional data on Canada’s communications industry can be found in the
Commission’s 2018 Communications Monitoring Report (CMR).
On this page
i. Quick facts
Infographic 1.1 Canadian households’ subscriptions and expenditures quick facts
1
Subscriptions
Attachment #2 to Report LEG 10-22
l ♦I Government
of Canada
( Table of contents
Gouvernement
du Canada Canada
Communications Monitoring
Report 2019
.!. Download PDF (11.77 MB).
Pricing in Canada )
Communications services in Canadian households:
Subscriptions and expenditures 2013-2017
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On this page
i. Quick facts
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Expenditures
Landline
63%
Growth 2016-2017
'1, 5.7%
......-._,,..
•
Internet
89%
Growth 2016-2017
1' 1.8%
Mobile
90%
Growth 2016-2017
1' 1.8%
Television
distribution
Growth 2016-2017
'1, 3.3%
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Source: Statistics Canada’s Survey of Household Spending, Table 11-10-0223-01
Note: “Television distribution” refers to cable, Internet Protocol (IPTV), and satellite services used to provide
television services to households.
In 2017:
Iii $25.25
□ $101.00
D $52.58
Growth
2016-2017
~8.2%
Growth
2016-2017
1' 9.7%
Growth
2016-2017
1' 9.4%
Growth
2016-2017
~2.2%
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Canadian households continued to abandon landline telephone service in favour of mobile
service, with almost a third subscribing to mobile service only.
Household subscriptions to television distribution services continued their gradual
decline, with about three-quarters of households subscribing, while the percentage of
households with Internet service increased slightly to 89.0%.
Canadian households spent an average of $233.00 per month on their communications
services, an increase of $10.17 (4.6%) from 2016. In comparison, the average annual
in ation rate in Canada was 1.6% in 2017, according to Statistics Canada.
Canadian households spent more per month on mobile ($101.00) than on Internet services
($54.17), television distribution ($52.58) and landline services ($25.25).
ii. What communications services do Canadian
households use?
Infographic 1.2 Communications services of Canadian households
2
3
ii. What communications services do Canadian
households use?
Almost all households
subscribe to landline
and/or mobile service
Ii and/or D
New Brunswick had the
lowest percentage of
mobile-only households
~□%
Quebec had the highest
percentage of land line-only
households -
99.0%
15.6%
14.1%
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19.8% of Canadian households
own 3 or more mobile devices
Households within the first
income quintile allocate
9.1% of their annual income
towards communications • services
comm . • services
19.8%
9.1%
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Source: Landline, mobile, and Internet subscription data from Statistics Canada, custom breakdown of Table 11-
10-0223-01. TV subscription data from CRTC data collection.
Landline
63%
Internet
89%
Mobile
90%
Television
distribution
72%
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Within the Canadian communications system, it is important to highlight individual service
subscriptions for landline, mobile, Internet, and television distribution services. Most, if not all,
Canadians subscribe to one or more of these services, which play a major role in their everyday
lives. This subsection reports Canadian adoption patterns by service type, income, and province.
Figure 1.1 Household communications services subscriptions
Mobile and landline subscriptions
In 2017, slightly more households subscribed to mobile services (89.5%) than Internet services
(89.0%). Nearly all Canadian households (99.0%) subscribed to either mobile or landline service in
2017 (Table 1.2), and households owned on average 1.7 mobile phones.
Over the last decade, the percentage of households with landlines has decreased, while the
percentage with mobile phones has increased (Figure 1.2). Fewer households are subscribing to
both services – in 2017, almost a third (36.0%) of Canadian households were mobile-only
households, and 9.5% had only a landline.
Figure 1.2 Household subscriptions to landline and mobile services (per 100 households)
2013 2014 2015 2016 2017
Landline Mobile Internet Television distribution
90
80
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
Pe
r
c
e
n
t
a
g
e
o
f
h
o
u
s
e
h
o
l
d
s
(
%
)
View data
Source: Landline, mobile, and Internet subscription data from Statistics Canada, custom breakdown of Table 11-
10-0223-01. TV subscription data from CRTC data collection.
►
Mobile and landline subscriptions
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While the transition to widespread mobile phone use – partly as a substitute for landline service – is
a long-term process, the historical data in Table 1.2 shows how rapidly Canadian households have
embraced mobile phones. In 2004, landline-only households (40.0%) far exceeded their mobile-only
counterparts (2.7%). However, landline and mobile penetration data show opposing trends over the
last decade and a half. Take-up of mobile services surpassed that of landline services when landline
dropped 5.6% between 2011 and 2012, which was exceptionally fast considering that the annual
decline in landline penetration between 2004 and 2017 was 3.2%. By contrast, the number of
mobile subscribers increased at the rapid rate of 4.2% between 2011 and 2012, ultimately
reversing the penetration trends of both services.
In 2017, 36.0% of Canadian households subscribed to mobile services only and 9.5% of households
subscribed to landline services only. As mobile and landline service take-up uctuated, revenues
re ected the change. From 2013 to 2017, mobile revenues increased by 4.9% annually (2018 CMR,
Table 6.3) and landline revenues decreased by 5.8% annually (2018 CMR, Table 4.6). During this
period, mobile revenue growth outpaced subscriber growth. Mobile data revenues generated much
of the growth, as they increased at an average rate of 11.9% each year between 2013 and 2017
(2018 CMR, Figure 6.1). From 2016 to 2017 alone, average data usage per subscriber increased by
37.5% (2018 CMR, Figure 6.15), generating greater revenues per subscriber in addition to the
increase in mobile subscriptions. For more insight on consumer spending habits, refer to the
Canadian household communications spending section below.
Figure 1.3 Mobile and landline adoption rates
Landline Mobile
2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017
100
95
90
85
80
75
70
65
60
55
View data
Source: Statistics Canada’s Survey of Household Spending, custom request for a breakdown of Table 11-10-0223-
01
►
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Subscriptions by income quintile
Infographic 1.3 Household characteristics and communications expenditures by income quintile
Landline 1 Mobile 2 Mobiles 3+ Mobiles
2013 2014 2015 2016 2017
90
80
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
Pe
r
c
e
n
t
a
g
e
o
f
h
o
u
s
e
h
o
l
d
s
(
%
)
View data
Source: Statistics Canada’s Survey of Household Spending, Table: 11-10-0228-01
►
Subscriptions by income quintile
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• $19,852
$Oto
9.1% ($1,806) $32,914
I 1.47
• $44,725
$32,915to
5.2% ($2,304) $56,495
&2.01
• $70,794
$56,496to 4.0% ($2,852) $86,098
&2.53
• $107,287
$86,099to 3.0% ($3,202) $132,808
&2.93
• $208,203
$132,809 1.8% ($3,809) or more
&3.39
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Source: Statistics Canada’s Survey of Household Spending, Table: 11-10-0228-01
The data on telephone subscriptions by income quintile (see Table 1.1) illustrated different
consumption patterns in higher- and lower-income households. While 99.0% of Canadian
households had telephone service, just 2.4% of Canada’s highest-income households relied solely
on a landline, compared to almost 23.9% of the lowest-income households. Forty-two percent of
low-income households subscribed to mobile service only, as did about a quarter of the highest-
income households.
Of the ve income quintiles, households in the fth quintile changed their telephone usage habits
the most in 2017. The number of landline-only households in this income quintile decreased by
29.4%. Households in the fourth income quintile changed their telephone usage habits the most
when it came to exclusive use of mobile service, showing an increase of 18.3% in 2017.
Financial resources appear to play a role in whether households subscribed to both mobile and
landline services. Over the past ve years, households in the highest income quintile consistently
recorded the lowest percentage of households subscribing to mobile services only. Conversely,
households in the lowest income quintile recorded the highest percentage of households
subscribing to landline services only.
Subscriptions by province
Subscriptions by population
In 2017, 99.0% of Canadians were covered by long-term evolution (LTE) networks, and with the
exception of the North, which had 63.5% coverage, every province had over 90.0% LTE coverage
(2018 CMR Table 6.13). Although LTE coverage was largely available in most regions, Alberta led in
terms of mobile penetration, with 91.6% of its population subscribing to mobile services (2018
• •
Income quintile
$ Household income
Average members per household
Average annual income
Communications expenditures as a
percentage of annual income (average
annual communications expenditures)
Subscriptions by province
Subscriptions by population
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CMR Table 6.15). Prince Edward Island led in terms of coverage. However, it had the lowest
penetration rate of the provinces (71.3%), demonstrating that the availability of a network in a
certain region doesn’t necessarily translate to a higher penetration rate.
Subscriptions by household
While a majority of Canadians had access to LTE networks and 89.5% subscribed to mobile services,
Quebec and the Atlantic provinces (New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, and
Newfoundland and Labrador) continued to have more landline service subscribers than Ontario and
the Western provinces (Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta, and British Columbia) (see Table 1.3).
Furthermore, there were more mobile-only households in the Western provinces and Ontario than
in the Atlantic provinces and Quebec, even though LTE was available to a greater percentage of the
population in the Atlantic provinces (2018 CMR Table 6.13). Quebec had the highest percentage of
landline-only households (14.1%) and the lowest percentage of households with mobile service
(84.4%). Households in New Brunswick were the most reliant upon landlines – 83.4% had landlines
and just 11.2% had mobile service only. In contrast, 43.1% of Alberta households relied on mobile
service alone, and only 55.6% had landlines. Overall, the coverage of almost 97.0% of Canadians,
with two or more networks, gives Canadians some options when making communications services
subscription decisions.
Internet subscriptions and computer ownership
In 2017, 99.0% of Canadian households had access to xed broadband Internet access and 89.0%
of Canadian households had a home Internet subscription. Internet use from home increased
slightly in all income quintiles except the fourth quintile, an overall average increase of 1.8% (see
Table 1.5). The vast majority of high-income households subscribed to Internet services in 2017,
compared to less than two-thirds of the lowest-income households. Internet use from home in the
rst income quintile was 20.0 percentage points lower than the overall average of 89.0% and 16.3
percentage points lower than in the second income quintile.
With mobile devices such as smartphones and tablets, Canadians can access the Internet from
nearly any location. However, home computers still played an important role for Canadians. As
Table 1.5 shows, most Canadian households had home computers (84.1%).
Overall, more households owned mobile phones (89.5%) than home computers (84.1%) in 2017.
This trend was more pronounced in the lower income quintiles. For example, 73.1% of Canadian
households in the rst income quintile owned mobile phones (see Table 1.3), compared to 63.4% of
households that owned home computers (see Table 1.5). Home computer ownership was
unchanged between 2016 and 2017, except in the second income quintile, where it increased by
1.4%.
iii. What do Canadian households spend on
communications services?
4
5
Subscriptions by household
Internet subscriptions and computer ownership
iii. What do Canadian households spend on
communications services?-
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Infographic 1.4 Canadian households’ average expenditures on communications services
Average monthly
household spending on
communications
$233.00
0,43%
Landline
11%
~ Television
':l ~f3%
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Source: Statistics Canada’s Survey of Household Spending, Table: 11-10-0223-01
Households make decisions about the amounts they are willing to spend on communications
services, with spending habits varying for many different reasons. Some habits re ect personal
choice and others are in uenced by service availability, affordability, and household resources. This
section focuses on household spending for various services by income, household location
(urban/rural), and age, to inform a better understanding of Canadian households’ communications
spending habits.
Figure 1.4 Average monthly household communications services spending
Canadians' average spending
1
6 ➔
Mobile . services
Internet
services
$101.00
per month
$54.17
per month
Average annual household
income in Canada
• $90,185
Spendingon 3 1%
communications • O
services of income
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Data on communications services spending provides insights into how communications services
affect the household budget, but there are limitations when using expenditure data to assess
adoption and spending patterns. The data does not re ect consumption of free services, such as
over-the-air television and radio services, which remain valuable to many Canadians. The data
presented here reports average expenditures and takes into account all households, including those
that do not subscribe to any services. As a result, the average expenditures may over- or under-
report actual spending for individual households. Most communications subscriptions, like those for
television distribution, landline, and Internet services, tend to be purchased at a household level
(and often in a bundle), meaning that there is a single subscription per household. However, larger
households may have higher expenditures for these services (e.g. purchasing more Internet data or
a broader selection of television channels). Households may have several subscriptions to mobile
services. The data presented here does not allow for analysis of individual expenditures on
communications services.
Statistics Canada reported that average annual household incomes before taxes in Canada in 2016
and 2017 were $91,347 and $90,185 respectively. Average income increased in all income
quintiles, except in the fth quintile. In 2017, the Canadian provincial average annual household
income before taxes ranged from $76,820 (New Brunswick) to $111,212 (Alberta). The most
signi cant shift in average household income was in Alberta, which saw a downward shift from
$129,102 in 2016 to $111,212 in 2017.
Throughout 2017, the average Canadian household spent $233.00 per month on communications
services, an increase of $10.17 (4.6%) from 2016 (see Table 1.6). As in 2016, Internet and mobile
services drove household expenditure growth and telecommunications industry revenues (see
Figure 1.4). In 2017, expenditures on mobile services led in terms of annual growth (9.7%), followed
by expenditures on Internet services (9.4%). These increases occurred as consumers shifted to
2013 2014 2015 2016 2017
Landline Mobile Internet Television Distribution
120
100
80
60
40
20
0
$
View data
Source: Statistics Canada’s Survey of Household Spending, Table: 11-10-0223-01
6
►
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services offering higher Internet speeds and more mobile data. (See Retail Fixed Internet Sector
and Broadband Availability and Retail Mobile Sector in the 2018 CMR for more details on Internet
and mobile services respectively.)
Expenditures by income quintile
Infographic 1.5 Household expenditures on communications services by income quintile
Expenditures by income quintile
Average income:
$19,852
(household income less than $32,914)
I $21.50
$258
=1.3%
of income
4D ■$53.67 $644 =3.2%
of income
-■$36.00
$432
=2.2%
of income
• ■$39.33 =2.4% $472 of income
~T -$150.50 \!I $1,806 =9.1%
of income
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Average income:
$208,203
(household income over $132,809)
I $29.08
-$349
m -$154.75
• ■$65.50
(;) ■$68.08
0 $317.42
$1,857
$786
$817
=0.2%
of income
=0.9%
of income
=0.4%
of income
=0.4%
of income
= 1.8%
of income
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Source: Statistics Canada’s Survey of Household Spending, Table: 11-10-0228-01
See Table 1.6 on Open Data for data of all quintiles
In 2017, similar to previous years, household incomes in the fth quintile were approximately 10.5
times higher than those in the rst quintile, while expenditures on communications services as a
percentage of household income were about ve times higher in the rst quintile than in the fth.
Annual expenditures on communications services represented 9.1% of the average income of
households in the rst quintile, compared to only 1.8% of the average income of households in the
fth quintile.
While there was considerable variance among the average amounts spent by Canadians in each
income quintile, households tended to devote a larger proportion of their communications services
budget to either mobile or television distribution services. On average, household spending on
television distribution services decreased by 2.2% from 2016 to 2017, while average household
spending on landline telephone services decreased by 8.2% during the same period. During the
same period, household spending on mobile, Internet, and overall communications services
continued to grow.
Overall, households spent the most on mobile services ($101.00 per month on average; see Figure
1.4). On average, for all income quintiles, spending on landline services declined from 2013 to 2017
at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of ‑8.2%. However, average expenditures on Internet
services showed the largest growth (9.4%) between 2016 and 2017, and the highest 2013 to 2017
CAGR (7.4%), for all income quintiles (Table 1.6).
Households in the highest income quintiles spent more on communications services than those in
the lower income quintiles. Household expenditures increased across all quintiles between 2016
and 2017, with expenditures in households in the rst income quintile increasing the most (7.4%).
• Quintile of income
Monthly expenditures
Annual expenditures
0 Communications expenditures
as a percentage of annual income
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Even though total spending on communications services by the lowest-income households was
more than two times lower than total spending by the highest-income households, as shown in
Table 1.7 , expenditures on communications services represented a signi cantly larger percentage
of their annual incomes, about ve times more to be more precise. In addition, households in the
rst income quintile spent more on communications services on a per person basis than all other
income quintiles, spending almost $8.75 more per person per month than those in the fth income
quintile.
Average monthly expenditures by location - urban centres vs. rural
communities
Infographic 1.6 Average provincial household expenditures on communications services
comparison in urban centres and in rural communities
7
8
Average monthly expenditures by location -urban centres -vs. rural
communities -
Average monthly spending
by households in
2017
2013
urban centres
$231.27
$211.90
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( /
@ High 0 Low
G) Alberta Quebec
$280.43 $188.65 Total
Iii Newfoundland Alberta and Labrador
$38.74 $19.74
□ Alberta Quebec
$140.43 $73.64
Prince Edward Quebec ~ Island ~ $64.92 $47.81
Newfoundland Quebec and Labrador
$66.04 $44.79
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Average monthly spending
by households in
2017
rural communities
$247.58
$210.25
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Source: Statistics Canada’s Survey of Household Spending, Table 11-10-0223-01
------i-r-----
@ High 0 Low
G) Newfoundland Quebec and Labrador
Total $277.75 $199.83
Iii Newfoundland Quebec and Labrador
$57.25 $30.50
□ Saskatchewan Quebec
$119.33 $67.17
~ British Saskatchewan Columbia ~ $70.42 $44.75
Newfoundland Quebec and Labrador
$72.42 $53.00
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As seen in Table 1.6, expenditures on mobile and Internet services increased from 2013 to 2017,
landline service expenditures decreased, and television distribution service expenditures remained
relatively stable (see Figure 1.5). Internet expenditures surpassed landline service expenditures in
urban centres in 2013, whereas in rural communities (see Figure 1.6) this occurred in 2015. Further,
mobile service expenditures were fairly similar to television distribution service expenditures in
rural communities prior to 2013, but more was spent on mobile services in recent years.
Figure 1.5 Average monthly household spending on communications services in urban centres
Figure 1.6 Average monthly household spending on communications services in rural communities
Landline Mobile Internet Television distribution
2013 2014 2015 2016 2017
110
100
90
80
70
60
50
40
30
20
$
View data
Source: Statistics Canada’s Survey of Household Spending, custom request for a breakdown of Table 11-10-0223-
01
Landline Mobile Internet Television distribution
2013 2014 2015 2016 2017
100
90
80
70
60
50
40
30
$
View data
Source: Statistics Canada’s Survey of Household Spending, custom request for a breakdown of Table 11-10-0223-
01
..
I
I
• I
: I
►
I r : I : ===== L
►
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Households in rural communities increased their spending on all communications services to a
greater degree than urban households. On average, households in rural communities spent $247.58
per month, an increase of 8.7% from 2016, compared to those in urban centres, which spent
$231.27 per month, an increase of 4.0% for the same period. The difference in average household
expenditures between urban and rural communities re ects the slightly higher prices offered in
rural areas, where there are typically fewer service providers.
Expenditures also varied by province. For instance, Quebec residents spent signi cantly less on
communications services in both urban and rural communities (see Table 1.9 and Table 1.10) than all
other provinces, while Newfoundland and Labrador residents spent the most on communications
services. Overall, the highest total monthly service spending in urban centres was in Alberta at
$280.43 while in rural communities it was in Newfoundland and Labrador, at $277.75.
Expenditures by age
Infographic 1.7 Household expenditures on communications services by age in 2017
Source: Statistics Canada’s Survey of Household Spending Table: 11-10-0227-01
Data on household spending by age was segmented based on the age of the household’s reference
person, the person who typically handled nancial matters in the home. Households whose
reference person was aged 40 to 54 spent the most on communications services ($266.08 per
9
Expenditures by age
Expenditures on communications services
by age of households
in2017
Younger
(reference person
aged 30 or younger)
Older
(reference person
aged 65 or older)
$214.67
per month
$191.17
per month
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month, up 3.2% from 2016), while those whose reference person was aged 65 years or over spent
the least ($191.17 per month, up 4.8% from 2016).
In all Canadian households, the smallest communications expense was for landline services (Figure
1.7), which were also the services with the biggest age-related differences in household
expenditures. Although landline subscriptions are declining annually (as seen in Figure 1.2),
landlines remained important for Canada’s older households. While younger households spent just
$6.08 per month on average on landline services (an average expenditure that includes many
households that do not have a landline), the oldest households spent on average more than six times
that amount ($37.83 per month).
This difference between age groups was also re ected through their usage habits. Older
households (whose reference person was aged 65 years or over) spent the most on television
distribution services and the least on Internet services. Typically, the younger generation
(households whose reference person was under 30 years old), which watched an average of 18.6
hours of television per week, spent on average $24.00 a month on television distribution services.
This spending was more than 50% lower than the oldest generation, which watched on average 42.2
hours per week and spent $62.83 per month on television distribution services (2018 CMR -
Broadcasting, Figure 9.6). Figure 1.8 is comparable to Figure 1.7, showing how the trends for
mobile, Internet, and landline were fairly similar in terms of both expenditures and percentage of
users per age group.
Figure 1.7 illustrates stark differences in spending between the youngest and oldest households.
The youngest households tended to spend much more on Internet and mobile services than their
older counterparts. Ninety-seven percent of the youngest generation surveyed used mobile
services and allocated a large portion of their spending towards it ($127.92 per month). A similar
pattern was visible with Internet services. The correlation between spending and usage suggests
that different services have varying levels of importance to each generation, and that individuals
spent more on the services they tended to use the most.
Figure 1.7 Monthly household expenditures, by service and by age of reference person, 2017
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Figure 1.8 Communications services penetration by age group, 2017
iv. Who is covered by broadband and mobile networks
across Canada?
Infographic 1.8 Broadband and mobile coverage in Canada in 2017
Landline Mobile Internet Television distribution
Less than 30 years 30 to 39 years 40 to 54 years 55 to 64 years 65 years and over
140
120
100
80
60
40
20
0
$/
m
o
n
t
h
/
h
o
u
s
e
h
o
l
d
View data
Source: Statistics Canada’s Survey of Household Spending, Table: 11-10-0227-01
10
Mobile Internet Television
18 to 34 years 35 to 49 years 50 to 64 years 65 years and over
100
90
80
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
%
View data
Source: Media Technology Monitor, Fall 2017 (respondents: Canadians aged 18+)
►
►
iv. Who is covered by broadband and mobile networks
across Canada?
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~ts
Mbps
Broadband at 1.5 Mbps
Canada Rural communities
98.7% 94.0%
OLMCs First Nations reserves
98.9% 90.8%
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50~~0
Mbps
CX)
Broadband at 50/10 Mbps, unlimited
Canada Rural communities
84.1% 37.2%
OLMCs First Nations reserves
88.4% 27.7%
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Mobile
•
Canada Rural communities
99.4% 98.0%
OLMCs First Nations reserves
99.5% 88.2%
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Source: Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED) and CRTC data collection
Notes: For the purposes of this report, the of cial language minority population is de ned in terms of the rst
of cial language spoken metric as de ned within the Of cial Languages Act, using data from the 2016 Census. In
all provinces and territories except Quebec, the of cial language having minority status is French. The presence of
of cial language minority populations within a 25km area of an of cial minority language school was used to
model and map OLMCs.
First Nations reserve areas, representing total population and dwellings on reserves, were used in the analysis.
Mobile-LTE
Canada Rural communities
99.0% 95.9%
OLMCs First Nations reserves
99.0% 72.8%
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Broadband was measured on a household basis, at 1.5 Mbps and at 50/10 Mbps unlimited service availability.
Mobile and mobile via LTE availability were measured on a population basis.
Arguably, broadband Internet services and mobile services have become the two most important
services to Canadians over the past several years. The two services combined made up more than
66.6% of total household expenditures of communications services at the end of 2017. Hence,
access to these services was fundamentally essential to enable Canadians to fully participate in
society and to bene t from the digital economy.
The availability of broadband at 1.5 Mbps and mobile services across Canada varied by province or
territory and level of service, especially in certain communities. Generally, Canadians who resided
in of cial minority language communities (OLMCs) and rural communities had similar levels of
access to Internet and mobile services to households and Canadians who resided in First Nations
reserve areas.
In Newfoundland and Labrador, only 67.9% of First Nations reserve areas had access to mobile
services, compared to 96.1%, overall, of all residents of Newfoundland and Labrador; this was even
lower than in each of the three territories. Two other provinces where the First Nations reserve
areas had considerably less access to mobile services than the overall provincial level were Quebec
and Manitoba, at 75.6% and 77.6% respectively.
Broadband Internet services
For the purposes of this section, broadband availability at 1.5 Mbps and at 50/10 Mbps unlimited is
reported on a household basis. Availability of 1.5 Mbps broadband in OLMC and rural communities
was closely aligned to the provincial average, while availability in First Nations reserve areas in
certain provinces was signi cantly lower. There were four provinces (Newfoundland and Labrador,
Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia and New Brunswick) where broadband availability was greater
in First Nations reserve areas than the provincial average, which may suggest that these
communities were well served in 2017. However, in First Nations reserve areas in the North and in
the provinces of Quebec and Ontario, broadband availability was much lower than the provincial
gures, suggesting that these communities were less well served overall.
The availability of 50/10 Mbps unlimited broadband was noticeably different from availability at
1.5 Mbps. Across Canada, 50/10 Mbps unlimited was available to 84.1% of Canadians. However,
only 37.2% of rural communities and 27.7% of First Nations reserve areas had access to the faster
speeds of 50/10 Mbps unlimited, demonstrating a divide between the various communities for
faster broadband services. In the northern territories (Yukon, Northwest Territories and Nunavut),
50/10 Mbps unlimited broadband is unavailable altogether, which further illustrates the urban-
rural divide in terms of access to service, especially at the faster speeds.
Figure 1.9 Broadband service availability at 1.5 Mbps in the provinces and territories in 2017 by
household, in Canada overall, and in rural communities, OLMCs, and First Nations reserve areas
Broadband Internet services
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Figure 1.10 Broadband service availability at 50/10 Mbps unlimited in the provinces and territories
in 2017 by household, in Canada overall, and in rural communities, OLMCs, and First Nations
reserve areas
Mobile services
Mobile services via LTE were available to 99.0% of Canadians at the end of 2017. In rural
communities, OLMCs, and First Nations reserve areas, LTE was available to 95.9%, 99.0%, and
72.8% of the population, respectively.
Canada Rural communities OLMCs First Nations reserve areas
NL PE NS NB QC ON MB SK AB BC YT NT NU
Cana
d
a
100
90
80
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
%
View data
Source: Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED) and CRTC data collection
Canada Rural communities OLMCs First Nations reserve areas
NL PE NS NB QC ON MB SK AB BC YT NT NU
Cana
d
a
100
90
80
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
%
View data
Source: Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED) and CRTC data collection
►
I
►
Mobile services
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The largest difference in coverage between the provincial average and the First Nations reserve
areas was seen in Manitoba. Only 19.5% of the First Nations reserve areas in Manitoba had access
to LTE, compared to 93.4% of Manitobans in general. Two other provinces that also showed
noticeable differences in access to LTE were Newfoundland and Labrador and Ontario where 67.9%
and 62.3% of the First Nations reserve areas are covered by LTE, respectively, compared to their
overall provincial gures of 94.7% and 99.7% respectively.
Figure 1.11 Mobile service availability by province and territory in 2017, by population in Canada
overall, in rural communities, in OLMCs, and in First Nations reserve areas
Figure 1.12 Mobile service availability (LTE) by province and territory in 2017, by population in
Canada overall and in rural communities, OLMCs, and First Nations reserve areas
Canada Rural communities OLMCs First Nations reserve areas
NL PE NS NB QC ON MB SK AB BC YT NT NU
Cana
d
a
100
90
80
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
%
View data
Source: Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED) and CRTC data collection
Canada Rural communities OLMCs First Nations reserve areas
NL PE NS NB QC ON MB SK AB BC YT NT NU
Cana
d
a
100
90
80
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
%
View data
Source: Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED) and CRTC data collection
►
►
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New Brunswick has the largest of cial language minority population, at 31.0% of its overall
population, followed by Quebec at 13.4%.
See Table 1.11 (Open data) for 2016 data on Canadians whose mother tongue is an of cial language
with minority status in the province or territory in which they reside, and in Canada overall. In all
provinces and territories except Quebec, the of cial language having minority status is French.
Map 1.1 Population distribution of OLMCs across Canada, 2016
MapInfo KML
Source: 2016 Census, Statistics Canada, and data collection from both Innovation, Science and Economic
Development Canada (ISED) and CRTC
Map 1.1 displays areas across Canada where OLMCs are present. The blue circles are OLMCs,
modeled as areas within 25km of an of cial language minority school. The interactive map for
OLMCs is also available online.
Map 1.2 displays areas across Canada where First Nations reserve areas are present. The colour
and number inside each circle represents the speci c type of reserve where First Nations reserve
areas are present and the number of reserves in each area. Broadband availability within each
census subdivision is available as part of the data set. Zoom into the map to update the tooltip with
the broadband availability or review the Data Panel at the bottom of the map for full details. The
interactive map for the number of reserve areas is also available online.
Map 1.2 Distribution of First Nations reserve areas across Canada, 2017
\'"'--
i c:--1 NWT ~J
i
.....
_,_ Mo.......,:
IA Mo<I,_,
(Mw•~ ,_.._. Qo,M~-,,.~
V --· •..
• • • •
• •
•
•• • • •
•...__,,....,...
• • • • • • . -
.. NC • ... •
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MapInfo KML
Source: 2016 Census, Statistics Canada, and data collection from both Innovation, Science and Economic
Development Canada (ISED) and CRTC
v. Methodology
Urban centres and rural communities
Urban centres, also known as small/medium/large population centres, are de ned as follows: small
centres have populations between 1,000 and 29,999, medium centres have populations between
30,000 and 99,999, and large centres have populations greater than 100,000. For the purposes of
this report, data for urban centres reports the average of small/medium/large centres.
Rural communities are de ned as areas with a population of less than 1,000 or a density of 400 or
fewer people per square kilometre.
O cial language minority communities
To identify of cial language minority communities (OLMCs) in Canada, a number of different
criteria can be used. These include identifying the rst language learned at home, the language
spoken at home, and the language of education.
For the purposes of this report, the of cial language minority population is de ned in terms of the
rst of cial language spoken metric as de ned within the Of cial Languages Act, using data from
the 2016 Census. In all provinces and territories except Quebec, the of cial language having
minority status is French.
The presence of of cial language minority populations within a 25km area of an of cial minority
language school was used to model and map OLMCs.
' ---
",
8 IC <,
.-• ""
" '
v. Methodology
II "I Y
3,.-s-
,, • ~ 13
13 Tf>ol. I, 10
,..,.,,_ I
l<P•"'wt f Ml
i.-,.... "'""---
Urban centres and rural communities
Official language minority communities
-·
([
lob r ·-
'" 'o.., 2)
,.~ °" 13 N~""4,, .,.;
..
4 .,It,.. • II ~•
Ml 16o; I, ............ \,
1"'10., Ottt-,1,.oc(, vr .<1
1; 'i-;_ ...... -0
fi:.'t: -,. Ill ·-N-lOII. -----~
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As a means of mapping OLMCs and calculating the availability of 50/10 Mbps unlimited service, a
method of OLMC population placement was chosen that concentrates on areas within 25 km of
of cial language minority schools to represent the locations of the communities. This methodology,
which was developed by Canadian Heritage, was used to assign OLMC populations to areas and to
calculate 50/10 Mbps unlimited availability to OLMC communities.
First Nations reserve areas
Statistics Canada uses census subdivisions to represent different areas in Canada. Census
subdivisions are municipalities or areas that can be equated to municipalities for statistical reasons.
The different census subdivisions used by Statistics Canada were assessed. The census subdivisions
that represent First Nations reserve areas were included in the data analysis as well as mapping of
this population. The analysis was based upon total population and dwellings on reserves according
to the Statistics Canada census data and, as such, it may differ from other of cial sources.
Income quintiles and household spending
Income quintile information regarding household expenditures on communications services comes
from Statistics Canada’s Survey of Household Spending and does not include any projections or
CRTC data. Canadian household incomes and household monthly expenditures were reported for
the ve income quintiles. An income quintile is a measure of the socioeconomic status of 5 different
household groups (speci cally household income levels), with each household group representing
about 20% of the total population.
Table 1.1 Average annual household incomes and average monthly expenditures by income
quintile ($/month), 2017
Type First quintile Second
quintile Third quintile Fourth quintile Fifth quintile
Income Less
than $32,914
Between
$32,915 to
$56,495
Between
$56,496 to
$86,098
Between
$86,099 to
$132,808
Over $132,809
Average
annual
income
$19,852 $44,725 $70,794 $107,287 $208,203
Landline $21.50 $25.17 $23.58 $26.67 $29.08
Mobile $53.67 $71.67 $103.08 $121.67 $154.75
Internet $36.00 $49.33 $58.00 $61.92 $65.50
First Nations reserve areas
Income quintiles and household spending
Table 1.1 Average annual household incomes and average monthly expenditures by income
quintile ($/month), 2017
Type
Income
!Average
annual
income
Landline
Mobile
Internet
First quintile Second Third quintile Fourth quintile Fifth quintile quintile
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Type First quintile Second
quintile Third quintile Fourth quintile Fifth quintile
TV
distribution $39.33 $45.83 $53.00 $56.58 $68.08
Total $150.50 $192.00 $237.67 $266.83 $317.42
Source: Statistics Canada’s Survey of Household Spending, Table: 11-10-0223-01
vi. Appendices
Table 1.2 Canadian landline and mobile service subscribers per 100 households, 2004-
2017
Year Landline Mobile
Landline
and/or
mobile
Landline only Mobile only
2004 96.2 58.9 98.9 40.0 2.7
2005 94.0 62.9 98.8 36.0 4.8
2006 93.6 66.8 98.6 31.8 5.0
2007 92.5 71.9 98.8 26.9 6.3
2008 91.1 74.3 99.1 24.8 8.0
2009 89.3 77.2 99.3 22.1 10.0
2010 89.3 78.1 99.4 21.3 10.1
2011 86.6 79.1 99.3 20.2 12.7
2012 83.8 81.3 99.2 17.9 15.4
2013 79.1 84.7 99.3 14.6 20.2
2014 75.5 85.6 99.2 13.6 23.7
2015 71.9 86.1 99.3 13.2 27.5
2016 66.8 87.9 99.3 11.4 32.5
2017 63.0 89.5 99.0 9.5 36.0
Source: Statistics Canada’s Affordability Study (2004-2007) and Survey of Household Spending, custom request
for a breakdown of Table 11-10-0223-01 (2008-2017)
Type First quintile Second Third quintile Fourth quintile Fifth quintile quintile
t TV I I distribution
Total $150.50 $192.00 $237.67 $266.83 $317.42
vi. Appendices
Table 1.2 Canadian land line and mobile service subscribers per 100 households, 2004-
2017
Year
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
2015
2016
2017
Landline
r
Mobile
Landline r
and/or Land line only Mobile only
mobile
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Table 1.3 Canadian landline and mobile service subscribers per 100 households, by income
quintile, 2013-2017
Service Year First
quintile
Second
quintile
Third
quintile
Fourth
quintile
Fifth
quintile
Average
of all
quintiles
CAGR of average
of all quintiles
(2013-2017)
Landline
2013 65.2 75.0 82.2 84.7 87.5 78.9
-5.5%
2014 65.3 69.1 74.3 80.2 88.3 75.5
2015 63.6 68.6 72.1 74.1 81.0 71.9
2016 58.2 65.3 63.6 70.6 76.1 66.8
2017 54.9 59.7 62.7 65.2 72.5 63.0
Growth
2016-
2017
(%)
-5.7 -8.6 -1.4 -7.6 -4.7 -5.6
Mobile
2013 66.8 79.7 88.5 92.9 96.4 84.9
1.3%
2014 67.4 83.2 89.4 93.2 95.0 85.6
2015 69.9 80.3 89.9 93.9 96.7 86.1
2016 68.7 85.6 92.7 96.2 96.4 87.9
2017 73.1 86.8 94.4 96.3 96.9 89.5
Growth
2016-
2017
(%)
6.4 1.4 1.8 0.1 0.5 1.8
Landline
and/or
mobile
2013 97.5 99.7 99.7 99.6 100.0 99.3
-0.1%
2014 97.8 99.4 99.2 99.5 99.8 99.2
2015 98.6 99.0 99.5 99.8 99.8 99.3
2016 98.2 99.5 99.6 99.6 99.8 99.3
2017 97.0 99.6 99.5 99.5 99.3 99.0
Growth
2016-
2017
(%)
-1.2 0.1 -0.1 -0.1 -0.5 -0.3
Table 1.3 Canadian land line and mobile service subscribers per 100 households, by income
quintile, 2013-2017
l
Service Year First Second Third Fourth Fifth
quintile quintile quintile quintile quintile quintiles (2013-2017)
Average CAGR of average
of all of all quintiles
Landline
Mobile
Landline
and/or
mobile
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Service Year First
quintile
Second
quintile
Third
quintile
Fourth
quintile
Fifth
quintile
Average
of all
quintiles
CAGR of average
of all quintiles
(2013-2017)
Landline
only
2013 30.7 20.0 11.2 6.7 3.6 14.4
-9.9%
2014 30.4 16.2 9.8 6.3 4.8 13.6
2015 28.7 18.7 9.6 5.9 3.1 13.2
2016 29.5 13.9 6.9 3.4 3.4 11.4
2017 23.9 12.8 5.1 3.2 2.4 9.5
Growth
2016-
2017
(%)
-19.0 -7.9 -26.1 -5.9 -29.4 -16.8
Mobile
only
2013 32.3 24.7 17.5 14.9 12.5 20.4
15.3%
2014 32.5 30.3 24.9 19.3 11.5 23.7
2015 35.0 30.4 27.4 25.7 18.8 27.5
2016 40.0 34.2 36.0 29.0 23.7 32.6
2017 42.1 39.9 36.8 34.3 26.8 36.0
Growth
2016-
2017
(%)
5.2 16.7 2.2 18.3 13.1 10.5
Source: Statistics Canada’s Survey of Household Spending, custom request for a breakdown of Table 11-10-0223-
01.
Each quintile represents 20% of households.
Table 1.4 Landline and mobile service subscribers per 100 households, by province, 2017
Province Landline Mobile
Landline
and/or
mobile
Landline only Mobile only
British Columbia 59.3 92.0 98.7 6.7 39.4
Alberta 55.6 93.6 98.7 5.1 43.1
Saskatchewan 57.3 93.5 99.7 6.2 42.4
r
Service quintile quintile quintile quintile quintile quintiles (2013-2017) I
Year First Second Third Fourth Fifth Average CAGR of average
of all of all quintiles
Landline
only
Mobile
only
Table 1.4 Landline and mobile service subscribers per 100 households, by province, 2017
Province
British Columbi
Alberta
Saskatchewan
a
Landline
Landline Mobile and/or Land line only Mobile only
b'I mo 1e
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Province Landline Mobile
Landline
and/or
mobile
Landline only Mobile only
Manitoba 65.6 90.1 99.5 9.4 33.9
Ontario 61.2 90.8 99.3 8.5 38.1
Quebec 67.6 84.4 98.5 14.1 30.9
New Brunswick 83.4 87.8 99.0 11.2 15.6
Nova Scotia 68.2 87.1 98.9 11.8 30.7
Prince Edward Island 67.8 87.3 98.6 11.3 30.8
Newfoundland and Labrador 83.0 89.1 99.6 10.5 16.6
All of Canada 63.0 89.5 99.0 9.5 36.0
Source: Statistics Canada’s Survey of Household Spending, custom request for a breakdown of Table 11-10-0223-
01
Table 1.5 Home computer ownership and Internet use from home per 100 households, by
income quintile, 2013-2017
Technology Year
Household
income
less than
$32,914
( rst
quintile)
Household
income
from
$32,915 to
$56,495
(second
quintile)
Household
income
from
$56,496 to
$86,098
(third
quintile)
Household
income
from
$86,099 to
$132,808
(fourth
quintile)
Household
income
over
$132,809
( fth
quintile)
Average
for all
quintiles
Home
computer
2013 64.4 80.6 89.8 95.4 97.9 85.6
2014 64.3 78.1 87.7 94.0 97.4 84.3
2015 61.9 79.6 89.1 95.3 96.6 84.5
2016 63.9 78.0 89.1 93.4 96.2 84.1
2017 63.4 79.1 89.5 93.5 95.1 84.1
Growth
2016-
2017
(%)
-0.8 1.4 0.4 0.1 -1.1 0
Internet 2013 59.7 77.6 89.0 94.9 98.4 83.9
Province
ick
Manitoba
Ontario
Quebec
NewBrunsw
Nova Scotia
Prince Edwa
Newfound la
All of Canad
rd Island
nd and Labrador
a
I I
Landline
I I
63.0
Landline
Mobile and/or Land line only Mobile only
mobile I
89.5 99.0 9.5 36.0 -
Table 1.5 Home computer ownership and Internet use from home per 100 households, by
income quintile, 2013-2017
Technology Year
Home
computer
Internet .
Household
income
less than
$32,914
(fi rst
quintile)
Household Household Household
income
from
$32,915to
$56,495
(second
quintile)
income
from
$56,496to
$86,098
(third
quintile)
income
from
$86,099to
$132,808
(fourth
quintile)
r
Household
income Average over
$132,809 for all
(fifth quintiles
quintile)
I
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Technology Year
Household
income
less than
$32,914
( rst
quintile)
Household
income
from
$32,915 to
$56,495
(second
quintile)
Household
income
from
$56,496 to
$86,098
(third
quintile)
Household
income
from
$86,099 to
$132,808
(fourth
quintile)
Household
income
over
$132,809
( fth
quintile)
Average
for all
quintiles
use from
home
2014 63.5 78.5 88.7 95.5 98.3 84.9
2015 64.4 82.1 92.8 97.2 98.2 86.9
2016 65.2 82.7 93.3 97.9 98.1 87.4
2017 69.0 85.3 94.1 97.7 98.5 89.0
Growth
2016-
2017
(%)
5.8 3.1 0.9 -0.2 0.4 1.8
Source: Statistics Canada’s Survey of Household Spending, custom request for a breakdown of Table 11-10-0223-
01
Table 1.6 Average ve-year monthly household spending on communications services, by
service and by income quintile ($/month/household), 2013-2017
Service Year First
quintile
Second
quintile
Third
quintile
Fourth
quintile
Fifth
quintile
Average
of all
quintiles
CAGR of average
of all quintiles
(2013-2017)
Landline
2013 29.08 33.50 36.08 38.17 41.00 35.58
-8.2%
2014 26.58 31.08 32.50 36.17 40.33 33.33
2015 25.50 28.08 29.83 31.50 36.08 30.17
2016 22.75 26.67 27.75 26.92 33.25 27.50
2017 21.50 25.17 23.58 26.67 29.08 25.25
Growth
2016-
2017
(%)
-5.5 -5.6 -15.0 -0.9 -12.5 -8.2
Mobile 2013 42.42 55.92 77.25 91.75 127.00 78.92 6.4%
2014 43.92 60.42 80.83 100.42 127.83 82.67
use from
home
Technology Year
Household
income
less than
$32,914
( first
quintile)
Household Household Household
income
from
$32,915to
$56,495
(second
quintile)
income
from
$56,496to
$86,098
(third
quintile)
income
from
$86,099to
$132,808
(fourth
quintile)
Household
income 1 Average over
$132,809 for all
( quintiles fifth
quintile)
I
Table 1.6 Average five-year monthly household spending on communications services, by
service and by income quintile ($/month/household), 2013-2017
I
Service Year
F·itth I Average CAGR of average First Second Third Fourth • •1 • •1 • •1 • •1 • •1 of all of all quintiles qumt1 e qumt1 e qumt1 e qumt1 e qumt1 e quintiles (2013-2017)
Landline
Mobile
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Service Year First
quintile
Second
quintile
Third
quintile
Fourth
quintile
Fifth
quintile
Average
of all
quintiles
CAGR of average
of all quintiles
(2013-2017)
2015 43.75 62.25 84.83 105.33 140.08 87.25
2016 47.42 66.08 95.42 110.67 141.00 92.08
2017 53.67 71.67 103.08 121.67 154.75 101.00
Growth
2016-
2017
(%)
13.2 8.5 8.0 9.9 9.8 9.7
Internet
2013 25.58 35.25 42.08 48.00 52.42 40.67
7.4%
2014 29.50 37.17 44.17 48.75 52.67 42.42
2015 30.58 41.58 49.92 53.75 56.83 46.50
2016 32.17 43.58 52.00 58.00 61.92 49.50
2017 36.00 49.33 58.00 61.92 65.50 54.17
Growth
2016-
2017
(%)
11.9 13.2 11.5 6.8 5.8 9.4
Television
distribution
2013 37.00 49.33 57.67 64.58 74.50 56.58
-1.8%
2014 38.92 49.42 56.92 62.25 74.17 56.33
2015 38.83 46.92 55.42 58.75 72.42 54.50
2016 37.75 47.92 52.50 59.58 71.08 53.75
2017 39.33 45.83 53.00 56.58 68.08 52.58
Growth
2016-
2017
(%)
4.2 -4.4 1.0 -5.0 -4.2 -2.2
Total 2013 134.08 174.00 213.08 242.50 294.92 211.75 2.4%
2014 138.92 178.08 214.42 247.58 295.00 214.75
2015 138.67 178.83 220.00 249.33 305.42 218.42
2016 140.09 184.25 227.67 255.17 307.25 222.83
Service
Internet
Television
distributio
Total
n
Year
First Second Third Fourth Fifth Average
quintile quintile quintile quintile quintile of all quintiles
CAGR of average
of all quintiles
(2013-2017)
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Service Year First
quintile
Second
quintile
Third
quintile
Fourth
quintile
Fifth
quintile
Average
of all
quintiles
CAGR of average
of all quintiles
(2013-2017)
2017 150.50 192.00 237.67 266.83 317.42 233.00
Growth
2016-
2017
(%)
7.4 4.2 4.4 4.6 3.3 4.6
CAGR of
total
services
2013-
2017 2.9 2.5 2.8 2.4 1.9 2.4 -
Source: Statistics Canada’s Survey of Household Spending, Table: 11-10-0223-01
Table 1.7 Expenditure per service and by income quintile as a percentage of average
annual income, 2017
Metric First
quintile
Second
quintile
Third
quintile
Fourth
quintile
Fifth
quintile
Average of all
quintiles
Average income $19,852 $44,725 $70,794 $107,287 $208,203 $90,185
Landline 1.3%0.7%0.4%0.3%0.2%0.3%
Mobile 3.2%1.9%1.8%1.4%0.9%1.3%
Internet 2.2%1.6%1.0%0.6%0.4%0.7%
Television distribution 2.4%1.4%0.9%0.6%0.4%0.7%
Total communications
expenditures 9.1%5.2%4.0%3.0%1.8%3.1%
Source: Statistics Canada’s Survey of Household Spending, Table: 11-10-0223-01
Table 1.8 Household spending on communications services as a percentage of annual
income, by income quintile, 2013-2017
Year Characteristics First
quintile
Second
quintile
Third
quintile
Fourth
quintile
Fifth
quintile
All
quintiles
2013 Minimum household
income threshold $0 $30,669 $51,805 $79,723 $121,292 Less than
$30,668
Service
CAGRof
total
services
Year
2013-
2017
I
First Second Third Fourth Fifth
quintile quintile quintile quintile quintile
I
2.9 2.5 2.8 2.4 1.9
I I I
Average CAGR of average
of all of all quintiles
quintiles (2013-2017)
2.4
I
Table 1.7 Expenditure per service and by income quintile as a percentage of average
annual income, 2017
Metric
ome Average inc
Landline
Mobile
--
istribution
I Internet
Television d
Total comm
expenditure
unications
s
First Second
quintile quintile
9.1% 5.2%
Third Fourth Fifth Average of all
quintile quintile quintile quintiles
-
4.0% 3.0% 1.8% 3.1%
Table 1.8 Household spending on communications services as a percentage of annual
income, by income quintile, 2013-2017
T
Year Characteristics First Second Third Fourth Fifth All
quintile quintile quintile quintile quintile quintiles
2013 I l l l
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Year Characteristics First
quintile
Second
quintile
Third
quintile
Fourth
quintile
Fifth
quintile
All
quintiles
Maximum household
income threshold $30,668 $51,804 $79,722 $121,291 n/a
More
than
$121,292
Average annual income $18,582 $41,105 $64,854 $98,634 $199,702 $84,575
Average members per
household 1.49 2.11 2.49 2.95 3.34 2.48
Communications
expenditures as a
percentage of average
annual income
8.3%4.9%3.8%2.8%1.7%2.9%
2014
Minimum household
income threshold $0 $30,520 $53,275 $81,295 $124,839 Less than
$30,519
Maximum household
income threshold $30,519 $53,274 $81,294 $124,838 n/a
More
than
$124,839
Average annual income $19,664 $42,122 $67,083 $101,177 $201,752 $86,360
Average members per
household 1.50 2.05 2.51 2.91 3.40 2.47
Communications
expenditures as a
percentage of average
annual income
8.5%4.1%3.8%2.9%1.8%3.0%
2015 Minimum household
income threshold $0 $31,609 $54,588 $82,710 $126,879 Less than
$31,608
Maximum household
income threshold $31,608 $54,587 $82,709 $126,878 n/a
More
than
$126,879
Average annual income $19,403 $42,887 $68,331 $103,021 $210,693 $88,867
Average members per
household 1.43 2.11 2.57 2.91 3.35 2.47
-- --I First Second Third Fourth Fifth All Year Characteristics quintile quintile quintile quintile quintile quintiles
2014
2015
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Year Characteristics First
quintile
Second
quintile
Third
quintile
Fourth
quintile
Fifth
quintile
All
quintiles
Communications
expenditures as a
percentage of average
annual income
8.6%5.0%3.9%2.9%1.7%2.9%
2016
Minimum household
income threshold $0 $32,091 $55,471 $85,337 $130,046 Less than
$32,090
Maximum household
income threshold $32,090 $55,470 $85,336 $130,045 n/a
More
than
$130,046
Average annual income $19,559 $43,436 $70,178 $104,533 $219,031 $91,347
Average members per
household 1.47 2.01 2.51 3.00 3.36 2.47
Communications
expenditures as a
percentage of average
annual income
8.6%5.1%3.9%2.9%1.7%2.9%
2017
Minimum household
income threshold $0 $32,915 $56,496 $86,099 $132,809 Less than
$32,914
Maximum household
income threshold $32,914 $56,495 $86,098 $132,808 n/a
More
than
$132,808
Average annual income $19,852 $44,725 $70,794 $107,287 $208,203 $90,185
Average members per
household 1.47 2.01 2.53 2.93 3.39 2.47
Communications
expenditures as a
percentage of average
annual income
9.1%5.2%4.0%3.0%1.8%3.1%
Source: Statistics Canada’s Survey of Household Spending, Table: 11-10-0223-01
Table 1.9 Household average monthly household communications services expenditure in
rural communities, 2012-2017
Region Service 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017
-- --
First Second Third Fourth Fifth All Year Characteristics quintile quintile quintile quintile quintile quintiles
2016
2017
. .
Table 1.9 Household average monthly household communications services expenditure in
rural communities, 2012-2017
I
Region Service 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 J
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Region Service 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017
Can.Landline 47.25 47.42 42.83 42.00 41.08 36.92
Can.Mobile 58.17 63.08 76.17 77.00 77.67 94.17
Can.Internet 34.00 37.42 39.25 43.75 46.17 54.83
Can.Television distribution 59.25 62.33 62.75 63.17 62.92 61.67
N.L.Landline 58.33 58.50 56.17 55.83 53.08 57.25
N.L.Mobile 60.67 62.33 76.92 87.92 93.67 95.67
N.L.Internet 31.75 37.83 37.42 45.33 49.33 52.42
N.L.Television distribution 61.92 65.33 70.25 70.75 76.67 72.42
P.E.I.Landline 51.83 56.00 52.58 46.42 46.33 47.50
P.E.I.Mobile 55.25 51.08 89.58 89.75 92.92 94.33
P.E.I.Internet 35.50 40.50 39.67 50.42 58.83 59.08
P.E.I.Television distribution 60.83 73.08 62.00 58.92 70.83 63.58
N.S.Landline 55.42 54.67 53.17 54.08 44.58 44.42
N.S.Mobile 58.50 67.42 67.67 66.08 84.33 86.00
N.S.Internet 35.83 38.17 42.75 45.92 52.92 57.00
N.S.Television distribution 67.92 65.92 65.50 66.25 61.92 63.58
N.B.Landline 50.17 47.58 47.00 45.75 44.42 43.83
N.B.Mobile 53.67 58.67 73.42 66.50 63.33 86.08
N.B.Internet 31.75 33.83 38.58 39.25 41.08 51.08
N.B.Television distribution 60.17 59.42 57.75 65.33 64.83 59.42
Que.Landline 43.50 41.83 38.25 38.00 37.08 30.50
Que.Mobile 31.17 45.25 49.42 49.50 53.42 67.17
Que.Internet 31.83 33.00 33.67 37.08 36.42 49.17
Que.Television distribution 51.75 55.75 50.67 50.83 54.08 53.00
Ont.Landline 46.33 45.33 41.92 43.83 44.33 38.42
Ont.Mobile 50.75 55.33 80.50 78.25 70.50 108.42
Ont.Internet 36.83 43.00 44.42 47.42 54.92 57.50
Regio
Can.
Can.
Can.
Can.
N.L.
N.L.
N.L.
N.L.
P.E.I.
P.E.I.
P.E.I.
P.E.I.
N.S.
N.S.
N.S.
N.S.
N.B.
N.B.
N.B.
N.B.
Que.
Que.
Que.
Que.
Ont.
Ont.
Ont.
n Service 2012 2013
--
2014 2015 2016 2017
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Region Service 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017
Ont.Television distribution 57.67 65.83 69.17 66.83 61.92 69.92
Man.Landline 46.83 49.25 46.33 43.33 40.50 40.08
Man.Mobile 70.42 83.83 91.42 104.17 103.50 111.50
Man.Internet 29.58 37.83 42.33 38.00 52.92 57.83
Man.Television distribution 55.75 58.83 55.67 70.33 77.83 65.50
Sask.Landline 54.92 52.83 51.17 48.33 47.67 39.00
Sask.Mobile 68.75 88.25 98.83 109.17 116.00 119.33
Sask.Internet 34.08 29.25 37.92 41.42 44.75 44.75
Sask.Television distribution 67.75 64.58 74.75 70.50 73.75 70.42
Alta.Landline 46.25 56.92 39.58 36.25 36.17 35.00
Alta.Mobile 130.17 114.67 139.67 118.75 121.17 117.75
Alta.Internet 41.33 42.42 42.17 52.58 46.08 56.33
Alta.Television distribution 76.17 72.75 80.08 74.42 70.42 66.58
B.C.Landline 47.08 43.25 39.83 30.42 34.00 31.42
B.C.Mobile 63.08 48.92 53.25 94.92 88.92 98.17
B.C.Internet 31.17 38.33 37.83 54.17 52.92 70.42
B.C.Television distribution 55.92 59.75 59.00 68.92 64.58 51.67
Source: Statistics Canada’s Survey of Household Spending, custom request for a breakdown of Table 11-10-0223-
01
Table 1.10 Household average monthly communications services expenditure in urban
centres, 2012-2017
Region Service 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017
Can.Landline 35.97 34.06 32.06 28.89 25.95 23.89
Can.Mobile 70.94 80.88 83.58 88.40 93.76 101.77
Can.Internet 36.83 41.06 42.91 46.82 49.91 54.09
Can.Television distribution 56.25 55.90 55.47 53.55 52.72 51.52
N.L.Landline 47.14 43.48 42.76 40.66 42.19 38.74
Region
Ont.
Man.
Man.
Man.
Man.
Sask.
Sask.
Sask
Sask
lAlta.
Alta.
Alta.
Alta.
B.C.
B.C.
B.C.
B.C.
Service 2012 2013
.
--
2014 2015 2016 2017
Table 1.10 Household average monthly communications services expenditure in urban
Regio
Can.
Can.
Can.
Can.
N.L.
n Service
centres, 2012-2017
2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017
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Region Service 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017
N.L.Mobile 77.17 84.21 92.92 99.46 112.16 117.77
N.L.Internet 38.28 42.42 42.88 47.00 48.92 54.34
N.L.Television distribution 62.32 61.44 67.91 61.87 64.05 66.04
P.E.I.Landline 40.98 42.66 43.50 42.42 37.39 34.58
P.E.I.Mobile 62.79 70.99 71.25 83.65 84.03 96.50
P.E.I.Internet 38.76 43.89 45.67 50.40 55.09 64.92
P.E.I.Television distribution 57.86 58.07 63.75 58.84 61.33 52.92
N.S.Landline 44.13 40.77 38.93 36.88 36.91 34.11
N.S.Mobile 70.56 77.16 72.22 85.00 95.31 95.80
N.S.Internet 38.59 43.92 45.06 49.52 54.67 57.84
N.S.Television distribution 62.40 58.52 61.36 55.48 58.14 56.09
N.B.Landline 40.88 40.08 36.31 35.93 36.28 34.50
N.B.Mobile 64.05 65.84 69.18 78.76 83.96 85.73
N.B.Internet 38.31 41.14 41.38 46.55 46.51 51.52
N.B.Television distribution 57.62 58.08 59.72 55.93 57.10 58.34
Que.Landline 33.20 31.17 32.52 27.47 26.09 22.41
Que.Mobile 49.77 53.31 57.14 58.48 65.12 73.64
Que.Internet 35.26 37.97 35.89 37.61 41.36 47.81
Que.Television distribution 44.64 44.56 46.33 45.91 46.87 44.79
Ont.Landline 38.61 37.95 33.15 31.23 27.51 25.98
Ont.Mobile 73.17 86.79 88.82 92.76 97.80 103.93
Ont.Internet 38.92 43.44 47.25 50.85 53.18 55.66
Ont.Television distribution 59.47 58.24 55.45 53.08 51.64 51.66
Man.Landline 35.35 34.03 34.29 30.85 25.66 26.20
Man.Mobile 71.86 84.86 83.55 84.79 88.48 104.33
Man.Internet 36.41 37.91 41.90 43.79 46.38 51.32
Man.Television distribution 61.03 60.79 60.79 58.55 53.72 52.04
Regio
N.L.
N.L.
N.L.
I P.E.I.
P.E.I.
P.E.I.
P.E.I.
N.S.
N.S.
N.S.
N.S.
N.B.
N.B.
N.B.
N.B.
Que.
Que.
Que.
Que.
Ont.
Ont.
Ont.
Ont.
Man.
Man.
Man.
Man.
-
n Service
-
2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017
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Region Service 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017
Sask.Landline 38.29 35.05 31.33 28.98 27.11 24.17
Sask.Mobile 86.50 92.71 95.85 106.26 111.11 118.16
Sask.Internet 32.80 34.41 37.10 43.22 44.46 50.05
Sask.Television distribution 62.65 63.83 63.53 63.61 61.21 57.76
Alta.Landline 34.41 31.60 29.29 25.20 21.24 19.74
Alta.Mobile 98.18 110.17 113.48 125.42 128.13 140.43
Alta.Internet 36.31 41.75 44.97 51.57 55.39 60.77
Alta.Television distribution 65.26 64.97 65.05 65.45 62.14 59.49
B.C.Landline 30.68 26.89 27.13 23.96 19.83 18.66
B.C.Mobile 77.98 90.11 92.55 97.98 102.84 113.87
B.C.Internet 34.03 40.64 42.60 49.06 52.76 56.57
B.C.Television distribution 55.82 58.38 58.23 54.17 54.13 52.94
Source: Statistics Canada’s Survey of Household Spending, custom request for a breakdown of Table 11-10-0223-
01
Footnotes
http://www23.statcan.gc.ca/imdb/p2SV.pl?Function=getSurvey&SDDS=35081
Various terms are used to describe the telephone services available to Canadians.
Statistics Canada reports on cell phone subscriptions and expenditures. This article
refers to cell phones as mobile phones, with expenditures on mobile service including
voice, SMS, and data services such as Internet access. The term “landline” is used here to
describe wireline telephone service.
2
Region
Sask.
Sask.
Sask.
Sask.
Alta.
lAlta.
Alta.
!Alta.
B.C.
B.C.
B.C.
B.C.
-
Service
Footnotes
-
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Broadcasting distribution undertakings (BDUs) provide subscription television services
to Canadians. They redistribute programming from conventional over-the-air television
and radio stations. They also distribute pay audio and discretionary services (i.e. pay,
specialty, pay-per-view (PPV) and video-on-demand (VOD) services). Most BDUs are
cable, national direct-to-home (DTH) satellite, or Internet Protocol television (IPTV)
service providers. In this article, BDU services are referred to as “television distribution
services” and exclude digital media subscriptions and watching or streaming television
programs or clips over the Internet.
3
Includes all Internet services, regardless of speed.4
The information presented regarding household expenditures on communications
services comes from Statistics Canada’s Survey of Household Spending and does not
include any projections or CRTC data.
5
See the annual User Guide for the Survey of Household Spending for a description of
how expenditures for services bought as a bundle (e.g. Internet, television distribution,
and landline) are separated into discrete expenses.
6
Urban centres, also known as small/medium/large population centres, are de ned by the
following: small centres have populations between 1,000 and 29,999; medium centres
have populations between 30,000 and 99,999; and large centres have populations
greater than 100,000. For the purposes of this report, urban centres data reports the
average of small/medium/large centres.
7
Rural communities are de ned as areas with a population of less than 1,000 or a density
of 400 or fewer people per square kilometre.
8
Statistics Canada identi es the reference person as the household member mainly
responsible for household nancial maintenance (for example, paying the mortgage,
property taxes, or utility bills). In cases where members share the nancial responsibility
equally, one person is chosen to be the reference person.
9
The total number of respondents and responses from the Media Technology Monitor
may differ from those in Statistics Canada’s Survey of Household Spending. The age
group parameters are also different to correlate with the parameters in the respective
surveys.
10
Contents of the ReportContents of the Report
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1. Communications Services in Canadian Households: Subscriptions and Expenditures 2013-
2017
2. 2018 Communications Services Pricing in Canada
3. Communications Industry Overview: Telecommunications and Broadcasting
4. Broadcasting Overview
5. Radio Sector
6. Television Sector
7. Broadcasting Distribution Sector
8. Telecommunications Overview
9. Retail Fixed Internet Sector and Broadband Availability
10. Retail Mobile Sector
Go directly to:
Full table of contents
Full list of infographics, gures and tables
Data from this report and additional data is available on Open Data in .xlsx and .csv:
Report Section Open Data
Communications Services in Canadian Households:
Subscriptions and Expenditures 2013-2017 Households data
2018 Communications Services Pricing in Canada Pricing data
Communications Overview Communications Overview data
Broadcasting Overview Broadcasting Overview data
Radio Sector Radio data
Television Sector Television data
Broadcasting Distribution Sector BDU data
Telecommunications Overview Telecommunications Overview data
Retail Fixed Internet Sector and Broadband Availability Internet data
Retail Mobile Sector Mobile data
•
• ---------
Data from this report and additional data is available on Open Data in .xlsx and .csv:
Report Section Open Data
----
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Date modified:
2020-01-21
Table of contents
Pricing in Canada
( Table of contents
Pricing in Canada )