Canada's Telecommunications - nowhere more incestuos
I am a Canadian who fortunately lives in VietNam.
Here a new prepaid SIM costs USD$10 which includes USD$10 worth of airtime - which is way cheaper than any Cellco in Canada. A replacement SIM costs USD$1. Coverage is almost 100% of the country and inter-operability/co-operation between Cellcos ensures great coverage.
To keep a prepaid service activated all I need do is to send one SMS message per month. All credit is carried over.
In Canada, I don't even bother with cell service from the large monopolies, I use regional suppliers like Wind - which still still are high compared to other countries.
Bell Canada has landline, cell and cable TV. BCE (Bell) through Bell Media Radio owns 106 radio stations across Canada, broadcasting in 45 markets, including most of Canada's largest radio markets, which counts 5 sports stations; the CTV network is theirs along with the Globe and Mail newspaper.
Rogers is cellular ditto PLUS they have radio (Rogers Radio - 52 radio stations [44 FM and 8 AM]) and the result is Ontarians get shafted.
The word incestuous doesn't even cover it - and they both 'censor' the news.
Meanwhile, back in the land of competition, VietNam, we have both government owned and privately owned cellular networks and InterNet providers - and the government owned ones are usually the better choice. One InterNet provider, FTP, owns a newspaper.
My SaiGon condominium building has SIX InterNet providers and the highest speed is 50 Mbs fibre optic - I have two 50 Mbs feeds from different suppliers at USD$30/month total. There are also FIVE cable TV suppliers (100+ HD channels @ USD$5/month) - I don't subscribe so the deals may be even greater
My SaiGon duplex apartment / workshop building, where I have my laser cutting operation and final electronic assembly, has FOUR fibre optic feeds passing the door on the street as well as FOUR cable TV feeds.
THAT is REAL competition - in a socialist country! Eat your hearts out, Canucks!
Biting the hand that feeds IT
