
Sustained Investment in Telecommunications Infrastructure is Crucial to Building a Stronger and More Productive Canadian Economy, According to New PwC Report Français
New report analyzes the telecom sector's contribution to the Canadian economy, current industry challenges, and the importance of maintaining a healthy telecommunications sector for Canada's future global competitiveness, independence, and sovereignty.
TORONTO, June 3, 2025 /CNW/ - Sustained investment in telecommunications infrastructure is essential to increasing Canada's productivity, innovation and economic growth, says a new report that details how the telecommunications sector is a "key enabler of the Canadian economy."
In the report, commissioned by the Canadian Telecommunications Association and titled Enabling Canada's Economic Independence and Global Competitiveness Through Telecommunications, PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) highlights the telecommunications industry's far-reaching impact that enables "innovation and efficiency gains across the entire economy." The report underscores how the sector can serve as a strategic lever for safeguarding Canada's sovereignty, economic independence, and global competitiveness, and it encourages a regulatory environment that supports sustainable private sector investment in telecommunications infrastructure.
PwC estimates the Canadian telecommunications sector contributed $87.3B in direct GDP and supported 661,000 jobs across industries in 2024. Importantly for the overall economy, $57.2B of this direct GDP contribution is the result of the increase in telecommunications connections leading to increased productivity and business enablement across other industries.
These economic contributions were largely driven by telecom providers' significant capital investments to expand and enhance their networks. The report finds that Canadian providers invest in their networks at a higher rate than other global telecoms, spending approximately $282 per capita on network development in 2024, and that the capital intensity ratio for major Canadian telecommunications providers averaged 18% from 2020-2024, surpassing investment levels in the U.S. (14%), U.K. (17%) and Australia (10%).
Despite investing at these higher levels, the report notes Canadian telecom providers continue to effectively absorb the impacts of inflation for consumers by reducing the service plan prices. For example, from February 2020 to September 2024, the lowest average monthly price for 10GB mobile plans fell by $41—a 65.1% decrease in real terms adjusted for inflation—and the lowest average monthly price of 50GB mobile plans fell by $84—a 72.5% decrease in real terms adjusted for inflation. Over the same period, the lowest average monthly price for the 50/10 Mbps Internet plans fell by $22—a 38.6% decrease in real terms adjusted for inflation—while the price of Gigabit+ plans fell by $40—a 45.2% decrease in real terms adjusted for inflation.
In addition to analyzing the economic impact of the telecommunications sector, the report also shows how telecom infrastructure investments, combined with a skilled workforce, create a multiplier effect—accelerating innovation, boosting operational efficiency, and driving economic growth. It cites as examples the transformative impact of telecommunications on developing integrated and efficient trade corridors that are essential to getting Canadian goods across the country and to international markets, connecting rural communities, and modernizing traditional industries such as mining.
PwC also outlines the challenges telecom providers face in sustaining the investments needed to meet Canada's growing demand for advanced connectivity. Higher costs, declining revenue growth, intense competition, and an increasingly complex regulatory environment have created unprecedented investment pressures on telecom providers. The report looks at lessons that can be learned from Europe and United States and the role that telecom policies and regulations can play in mitigating some of these challenges.
"Canada's ability to increase productivity and build a stronger, more competitive and resilient economy depends on expanding and continuing to enhance its high-quality telecommunications infrastructure," said Sam O'Halloran, partner at PwC. "Policies that help ensure the sector's health and investment capacity is a strategic imperative for maintaining Canada's economic independence."
"The key to generating long-term growth and independence for the Canadian economy is investment in the tools and infrastructure that will make Canadian businesses more innovative, productive, and competitive," said Robert Ghiz, President and CEO of the Canadian Telecommunications Association. "A more productive Canada will raise our GDP, increase jobs and workers' wages, and help support important social programs. Our telecom networks are the foundation of this transformation, and it is crucial for all levels of government to consider the impact of their regulations and policies on the capacity of our sector's ability to make the investments required to meet the economy's needs for advanced telecommunications."
Key statistics included in the report:
In 2024, Canada's telecommunications sector contributed $87.3 billion in direct GDP and supported 661,000 jobs across the economy. This includes:
$30.1 billion in immediate direct GDP generated by the sector itself.
$57.2 billion in direct GDP outside the sector, enabled by productivity gains and business transformation across other industries.
Canadian telecommunications providers continued to invest heavily in critical infrastructure, spending $282 per capita on network development in 2024.
From 2020 to 2024, major Canadian telecoms maintained a capital intensity ratio of 18%, outpacing their counterparts in the U.S. (14%), U.K. (17%), and Australia (10%).
Canadian consumers continue to benefit from declining telecommunications prices:
Prices for cellular services fell by 50.4% between January 2020 to December 2024, the most significant decline of any major Consumer Price Index category.
10GB plan: fell $41 (a 65.1% decrease in real terms adjusted for inflation).
50GB plan: down $84 (a 72.5% decrease in real terms adjusted for inflation).
Prices for Internet access services fell 6.4% during the same period.
50/10 Mbps plan: fell $22 (a 38.6% decrease in real terms adjusted for inflation).
Gigabit+ plan: down $40 (a 45.2% decrease in real terms adjusted for inflation).
Enabling Canada's Economic Independence and Global Competitiveness Through Telecommunications can be accessed at https://canadatelecoms.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Enabling-Canadas-Economic-Independence-and-Global-Competitiveness-Through-Telecommunications.pdf
About the Canadian Telecommunications Association
The Canadian Telecommunications Association is dedicated to building a better future for Canadians through connectivity. Our members include service providers, equipment manufacturers, and other organizations in the telecommunications ecosystem, that invest in, build, maintain and operate Canada's world-class telecommunications networks. Through our advocacy initiatives, research, and events, we work to promote the importance of telecommunications to Canada's economic growth and social development and advocate for policies that foster investment, innovation, and positive outcomes for consumers. We also facilitate industry initiatives, such as the Mobile Giving Foundation Canada, Canadian Common Short Codes, STAC and wirelessaccessibility.ca.

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Cision Canada
42 minutes ago
- Cision Canada
EDC supported more than 27,800 businesses and facilitated more than $123 billion intrade-related activities Français
OTTAWA, ON, June 9, 2025 /CNW/ - Today, Export Development Canada (EDC) released its 2024 Integrated Annual Report, highlighting how the organization helped its customers grow their business beyond Canada to seize the vast trade opportunities that await them in the global marketplace. The report is complemented by additional environmental, social and governance (ESG) disclosures: 2024 Climate-Related Disclosure, and the 2024 Sustainable Bond Impact Report. In 2024, exporters faced a complex and rapidly evolving economic environment. During this period, EDC expanded its presence in key Indo-Pacific markets to support the trade diversification of Canadian exporters. EDC invested in medium-sized Canadian exporters, sharpening its focus on priority sectors, and maintained a strong commitment to sustainable and responsible business practices. "In 2024, global economic softness weighed on Canadian exporters. Slow domestic growth, higher-for-longer interest rates and slowing labour markets strained the economic outlook in many countries," said Alison Nankivell, EDC's President and CEO. "Those challenges, coupled with new market uncertainties towards the end of the year, have energized our customers to transition from continental to global traders as we strive to make it easier for them to secure new international business opportunities. This renewed interest in trade diversification and EDC's solutions have increased since the start of this year given the evolving nature of U.S. trade policies, and we're stepping up to support them." In 2024, EDC supported more than 27,800 customers with financial and knowledge solutions, with the vast majority being small and medium-sized businesses. We facilitated a total of $123.4 billion in exports, foreign investment and trade development activities, including $23.4 billion in business in emerging markets. This support contributed to over 475,800 domestic jobs and helped to generate $87 billion of Canada's GDP. "During an uncertain economic environment, we strategically deployed capital and took on risk to help more Canadian companies reach global markets—and we are continuing to do so in response to the current climate," said Scott Moore, EDC's Executive Vice-President and Chief Financial Officer. "We're motivated by findings that Canadian companies supported by EDC generate 23% more revenues, employ 16% more workers and are 6% more productive, according to our latest study with Statistics Canada." In 2024, EDC's net income increased to $915 million from $450 million in 2023. This was driven by higher net revenue, combined with unrealized gains on financial instruments carried at fair value. Our growing presence in the Indo-Pacific In 2024, EDC added three new representations in the Indo-Pacific, increasing the total number of representations to 11 in the region, including its Singapore branch. EDC opened representations in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, Manila, Philippines, and most recently, Bangkok, Thailand (in 2025) to offer in-market support to attract more Canadian companies to the booming region and help them navigate local market complexities. EDC supported 1,529 customers and facilitated $13 billion in business volumes in the Indo-Pacific region in 2024. It also signed memorandums of understanding with several export credit agencies and market leaders to enable strong market access for Canadian exporters. Our support for Canada's medium-sized exporters and key sectors In 2024, we continued our strategic objective to support the international growth of Canada's medium-sized companies. In 2024, we served 1,175 medium-sized Canadian companies across our financial solutions. EDC is focusing on Canadian sectors that provide net-new growth for Canada, namely agri-food, critical minerals, the energy transition, advanced manufacturing and digital industries. Its goal is to highlight Canada's strengths on the global stage and improve trade competitiveness. For example, in the agri-food sector, EDC served 3,201 customers throughout the year, facilitating $21.7 billion in business. As a leading financier of Canada's cleantech industry, EDC served 500 cleantech customers in 2024, enabling $9.7 billion in business facilitated. Our commitment to responsible business Throughout the year, EDC maintained its commitment to responsible business. In 2024, we issued our sixth green bond valued at US$ 1 billion, helping to further attract capital for climate-focused investment and support for projects that generate positive environmental outcomes. Additionally, we deployed $1.3 billion in financing for 56 renewable energy projects. Through our inclusive trade efforts, we offered targeted support for Canadian companies owned by members of equity-seeking groups, focusing on companies owned by women and Indigenous people. This effort served 3,816 financial and non-financial customers and facilitated $2.5 billion in business and trade activities. For more information, read the 2024 Integrated Annual Report and the suite of supplemental ESG reports. Export Development Canada (EDC) is a financial Crown corporation dedicated to helping Canadian businesses make an impact at home and abroad. EDC has the financial products and knowledge Canadian companies need to confidently enter new markets, reduce financial risk and grow their business as they go from local to global. Together, EDC and Canadian companies are building a more prosperous, stronger and sustainable economy for all Canadians.


Cision Canada
42 minutes ago
- Cision Canada
Canada's new government is rebuilding, rearming, and reinvesting in the Canadian Armed Forces Français
TORONTO, June 9, 2025 /CNW/ - In an increasingly dangerous and divided world, Canada must be prepared – to defend our people and our values, to secure our sovereignty, and to protect our Allies. We must be prepared to lead and to shape a more stable and prosperous world. This entails government recognizing our new realities and investing in the measures required to meet this moment. Today, the Prime Minister, Mark Carney, announced that Canada's new government is rebuilding, rearming, and reinvesting in the Canadian Armed Forces. With this increase, Canada will achieve NATO's 2 per cent target this year – half a decade ahead of schedule – and further accelerate our investments in years to follow, consistent with our security imperatives. The investment for 2025-26 will be over $9 billion. Measures in this plan include: Better pay for Canadian Armed Forces, improved recruitment and retention, and investments to support operational readiness, fleet maintenance, security, and infrastructure requirements. New aircraft, armed vehicles, and ammunition, as well as support for projects currently underway. Developing new drones and sensors to monitor the seafloor and the Arctic. Repairing and maintaining existing ships, aircraft, and other assets. More health care funding and staff for Armed Forces personnel. Expanding the reach, security mandate, and abilities of the Canadian Coast Guard and integrating it into our NATO defence capabilities – to better secure our sovereignty and expand maritime surveillance. Bolstering Canada's defence industrial capacity. Building capacity in artificial intelligence, cyber, quantum, and space. Modern and secure digital infrastructure. The plan will support key capabilities, including: Arctic Over-the-Horizon Radar Joint Counter-Drone Program Joint Support Ships Long-range precision strike capability Increased domestic ammunition production Additional logistics utility vehicles, light utility vehicles, and armoured vehicles This government will also undertake efforts to support veterans, including modernizing the benefits system so veterans get supports sooner, streamlining military trade credentials in the civilian sectors, and improving health services for women veterans. Canada requires these capabilities to uphold and assert its sovereignty and ensure our defence never becomes dependent on others again. As we strengthen the Canadian Armed Forces, we will also build up Canadian industry, driving innovation and creating good careers for Canadian workers and new opportunities for Canadian businesses. Now more than ever, we need to defend our sovereignty and safeguard Canada's people and interests. Quotes "In an increasingly dangerous and divided world, Canada must assert its sovereignty. We will rapidly procure new equipment and technology, build our defence industrial capacity, and meet our NATO defence commitment this year. Canada will seize this opportunity with urgency and determination." — The Rt. Hon. Mark Carney, Prime Minister of Canada "For generations, Canadians have served our country with honour, and today, we renew our promise to stand behind them. We are equipping our Armed Forces with the capabilities and support they need to protect Canadians and uphold our commitments around the world. This historic investment will strengthen our sovereignty and invest in the Canadian economy – growing a world-class defence industry that fuels innovation and job creation." — The Hon. , Minister of National Defence


Cision Canada
2 hours ago
- Cision Canada
CRTC takes action to support local news across Canada Français
GATINEAU, QC, June 9, 2025 /CNW/ - The CRTC is taking another step forward to implement the modernized Broadcasting Act (the Act) by helping independent Canadian television stations access more funding from the Independent Local News Fund (ILNF). The Act requires the CRTC to modernize Canada's broadcasting framework and ensure that online streaming services make meaningful contributions to Canadian and Indigenous content. As part of this work, the CRTC launched a consultation to review how the ILNF can better support local news. The CRTC received a number of comments on the public record, including from broadcasters, community stations, and other groups. Based on the public record, today's decision confirms the eligibility criteria for television stations to access more funding from the ILNF, continues to ensure fair distribution of funding, and supports the distribution of local news by requiring ILNF recipients to make it available online. This decision follows a number of actions the CRTC has taken to implement the modernized Act. To find out more, check out the CRTC's regulatory plan. Quick facts The CRTC is an independent quasi-judicial tribunal that regulates the Canadian communications sector in the public interest. The CRTC holds public consultations on telecommunications and broadcasting matters and makes decisions based on the public record. The CRTC is fulfilling the mandate given to it by Parliament to modernize Canada's broadcasting framework. To date, the CRTC has launched 15 public consultations to implement the modernized Act. Today's decision also confirms that since Corus Entertainment Inc. is an independent broadcaster, its 15 Global stations are eligible to receive funding from the ILNF. Associated links Stay Connected Follow us on X @CRTCeng Like us on Facebook