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CRTC Communications Monitoring Report

2012

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6.0 International perspective

This pie chart shows Canada's total telecommunications revenues as a percentage of total Global telecommunications revenues in 2011. Canada: less than 3%; Global telecommunications revenues: $1,508 billion.

6.1 How Canada compares internationally

 

This section provides a statistical comparative perspective of Canada in the context of the international communications landscape, including a global view of pricing, revenues, and other metrics within the communications industry sectors of wireline, wireless, broadband, radio, and television services.

In 2011, revenues from Canadian telecommunications services represented less than 3% of global telecommunications revenues. Canada’s portion of North American telecommunications revenues was approximately 10%.

Service pricing – Individual services and bundled rates

Service providers in the telecommunications and broadcasting industries continued to offer traditional core business services and to package communications services into various bundles. These bundles combine some or all of the following: fixed-line voice telephony services, mobile wireless services, broadband Internet access via both fixed and mobile technologies, and television and video services. Price comparisons between Canada and five selected foreign jurisdictions are contained in Table 6.1.1.

Statistical information – International comparisons

Pricing – Communications services

Table 6.1.1 International pricing (average price ($)1 per month)
  Canada United States United Kingdom France Australia Japan
Wireline service      
Level 1 (low-volume use) 33 47 28 32 47 30
Level 2 (average use) 52 75 40 53 76 60
Level 3 (high-volume use) 61 79 56 65 90 93
Wireless service
Level 1 (basic user) 34 34 17 24 22 26
Level 2 (average user) 51 73 38 61 35 49
Level 3 (premium user) 98 142 69 85 52 119
Broadband (fixed technology)
Level 1 (≤3 Mbps, 5 GB/month2) 39 57 n/a n/a n/a 50
  • average advertised download speed
 1.9 Mbps 2.6 Mbps 1.2 Mbps
  • average advertised upload speed
 0.5 Mbps 0.8 Mbps 0.7 Mbps
Level 2 (4-15 Mbps, 20 GB/month2) 54 79 31 47 60 56
  • average advertised download speed
 10 Mbps 14 Mbps 9 Mbps 12 Mbps 8 Mbps 10 Mbps
  • average advertised upload speed
2.0 Mbps 3.0 Mbps 0.7 Mbps 0.9 Mbps 0.5 Mbps 1.3 Mbps
Level 3 (16-40 Mbps, 50 GB/month2) 68 97 40 46 62 59
  • average advertised download speed
 28 Mbps 30 Mbps 30 Mbps 23 Mbps 25 Mbps 34 Mbps
  • average advertised upload speed
6.0 Mbps 9.4 Mbps 6.0 Mbps 0.8 Mbps 1.0 Mbps 1.3 Mbps
Level 4 (40+ Mbps, 75 GB/month2) 94 161 59 62 82 63
  • average advertised download speed
 66 Mbps 50 Mbps 100 Mbps 100 Mbps 100 Mbps 115 Mbps
  • average advertised upload speed
8.6 Mbps 11.3 Mbps 12.5 Mbps 7.5 Mbps 2.0 Mbps 29.5 Mbps
Mobile Internet (≥ 3G technology)
Level 1 (2 GB/month data usage3) 53 52 27 39 31 55
Level 2 (5 GB/month data usage3) 65 70 39 100 45
 57
  • average advertised download speed
 64 Mbps 11 Mbps 7 Mbps 29 Mbps 21 Mbps 37 Mbps
Bundled services
Wireline-Wireless-Broadband 140 187 95 122 152 158
Wireline-Broadband-Digital TV 128 177 86 68 149 145
Wireline-Wireless-Broadband-DTV 175 241 129 126 186 202
  1. Canadian dollars shown have been converted from local currencies and adjusted for purchasing power parity differences across the countries.
  2. Regarding data caps, all of the American and Japanese broadband Internet service providers surveyed offer unlimited data usage plans. In each of the UK and France, one of the providers surveyed applies data caps. Australian plans are marketed more based on data usage than service speed; consequently, all the plans surveyed there include data caps. For Canada, about half of the surveyed offerings include data caps; note that most of the Canadian providers’ caps at each service level are set much higher than the average data usage assumed for each of Levels 1, 2, 3, and 4.
  3. Most of the mobile Internet access plans from all six countries surveyed had applicable monthly data usage caps; Japan was the only country with some unlimited mobile data offerings among the sampled plans.

Source: Price comparison study conducted during the first quarter of 2012 by Wall Communications Inc.; see Appendix 4 for a summary of the assumptions and methodology used.

Revenues – Communications services

Figure 6.1.1 Telecommunications revenues, by market sector, 2011

These two pie charts show, for Canada and globally, the split of telecommunications revenues by market sectors. Canada: Fixed 27%, Mobile 48%, Internet and data 25%; Global: Fixed 21%, Mobile 58%, Internet and data 21%.

Source: IDATE

Figure 6.1.2 Global telecommunications retail revenues, by region, 2011

This stacked column chart depicts, by global region and major countries/areas within each region, the amount of telecommunications revenues (in $billions) for 2011: North America 364 (United States, Canada); Europe 411 (Germany, France, United Kingdom, Italy, rest of Europe); Asia/Pacific 455 (Japan, China, rest of Asia/Pacific); Other regions 278 (Latin America, Africa/Middle East).

  • Canadian dollars shown have been converted based on IMF 2010 year average exchange rates.

Source: IDATE

Figure 6.1.3 Global telecommunications retail revenues, by market sector, 2007–2011

This clustered column chart depicts revenues (in $billions), by market sector, for each of the years 2007 to 2011: Fixed 412, 396, 368, 344, 324; Mobile 704, 750, 781, 822, 873; Internet and data 245, 265, 280, 295, 311.

  • Canadian dollars shown have been converted based on IMF 2010 year average exchange rates.

Source: IDATE

Figure 6.1.4 Average monthly telecommunications retail revenues, 2011

This clustered column chart depicts, by country: average monthly mobile revenue per mobile subscriber, average monthly Internet and data revenue per Internet subscriber, and average monthly telecommunications revenue per capita for each of Canada: 55, 69, 92; United States: 45, 64, 87; United Kingdom: 26, 39, 69; France: 33, 66, 71; Germany: 23, 48, 68; Italy: 18, 44, 53; Japan: 53, 81, 95.

  • Canadian dollars shown have been converted based on IMF 2010 year average exchange rates.

Source: IDATE

Telecommunications - Service penetration

Figure 6.1.5 International penetration, 2011

This clustered bar chart depicts percentage penetration of Fixed broadband subscriptions (per 100 households): Canada 80, United States 70, United Kingdom 75, France 80, Germany 68, Italy 58, Japan 68, Australia 59; Mobile broadband subscriptions (per 100 inhabitants): Canada 32, United States 65, United Kingdom 44, France 38, Germany 29, Italy 42, Japan 82, Australia 64; Mobile subscriptions (per 100 inhabitants): Canada 78, United States 106, United Kingdom 123, France 98, Germany 140, Italy 151, Japan 101, Australia 130.

Sources: Bank of America Merrill Lynch, CRTC data collection, IDATE, ITU, OECD

Broadband service

Figure 6.1.6 Share of fixed broadband subscriptions, by technology, 2011

This 100% stacked column chart depicts, by country, the percentage of fixed broadband subscriptions for each technology platform: DSL, Cable modem, Fibre/LAN, Other. Canada 43%, 56%, 1%, 0%; United States 37%, 55%, 7%, 1%; United Kingdom 78%, 20%, 2%, 0%; France 93%, 6%, 1%, 0%; Germany 87%, 12%, 1%, 1%; Italy 98%, 0%, 2%, 0%; Japan 22%, 17%, 61%, 0%; Australia 83%, 16%, 1%, 0%.

Source: OECD

Table 6.1.2 Average advertised Internet speeds (Mbps) across OECD countries, by access technology
  2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 CAGR
2007–2011
DSL 
Download 9.3 11.5 14.4 14.2 14.8 12%
Upload     3.9 2.5 1.9 -30%
Cable modem 
Download 10.8 15.0 25.5 29.7 42.3 41%
Upload     2.3 2.7 2.7 17%
FTTH 
Download 77.0 66.0 76.8 93.1 102.1 7%
Upload     51.7 60.0 42.2 -10%

Source: OECD

Figure 6.1.7 Average measured fixed broadband speeds, 2010 and 2011

This clustered column chart depicts, by country, the average measured fixed broadband speeds (in Mbps) in Q3 2010 and Q3 2011, and the % change in speed. Canada 5.0, 5.9, 18%; United States 5.0, 6.1, 22%; United Kingdom 4.0, 5.1, 28%; France 3.3, 3.8, 15%; Germany 4.2, 5.3, 26%; Italy 3.3, 4.0, 21%; Japan 8.5, 8.9, 5%; and Australia 2.9, 3.6, 24%.

Source: Akamai

Figure 6.1.8 Average measured mobile broadband speeds, 2010 and 2011

This clustered column chart depicts, by country, the average measured mobile broadband speeds (in Mbps) in Q3 2010 and Q3 2011, and the % change in speed. Canada 3.2, 1.2, -64%; United States 1.1, 1.6 51%; United Kingdom 3.1, 4.0, 27%; France 2.0, 2.4, 18%; Germany 2.9, 5.0, 75%; Italy 2.9, 3.4, 18%; and Australia 1.5, 1.6, 1%.

Source: Akamai

Table 6.1.3 Global shipments of mobile phones
  2011 Annual growth, 2010-2011 Annual growth, 2009-2010
Mobile handset shipments (including smartphones) 1,546 million 11.1% 18.5%
Smartphone shipments 491 million 61.3% 74.4%
Smartphones as proportion of total annual mobile phone sales 32% Smartphone proportion of total mobile phones, 2010: 22%

Source: IDC, February 2012

Wireless mobile service

Table 6.1.4 Wireless industry metrics, 2011
  Number of mobile subscribers (millions) Number of major providers Market share (in subscribers) of top two providers Revenues1 from wireless services (voice & data)
($ billions) 		ARPU
growth
(2010–2011)
Canada 27.4 3 64% 17.70 -0.3%
United States 332.7 4 64% 171.57 0.4%
United Kingdom 76.9 5 54% 28.11 -0.2%
France 64.3 3 76% 30.69 -6.9%
Germany 114.1 4 64% 26.99 -2.7%
Italy 92.4 4 67% 26.90 -7.2%
Japan 126.1 3 75% 81.71 -5.8%
Australia 29.6 3 76% 16.71 -4.6%

1. Canadian dollars shown have been converted from local currencies based on Bank of Canada 2011 year average exchange rates.

Sources: CRTC data collection, Bank of America Merrill Lynch

Figure 6.1.9 Wireless ARPU – monthly revenues, including data share, 2011

This stacked column chart depicts the monthly mobile revenues per subscription and the percent of revenues related to data services for each of Canada $58, 33%; United States $50, 37%; United Kingdom $31, 37%: France $40, 28%; Germany $20, 38%; Italy $24, 30%; Japan $58, 55%; Australia $48, 43%.

 

  • Canadian dollars shown have been converted from local currencies based on Bank of Canada 2011 year average exchange rates.

Source: Bank of America Merrill Lynch

Figure 6.1.10 Proportion of post-paid versus prepaid mobile subscriptions,
2007 and 2011

This stacked and clustered column chart depicts, by country, prepaid and post-paid % of total subscriptions for the years 2007 and 2011. Canada 2007: 23, 78; 2011: 19, 81; United States 2007: 16, 84; 2011: 28, 72; United Kingdom 2007: 65, 35; 2011: 54, 46; France 2007: 37, 63; 2011: 31, 69; Germany 2007: 55, 45; 2011: 57, 43; Italy 2007: 90, 11; 2011: 86, 14; Japan 2007: 2, 98; 2011: 0, 100; Australia 2007: 48, 52; 2011: 42, 58.

Source: Bank of America Merrill Lynch

Broadcasting – Radio industry

Table 6.1.5 Radio industry metrics, 2010
  Total radio industry revenues1
($ billions2) 		Radio revenue per capita
($ annually) 		Year-over-year change in radio revenues (%) Change in radio revenues,
2006-2010 (%)
Canada 1.75 53 6.0 24.0
United States 18.94 62 8.3 -15.0
United Kingdom 1.75 29 2.8 0.2
France 2.07 32 -3.0 -2.0
Germany 4.62 57 0.1 4.0
Italy 0.64 11 8.0 10.0
Japan 4.30 33 -1.1 -8.0
Australia 0.96 43 6.3 8.0
  1. Revenues are comprised of advertising, public funding, and subscription revenues.
  2. Canadian dollars shown have been converted based on Bank of Canada 2010 year average currency exchange rates.

Source: Ofcom International Communications Market Report 2011

Broadcasting – Television industry

Table 6.1.6 Television industry metrics, 2010
  Total television industry revenues1
($ billions2) 		Year-over-year change in TV revenues (%) ARPU3 of pay/subscription television
($ annually) 		Viewing minutes
 per day per person
(pay or free-to-air)
Canada 6.37 0.9 196 230
United States 149.63 6.3 906 283
United Kingdom 17.99 8.5 583 242
France 16.55 8.8 568 212
Germany 17.51 2.0 242 223
Italy 12.89 6.6 724 246
Japan 45.52 6.2 581 238
Australia 7.48 9.9 1,106 188
  1. Revenues are comprised of advertising, public funding, and subscription revenues.
  2. Canadian dollars shown have been converted based on Bank of Canada 2010 year average currency exchange rates.
  3. ARPU represents average revenue generated per pay television subscriber (terrestrial, cable, satellite, or IPTV).

Source: Ofcom International Communications Market Report 2011

Figure 6.1.11 Pay TV penetration and growth, 2008–2010

This clustered column chart depicts, by country, percentage of pay TV households as proportion of total TV households for 2010, and CAGR for 2008 to 2010. Canada: 91, CAGR: 2%; United States 88, CAGR: 1%; United Kingdom 52, CAGR: 1%; France 57, CAGR: 2%; Germany 63, CAGR: -2%; Italy 26, CAGR: 0%; Japan 60, CAGR: 4%; Australia 31, CAGR: 3%.
Source: Ofcom International Communications Market Report 2011

Figure 6.1.12 Digital TV penetration and growth, 2007–2011

This clustered column chart depicts, by country, the digital share of TV households (%) in 2011, and the CAGR 2007-11: Canada 83, CAGR: 14%; United States 91, CAGR: 8%; United Kingdom 95, CAGR: 3%; France 97, CAGR: 19%; Germany 65, CAGR: 16%; Italy 90, CAGR: 18%; Japan 54, CAGR: 10%; Australia 83, CAGR: 11%.

Source: Informa Telecoms & Media

Figure 6.1.13 Global IPTV subscribers, by region, 2011

This stacked column chart depicts, by global region and major countries/areas within each region, the number of IPTV subscribers (in millions) for 2011: North America 9.0 (United States, Canada); Western Europe 11.8 (France, Germany, Spain, Netherlands, Belgium, Portugal, Switzerland, United Kingdom, rest of region); Eastern Europe 2.8 (Russia, rest of region); Asia-Pacific 9.2 (South Korea, Japan, China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Singapore, Vietnam, rest of region); and Other regions <1 (Latin America, Middle East & Africa).

Source: Informa Telecoms & Media

Figure 6.1.14 Distribution of TV households, by platform, 2011

This 100% stacked column chart depicts, by country, for 2011, the number of subscriptions (in thousands) for each of these TV technology platforms: digital cable, analog cable, digital terrestrial, analog terrestrial, pay satellite, freesat, and IPTV. Canada: 5,902, 2,295, 2,542, 238, 2,897, 0, 642; United States: 48,042, 10,905, 15,577, 0, 34,190, 0, 8,365; United Kingdom: 3,770, 0, 10,795, 1,321, 9,567, 1,271, 596; France: 2,690, 673, 15,101, 0, 3,919, 478, 3,671; Germany: 6,047, 12,702, 6,526, 0, 1,392, 10,645, 1,638; Italy: 0, 0, 15,217, 2,491, 5,053, 1,398, 584; Japan: 5,382, 21,526, 6,729, 0, 5,922, 4,912, 2,345; Australia: 779, 0, 4,525, 38, 1,695, 70, 10.

Source: Informa Telecoms & Media

Date Modified: 2012-09-04

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