The Information Technology Landscape in Canada

About Canada

Telecommunication
Infrastructure

Privatization and Deregulation

e-Commerce

IT Usage

Canada’s government is helping the Telecommunications Industry reach national and international recognition by laying groundwork to help the nation’s communication equipment suppliers. By giving tax credits to the private sector to stimulate research and development, Canadian telecom equipment, computers, peripherals, and software companies have promising futures. Canada was the first for the deployment of many telecommunication advancements such as the first public packet switching network, a pioneer of fiber-optic use and of intercontinental ATM transmission. In 1995, Canada’s communications sector made a profit of almost $23 billion of which over $20 billion was revenue from the telephone industry. The Canadian Telecommunications Industry supported about 150 companies, most of whom were re-sellers, that captured about 10% of the estimated $6 billion long-distance market from incumbent operators.  Canada's city nodes are Vancouver, Ottawa, Montreal, and Toronto.

Canadian Technology innovators

• Nortel – www.nortel.com Northern Telecom which is the best known of Canada’s telecom companies and the world sixth largest equipment supplier and developer of communications products, systems, and networks.
• MPR Teltech – Located in British Columbia. MPR Teltech is an innovator of communications and business systems concentrating in ATM, multimedia applications, and wireless communications, including digital and cellular digital packet data and wireless local loop communications.
• Newbridge Networks – www.newbridge.com Based in Ontario, Newbridge Networks is a leader in the global telecommunication industry, most specifically, ATM wide-area network with almost one-half the market share, and T1/E1 multiplexing markets with nearly one-third of the market share.
• West End Networks – Located in Ontario and a member of the Newbridge Networks Group, West End Networks provides access over hybrid fiber/coax (HFC), frame relay, X.25, and ISDN network media and is expanding into VSDL and ATM.
• TimeStep – Located in Ontario and also an affiliate of the Newbridge Networks Group, TimeStep is experienced in security and cryptology over TCP/IP networks for LANs, Internet communications, and branch/remote offices.
• Other Canadian Telecommunication leaders include Cross Keys, Consultronics, Mitel, VIVE Synergies, Hewlett-Packard Canada, The Canadian Networks Operation, and GN Nettest.

Canadian Technology innovators reaching internationally include:

• Argus Technologies – Based in British Columbia, Argus is an established leader of telecommunications dc power in North America and is expanding into developing countries in Asia and Eastern Europe.
• TSB International

Canadian Technology innovators reaching rural communities include:

• SR Telcom – Located in Quebec, SR Telecom is the leader in TDMA point-to-multipoint microwave radio-based wireless local loops.
• SatCorp Communications

These companies offer excellent service provided by modern technology. Domestically, Canada has a strong domestic satellite system with about 300 earth stations. Internationally, Canada has 5 coaxial submarine cables; satellite earth stations—5 Intelsat (4 Atlantic Ocean and 1 Pacific Ocean) and 2 Intersputnik (Atlantic Ocean region).

Canada and its government support a powerful telecommunication presence in the world. With the support of their government, Canada has funded growth into the most leading edge innovations in the telecommunication market in areas such as switching systems, fiber optic cabling and satellite networking, wireless, voice recognition and video over telephony, electronic commerce and encryption, and in broadband and new media products and services. Canada is a world leader in this industry with the invention, connectivity, and resourcefulness of a powerhouse. They rank high in most telecommunication segments such as telecom spending, top telecom operators, fixed-line telecom operators, and equipment vendors along side the United States and share cross country backbone with the United States. Canada stands strong in the telecommunication industry by providing fast, reasonably priced products to their Canadian consumers and Canadian businesses in order for them to be internationally competitive. The following data shows numbers that reinforce Canada’s goal – to be a world telecommunication leader. The numbers are compared against another world leader in Telecommunications – the United States.

Telecom Spending in Canada vs. United States (# Ranking Worldwide)

Telephone Tariffs, 1994

Mobile Cellular, Subscribers per 100 people

Ranked by Total Outgoing & Incoming International Minutes, 1998

Ranked by Number of 1998 Domestic Main Telephone Lines

Source: International Telecommunication Union