But analysts from RBC Capital Markets and Canaccord Genuity say the three big national wireless carriers will likely be able to manage the new CRTC rules. "We view this decision as 'constructive-enough' and manageable for national operators while at the same time 'extending a helping hand' to existing regional wireless operators," RBC analyst Drew McReynolds wrote in an report for clients. 'Vast nothingburger'Former telecom regulator Timothy Denton took it one step further, calling the new policy a "vast nothingburger" for consumers. Horan said that customers of small regional companies such as Videotron and Cogeco are indeed poised to benefit from the new regime, but ultimately they are a small slice of the market, and unlikely to grow dramatically. Most observers, including the CRTC, say the future for Shaw Communications and its Freedom Mobile subsidiary in Ontario, Alberta and B.C.

Source: CBC News April 16, 2021 16:00 UTC