The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) has approved requests by Bell Canada, Rogers, Shaw, Cogeco, Videotron and Eastlink to stay the implementation of Telecom Order 2019-288 regarding final rates for aggregated wholesale high speed access (HSA) services until the Commission completes its review of that order.

Earlier this month the Federal Court of Appeal dismissed appeals by Bell, Rogers, Telus and other large telco and cableco firms against the wholesale fixed internet access rates proposed by the CRTC in August 2019. However, rate changes are yet to be implemented as the CRTC remains in the process of reviewing its own decision. TeleGeography's GlobalComms Database notes that Telecom Order 2019-288 set lower wholesale HSA rates for Bell, Cogeco, Eastlink, Rogers, SaskTel, Shaw, Telus and Videotron – with transport/capacity rates 15% to 43% lower than the existing 'interim' charges (set by the CRTC in October 2016) and access rates 3% to 77% lower than the interim fees – and determined that these rates should apply retroactively to 31 March 2016.

Thanks to TeleGeography for this industry update.