| When Alexander Graham Bell invented the telephone | | | | accessible to everybody. |
| in 1876, who would have ever thought that the way | | | | Broadband service is particularly important, so that |
| people communicate would reach the heights that it | | | | anybody can gain access to the Internet right in the |
| has today? | | | | comfort of their own homes. |
| Far from a typical landline call, there is now video | | | | Quick Facts about Canada |
| calling, teleconferencing, e-mail, fax, instant messaging, | | | | Before delving having a glimpse of the telecom |
| text messaging, mobile phone calls, Internet telephone | | | | industry in Canada, here are a few quick facts about |
| calls - and all the other forms of communication which | | | | the country: |
| made the world a virtually smaller place. | | | | - Next to Russia, Canada is the world's second largest |
| This is because sending messages from one person | | | | country. |
| to another - no matter how far apart you are located | | | | - Almost 90% of the Canadian population lives within |
| - has become almost instantaneous. | | | | 200 kilometers of the border in the United States. |
| This is also the reason why the major telecom | | | | - According to the 2008 US Census Bureau, Canada |
| providers in each country play a big role in the | | | | as an estimated population of 33.2 million. |
| development of any country in the world. Without | | | | A Brief Overview of the Telecom Industry in Canada |
| good telecom providers, people residing in a particular | | | | First up, let us take a look at Canada's broadband |
| country will have no means to use broadband to | | | | industry. In this country, broadband is defined as an |
| connect to the Internet. | | | | Internet connection which has a speed exceeding 64 |
| Without mobile providers, they will not be able to | | | | Kbps. Despite the fact that the country only had 5.2 |
| accept and make calls using their mobile phones. The | | | | million household with broadband connection in 2004 - |
| same thing holds true for cable, satellite, wireless and | | | | the trend continues to grow year after year. |
| other telecom providers. | | | | Almost every other type of telecom provider in the |
| Telecom Defined | | | | country continues to grow - which definitely bodes |
| So what exactly are telecom providers? Generally, | | | | good news for the general consuming public. |
| telecom providers apply to companies providing data | | | | Another good news is that Canadians are heavy |
| services, phone services or entertainment to | | | | Internet users. As such, they will be able to make |
| consumers and businesses. | | | | cheap calls through Internet calling should there be a |
| Telecom providers include the following: | | | | need for them to make international calls online. |
| 1. Wireless communications provider | | | | Lastly, let us take a look at the wireless |
| 2. Landline phone companies | | | | communications industry. Since its inception, wireless |
| 3. Mobile phone companies | | | | telecom providers in Canada have experienced a |
| 4. Cable television providers | | | | healthy growth in the number of subscribers that they |
| 5. Satellite television providers | | | | have. |
| 6. Internet Service Providers or ISP's | | | | All in all, the telecom industry in Canada is quick on the |
| 7. VoIP or Voice over Internet Protocol companies | | | | uptake when it comes to recent technological |
| No matter which country it is that you are living in, it is | | | | innovations and development - which brings a host of |
| important to have access to these telecommunication | | | | advantages, both for the consumers and the providers. |
| facilities. This would ensure that information is easily | | | | |