Cable Viewer

Currently released so far... 12404 / 251,287

### Browse latest releases

2010/11 2010/12 2011/01 2011/02 2011/03 2011/04 2011/05
2010/11/28 2010/11/29 2010/11/30
2010/12/01 2010/12/02 2010/12/03 2010/12/04 2010/12/05 2010/12/06 2010/12/07 2010/12/08 2010/12/09 2010/12/10 2010/12/11 2010/12/12 2010/12/13 2010/12/14 2010/12/15 2010/12/16 2010/12/17 2010/12/18 2010/12/19 2010/12/20 2010/12/21 2010/12/22 2010/12/23 2010/12/24 2010/12/25 2010/12/26 2010/12/27 2010/12/28 2010/12/29 2010/12/30
2011/01/01 2011/01/02 2011/01/04 2011/01/05 2011/01/07 2011/01/09 2011/01/10 2011/01/11 2011/01/12 2011/01/13 2011/01/14 2011/01/15 2011/01/16 2011/01/17 2011/01/18 2011/01/19 2011/01/20 2011/01/21 2011/01/22 2011/01/23 2011/01/24 2011/01/25 2011/01/26 2011/01/27 2011/01/28 2011/01/29 2011/01/30 2011/01/31
2011/02/01 2011/02/02 2011/02/03 2011/02/04 2011/02/05 2011/02/06 2011/02/07 2011/02/08 2011/02/09 2011/02/10 2011/02/11 2011/02/12 2011/02/13 2011/02/14 2011/02/15 2011/02/16 2011/02/17 2011/02/18 2011/02/19 2011/02/20 2011/02/21 2011/02/22 2011/02/23 2011/02/24 2011/02/25 2011/02/26 2011/02/27 2011/02/28
2011/03/01 2011/03/02 2011/03/03 2011/03/04 2011/03/05 2011/03/06 2011/03/07 2011/03/08 2011/03/09 2011/03/10 2011/03/11 2011/03/13 2011/03/14 2011/03/15 2011/03/16 2011/03/17 2011/03/18 2011/03/19 2011/03/20 2011/03/21 2011/03/22 2011/03/23 2011/03/24 2011/03/25 2011/03/26 2011/03/27 2011/03/28 2011/03/29 2011/03/30 2011/03/31
2011/04/01 2011/04/02 2011/04/03 2011/04/04 2011/04/05 2011/04/06 2011/04/07 2011/04/08 2011/04/09 2011/04/10 2011/04/11 2011/04/12 2011/04/13 2011/04/14 2011/04/15 2011/04/16 2011/04/17 2011/04/18 2011/04/19 2011/04/20 2011/04/21 2011/04/22 2011/04/23 2011/04/24 2011/04/25 2011/04/26 2011/04/27 2011/04/28 2011/04/29 2011/04/30
2011/05/01 2011/05/02 2011/05/03 2011/05/04

### Browse by creation date

66 72 73 75 79 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 96 97 00 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10
1966/12
1972/02 1972/08
1973/04
1975/03
1979/08
1985/03 1985/06
1986/05
1987/06
1988/01
1989/12
1990/01 1990/07 1990/08 1990/10
1991/05
1992/01 1992/06 1992/12
1993/10
1996/11
1997/12
2000/05 2000/06 2000/09 2000/11
2001/02 2001/03 2001/06 2001/07 2001/09 2001/10 2001/11
2002/01 2002/02 2002/03 2002/04 2002/07 2002/08 2002/09 2002/11
2003/01 2003/02 2003/03 2003/04 2003/05 2003/06 2003/07 2003/08 2003/09 2003/10 2003/11 2003/12
2004/01 2004/02 2004/03 2004/04 2004/05 2004/06 2004/07 2004/08 2004/09 2004/10 2004/11 2004/12
2005/01 2005/02 2005/03 2005/04 2005/05 2005/06 2005/07 2005/08 2005/09 2005/10 2005/11 2005/12
2006/01 2006/02 2006/03 2006/04 2006/05 2006/06 2006/07 2006/08 2006/09 2006/10 2006/11 2006/12
2007/01 2007/02 2007/03 2007/04 2007/05 2007/06 2007/07 2007/08 2007/09 2007/10 2007/11 2007/12
2008/01 2008/02 2008/03 2008/04 2008/05 2008/06 2008/07 2008/08 2008/09 2008/10 2008/11 2008/12
2009/01 2009/02 2009/03 2009/04 2009/05 2009/06 2009/07 2009/08 2009/09 2009/10 2009/11 2009/12
2010/01 2010/02

### Browse by origin

A B C D F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W Y Z
Embassy Athens Embassy Asuncion Embassy Astana Embassy Asmara Embassy Ashgabat Embassy Apia Embassy Ankara Embassy Amman Embassy Algiers Embassy Addis Ababa Embassy Accra Embassy Abuja Embassy Abu Dhabi Embassy Abidjan Consulate Auckland Consulate Amsterdam Consulate Adana American Institute Taiwan, Taipei
Embassy Bujumbura Embassy Buenos Aires Embassy Budapest Embassy Bucharest Embassy Brussels Embassy Bridgetown Embassy Bratislava Embassy Brasilia Embassy Bogota Embassy Bishkek Embassy Bern Embassy Berlin Embassy Belmopan Embassy Belgrade Embassy Beirut Embassy Beijing Embassy Banjul Embassy Bangkok Embassy Bandar Seri Begawan Embassy Bamako Embassy Baku Embassy Baghdad Consulate Barcelona
Embassy Copenhagen Embassy Conakry Embassy Colombo Embassy Chisinau Embassy Caracas Embassy Canberra Embassy Cairo Consulate Curacao Consulate Ciudad Juarez Consulate Chennai Consulate Casablanca Consulate Cape Town Consulate Calgary
Embassy Dushanbe Embassy Dublin Embassy Doha Embassy Djibouti Embassy Dili Embassy Dhaka Embassy Dar Es Salaam Embassy Damascus Embassy Dakar Consulate Dubai
Embassy Freetown
Embassy Guatemala Embassy Gaborone Consulate Guayaquil Consulate Guadalajara
Embassy Helsinki Embassy Harare Embassy Hanoi Consulate Ho Chi Minh City Consulate Hermosillo Consulate Hamilton Consulate Hamburg Consulate Halifax
Iran RPO Dubai Embassy Islamabad Consulate Istanbul
Embassy Jakarta Consulate Jerusalem Consulate Jeddah
Embassy Kyiv Embassy Kuwait Embassy Kuala Lumpur Embassy Kinshasa Embassy Kingston Embassy Kigali Embassy Khartoum Embassy Kathmandu Embassy Kampala Embassy Kabul Consulate Kolkata
Embassy Luxembourg Embassy Luanda Embassy London Embassy Ljubljana Embassy Lisbon Embassy Lima Embassy Lilongwe Embassy La Paz Consulate Lahore Consulate Lagos
Mission USOSCE Mission USNATO Mission UNESCO Embassy Muscat Embassy Moscow Embassy Montevideo Embassy Monrovia Embassy Minsk Embassy Mexico Embassy Mbabane Embassy Maputo Embassy Manila Embassy Manama Embassy Managua Embassy Malabo Embassy Madrid Consulate Munich Consulate Mumbai Consulate Montreal Consulate Monterrey Consulate Milan Consulate Melbourne
Embassy Nicosia Embassy New Delhi Embassy Ndjamena Embassy Nassau Embassy Nairobi Consulate Naples Consulate Naha
Embassy Ouagadougou Embassy Ottawa Embassy Oslo
Embassy Pristina Embassy Pretoria Embassy Prague Embassy Port Of Spain Embassy Port Louis Embassy Port Au Prince Embassy Phnom Penh Embassy Paris Embassy Paramaribo Embassy Panama Consulate Peshawar
Embassy Quito Consulate Quebec
REO Basrah Embassy Rome Embassy Riyadh Embassy Riga Embassy Reykjavik Embassy Rangoon Embassy Rabat Consulate Rio De Janeiro Consulate Recife
Secretary of State Embassy Suva Embassy Stockholm Embassy Sofia Embassy Skopje Embassy Singapore Embassy Seoul Embassy Sarajevo Embassy Santo Domingo Embassy Santiago Embassy Sanaa Embassy San Salvador Embassy San Jose Consulate Strasbourg Consulate St Petersburg Consulate Shenyang Consulate Shanghai Consulate Sao Paulo
Embassy Tunis Embassy Tripoli Embassy Tokyo Embassy The Hague Embassy Tel Aviv Embassy Tehran Embassy Tegucigalpa Embassy Tbilisi Embassy Tashkent Embassy Tallinn Consulate Toronto Consulate Tijuana
USUN New York USEU Brussels US Office Almaty US Mission Geneva US Interests Section Havana US Delegation, Secretary UNVIE Embassy Ulaanbaatar
Embassy Vilnius Embassy Vienna Embassy Vatican Embassy Valletta Consulate Vladivostok Consulate Vancouver
Embassy Windhoek Embassy Wellington Embassy Warsaw
Embassy Yerevan Embassy Yaounde
Embassy Zagreb

### Browse by tag

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
ASEC AE AF AM AR AJ AU AORC AG AEMR AMGT APER AGMT AL AFIN AO AMED ADCO AS ABUD ABLD ASUP ASECKFRDCVISKIRFPHUMSMIGEG APECO AID AND AMBASSADOR AN ARM AY AODE AMG ASCH AMCHAMS ARF APCS APEC ASEAN AGAO ANET ADPM ACOA ACABQ AORL AFFAIRS ATRN ACS AFSI AFSN ADANA ASIG AA AX AUC AC AECL AADP AGRICULTURE AMEX ACAO ACBAQ AQ AORG ADM AINF AIT ASEX AGR AROC ATFN AFGHANISTAN AFU AER ALOW AZ AVERY
BA BY BU BR BE BL BO BK BM BILAT BH BEXP BF BTIO BC BBSR BMGT BTIU BG BWC BB BD BX BP BRUSSELS BN BIDEN BT
CW CH CF CD CV CVIS CM CE CA CJAN CLINTON CIA CU CASC CI CO CACM CDB CN CMGT CS CG CBW CIS CR CONDOLEEZZA CPAS CAN CWC CY COUNTER CDG CL CT CIC CIDA CSW CHR CB CODEL COUNTERTERRORISM CTR COM CICTE CFED CJUS CKGR CBSA CEUDA CARSON CONS CITEL CLMT CROS CITT CAC CVR CDC CAPC COPUOS CBC CBE CARICOM COE COUNTRY CLEARANCE CACS CTM CNARC
DA DR DPRK DJ DEA DEPT DTRA DISENGAGEMENT DOD DEFENSE DOMESTIC DHS DAO DCM DO DE DEAX DOE DK DS
ECON EFIN ETRD EUN EFIS EG ETTC EZ EPET EAID EAGR ENRG ECUN EU ELAB ECPS EAIR EINV ELTN EWWT EIND EMIN EI ECIN ENVR ELECTIONS EINVEFIN EN ES ER EC EUC EINT EINVETC ENGR ET EK ENIV ETRDEINVECINPGOVCS ECONOMY EAP EFTA EUR EUMEM EXIM ERD ENERG EUREM ESA ERNG EXTERNAL EPA EINVECONSENVCSJA ECONOMICS ELN EINN EFINECONCS ENNP EEPET ETRDEINVTINTCS ENVI ETRO ESENV ECINECONCS ECONOMIC EAIDS EDU ETRA ETRN EFIM EIAR ETRC EAIG EXBS EURN ECIP EREL ECA ENGY ECONCS ECONEFIN ETC ETRDECONWTOCS EUNCH EINDETRD
FR FJ FI FREEDOM FTAA FARC FAO FINANCE FOR FO FDA FAC FM FTA FISO FMLN FBI FOREIGN FOI FAS FINR
GM GE GG GA GZ GV GH GT GR GY GAERC GOI GAZA GOV GTMO GL GLOBAL GTIP GCC GANGS GERARD GF
HO HURI HA HILLARY HR HU HUMOR HK HUMAN HSTC HEBRON HI HYMPSK
IR IZ IS IAEA INRB IRAJ IQ IN IT IMO INTERPOL ICAO IO IC ITALY ITALIAN IRAQI ICTY ID IPR IWC ILC INTELSAT IL IBRD IMF IA IRC ICRC ILO ITU ITRA IV IDA IAHRC ICJ ISRAELI IRS INMARSAT ISRAEL ISLAMISTS INDO IZPREL ITPHUM ITPGOV ITF IBET IEFIN INR IACI INTERNAL IDP IGAD IEA ICTR IIP INRA INRO IF
JO JA JAMES JM JP JOSEPH JOHNNIE JOHN JUS
KJUS KSCA KNNP KU KCOR KCRM KDEM KTFN KHLS KPAL KWBG KACT KGHG KPAO KTIA KIRF KWMN KS KG KZ KN KMDR KISL KSPR KHIV KPRP KAWK KR KUNR KDRG KCIP KGCC KTIP KSUM KPKO KVIR KAWC KPIN KGIC KRAD KIPR KOLY KCFE KMCA KE KV KICC KNPP KBCT KSEP KFRD KFLU KVPR KOCI KBIO KSTH KMPI KCRS KOMC KTBT KPLS KIRC KREL KFRDKIRFCVISCMGTKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG KFLO KBTS KSTC KTDB KFSC KX KFTFN KNEI KIDE KREC KMRS KICA KPAONZ KCGC KSAF KRGY KCMR KRVC KVRP KSEO KCOM KAID KTEX KNUC KNAR KNUP KNNPMNUC KLIG KFRDCVISCMGTCASCKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG KCRCM KHDP KGIT KNSD KOMS KWMM KPAI KHSA KTLA KO KMFO KRCM KCSY KSAC KTRD KPWR KID KWNM KRIM KPOA KCHG KOM KSCI KFIN KMOC KESS KWAC KMIG KSEC KIFR KDEMAF KPRV KBTR KERG KTER KDDG KPAK KRFD KHUM KDEV KCFC KWWMN KWMNCS KJUST
LE LY LG LU LH LI LO LOG LAB LTTE LA LABOR LT
MARR MOPS MU MTCRE MNUC MY MASS MCAP MOPPS MAR MPOS MO ML MR MASC MX MD MP MA MTRE MIL MCC MZ MK MDC MRCRE MAPS MV MI MEPN MAPP MEETINGS MAS MTS MLS MILI MTCR MG MC MARAD MIK MILITARY MEDIA MEPI MUCN MEPP MT MERCOSUR MW MASSMNUC MQADHAFI
NZ NATO NG NI NO NATIONAL NU NPT NIPP NL NPG NS NA NGO NP NSG NDP NAFTA NR NC NH NE NSF NPA NK NSSP NRR NATOPREL NSC NT NW NORAD NEW NV NSFO NAR NASA NZUS
OTRA OVIP OPRC OPDC OSCE OAS ODIP OIIP OFDP OVP OREP OFFICIALS OSAC OEXC OPCW OIE OIC OFDA OSCI OPIC OBSP OECD ON OCII OHUM OES OCS OMIG OPAD OTR
PGOV PREL PHUM PINR PTER PSOE PINS PARM PK PBTS PEPR PM POLITICAL PARTIES PREF PBIO PROP PA PSI PINT PO PKFK PL PAK PE POLITICS PINL POL PHSA PU PF POV PFOR PHALANAGE PARTY PARMS PRGOV PNAT POLINT PRAM PMAR PG PAO PROG PRELP PPA PCUL PSEPC PSA PREO PAHO PGIV PREFA PALESTINIAN PAIGH POSTS PTBS PGOVLO PORG PGOVE PLN PINF PAS PUNE POLICY PDEM PDOV PCI PGOVSMIGKCRMKWMNPHUMCVISKFRDCA PBT PHUMPGOV PMIL PNG PP PS PHUH PECON POGOV PY PHUMPREL PHUS PRL PGOC PNR PGGV PROV PTERE PGOF PHUMBA PEL
QA
RS RU RW REGION RP RICE ROBERT RSP RUPREL RM RO RCMP RSO RELATIONS REACTION REPORT RIGHTS ROOD RF RFE RIGHTSPOLMIL
SP SA SY SF SYR SENV SCUL SOCI SNAR SO SU SG STEINBERG SHUM SW SMIG SR SZ SIPRS SI SAARC SPCE SARS SN SYRIA SANC SL SCRS SC SENVKGHG SAN SNARCS SHI SWE SNARIZ SIPDIS SEN SNARN SPCVIS SEVN SSA SH SOFA SK ST
TPHY TU TRGY TI TX TS TW TC TFIN TD TSPA TH TT TIP TBIO TSPL TZ TERRORISM TRSY TN THPY TINT TF TL TV TK TO TP TURKEY TNGD TBID TAGS TR
UP US UNSC UK UZ UE UNESCO UV UNGA UN UNMIK UNO UY UAE UNEP UG UNHCR UNHRC USUN UNAUS USTR USNC USOAS UNCHR UNCSD UNDP USEU USPS UNDC UNDESCO UNCHC UNFICYP UNC UNODC UNPUOS UNCND UNICEF UNCHS UNVIE USAID UNIDROIT
VE VZ VN VT VTPREL VM VTIZ VTEG VI VAT VC
WTO WMO WI WTRQ WHO WWARD WA WB WBG WITH WTRO WHA WMD WIPO WS WZ WHTI WFP WEU
XF XA XL XM XR XS XT XK XY XC XG XW XD XV XX XB XE XZ XH XTAG XQ XU XI
YM YI YE YMCS
ZI ZP ZR ZF ZANU ZOELLICK ZU ZO ZB ZL ZK ZEALAND ZN ZA ZJ

### Browse by classification

CONFIDENTIAL CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN SECRET SECRET//NOFORN UNCLASSIFIED UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY

### Community resources

Follow us on Twitter Check our Reddit Twitter this Digg this page Contact us on IRC

courage is contagious

### Viewing cable 09OTTAWA300, Broadband Deployment in Canada

If you are new to these pages, please read an introduction on the structure of a cable as well as how to discuss them with others. See also the FAQs
Understanding cables
Every cable message consists of three parts:

- The top box shows each cables unique reference number, when and by whom it originally was sent, and what its initial classification was.
- The middle box contains the header information that is associated with the cable. It includes information about the receiver(s) as well as a general subject.
- The bottom box presents the body of the cable. The opening can contain a more specific subject, references to other cables (browse by origin to find them) or additional comment. This is followed by the main contents of the cable: a summary, a collection of specific topics and a comment section.

To understand the justification used for the classification of each cable, please use this WikiSource article as reference.
Discussing cables
If you find meaningful or important information in a cable, please link directly to its unique reference number. Linking to a specific paragraph in the body of a cable is also possible by copying the appropriate link (to be found at theparagraph symbol). Please mark messages for social networking services like Twitter with the hash tags #cablegate and a hash containing the reference ID e.g. #09OTTAWA300.

Reference ID | Created | Released | Classification | Origin
--- | --- | --- | --- | ---
09OTTAWA300 | 2009-04-17 13:01 | 2011-04-28 00:12 | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | Embassy Ottawa

`

    VZCZCXRO2748
    PP RUEHGA RUEHHA RUEHMT RUEHQU RUEHVC
    DE RUEHOT #0300/01 1071358
    ZNR UUUUU ZZH
    P 171358Z APR 09
    FM AMEMBASSY OTTAWA
    TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 9341
    RUCPDOC/USDOC WASHDC
    RUCNCAN/ALL CANADIAN POSTS COLLECTIVE

` `

    UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 OTTAWA 000300

    STATE FOR E, EB/DCT, WHA/EX, WHA/CAN

    STATE FOR EEB/CAP/BA (FINTON)

    COMMERCE FOR ITA/OTEC (BENNETT)

    STATE PASS FCC (TANNER)

    SENSITIVE
    SIPDIS

    E.O. 12958: N/A
    TAGS: ECON ECPS CA

    SUBJECT: Broadband Deployment in Canada

    Ref:   SECSTATE 27310

    SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED.  PLEASE PROTECT ACCORDINGLY

    ¶1.  (SBU) Summary:  Canada moved quickly to achieve extensive,
    cross-country broadband deployment early this decade and leads the
    G7 in national connectivity rates. This achievement is particularly
    impressive given the size and geography of Canada and it showcases
    the government's commitment to broadband access.  However, Canada's
    continued expansion and adaptation of broadband technologies is
    hindered by the competitive structure of the Canadian market,
    characterized by a limited number of carriage providers, low
    population density, and barriers to investment.  End summary

    Extent of broadband deployment in Canada
    ----------------------------------------

    ¶2.  (U) According to 2006 Government of Canada data, broadband
    service is available to 93 percent of Canadian households; 75
    percent of Canadians have a home computer; and 60 percent of
    households are broadband subscribers. Approximately 87 percent of
    households in Canada have a choice between telephone- or cable-based
    broadband.

    The evolution of Canada's broadband penetration
    --------------------------------------------- ---

    ¶3.  (U) Canada has a low population density - approximately 2.05
    people per square mile - and most of Canada's 30 million people live
    within 100 miles of the United States border. Most of this
    population is easily reached by telephone or cable infrastructure.
    However, Canada's relatively small population density outside of the
    major cities of Toronto, Montreal, and Vancouver, provides weak
    commercial incentives for telecommunications investment.
    Consequently, the Government of Canada embarked on an aggressive
    strategy to stimulate broadband expansion in the country in the late
    1990s.

    ¶4.  (U) The Canadian strategy combined regulatory and market-based
    initiatives, set out in broad strokes in the 2001 Report of the
    National Broadband Task Force.  Government spending was loaded at
    the front end of the initiative and gradually reduced to a few
    programs to assist incremental expansion in underserved areas.

    ¶5.  (U) Canada also brought the private sector on board through
    regulatory incentives and licensing schemes such as: making certain
    telecommunications licenses conditional on broadband investment; a
    two-percent levy for connectivity improvement paid by satellite TV
    license holders; and the condition that spectrum license holders
    must also provide WiMAx mobile broadband service.

    Incentives for internet deployment in stimulus packages
    --------------------------------------------- ----------

    ¶6.  (U) Since most of the government initiatives took place between
    2001 and 2007 (and 93 percent household coverage was achieved by
    2006), there has been little recent government spending on broadband
    infrastructure.  While Canada's 2009 federal budget included various
    types of science and technology supports, there was no appreciable
    targeting of broadband expansion.  In July of 2008, an interagency
    group of Canadian officials told visiting FCC Commissioner Copps
    that they were pleased with Canada's progress and had no plans for
    additional, significant initiatives to expand broadband
    availability.

    Deployment of broadband to rural and underserved areas
    --------------------------------------------- ---------

    ¶7.  (U) The Canadian regions of Yukon, Nunavut and Northwest
    Territories comprise 41 percent of Canada's land mass, but only 0.4
    percent of its population. The land is rugged and difficult to
    Qpercent of its population. The land is rugged and difficult to
    service with infrastructure of any kind.  As a result, comprehensive
    broadband penetration in Canada's far north and other remote areas
    has not been realized.  Nevertheless, the government predicts that
    the access gap will close as technology improves and fixed wireless
    and satellite services become less expensive.

    Limitations arising from the Canadian market structure
    --------------------------------------------- ---------

    ¶8.  (U) Canada's incumbent telecom and cable broadband
    infrastructure is controlled by a small number of companies.

    OTTAWA 00000300  002 OF 002

    Although access to the 'last mile' of networks and to telephone
    broadband equipment is being slowly de-regulated, Canada's small
    population and large size make it a costly market to service.  As
    well, federal restrictions on foreign ownership of
    telecommunications (and satellite) industries shrink the pool of
    potential new competitors in the marketplace even further.

    ¶9.  (U) While Canada's broadband deployment is impressive for so
    large a country, Canada lags behind its OECD counterparts in service
    and price.  The average broadband connection in Canada is about 7
    mbps, below the OECD average of 9 mbps.  According to the OECD,
    Canada also fares poorly in internet cost versus speed, ranking 27
    out of 30 for average monthly broadband charges.  Canada also
    imposes download caps on subscribers.  Typical limits on Canadian
    internet connections are 60 GB per month, with higher-end plans
    offering around 100 GB.
    ¶10.  (U) Local-loop unbundling is a practice that allows smaller
    ISPs to rent out portions of a large phone company's network and
    then attach their own equipment to provide customers with internet
    access.  While Canada's regulations permit local-loop unbundling,
    its telecommunications firms have tended to erect barriers that
    limit practical access by smaller firms to the main network.
    ¶11.  (U) As wireless technologies play a more important role in
    internet connectivity, Canada's relatively expensive and
    underdeveloped wireless services have also become more of an
    impediment.  For example, Apple's iPhone was introduced in Canada
    one year later than in the US and UK, and there is only one company
    able to provide necessary GSM support service.  Canada's mobile data
    costs are among the highest in the world and the World Economic
    Forum dropped Canada's 'network readiness' status from 5th place in
    2005 to 13th place in 2008.

    Future prospects and US commercial opportunities
    --------------------------------------------- ---

    ¶12.  (SBU) Comment: The government's official strategy is to
    increase reliance on market forces "to the maximum extent feasible"
    in order to promote competition while maintaining advanced services
    for customers.  Canada has promised a gradual transition to
    deregulation of networks and telephone-based broadband equipment
    once equivalent commercial alternatives are sufficiently available.
    However, the hands-on regulatory environment that helped Canada
    rapidly expand its broadband deployment may now impede growth and
    adaptation in the sector.  Given the factors limiting competition,
    it is by no means certain whether affordable consumer access to new
    technology and next-generation networks can be sustained without
    significant government intervention.  The government is currently
    re-assessing its role in telecommunications and is leaning towards
    stronger deregulation, including consideration of permitting foreign
    investment in telecommunications carriers.  End comment.

`