How Regulatory Delays Are Threatening Telecom Investment in Canada
According to Michael Goldberg’s blog, regulatory delays are significantly hampering investment in Canada’s telecommunications sector. This sluggish pace of regulatory decisions, primarily under the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC), is stalling billion-dollar infrastructure projects, delaying innovation, and leaving Canada at risk of falling behind globally.
Regulatory Stalemate: What’s Happening?
The CRTC, tasked with regulating telecoms, has been criticized for its slow and cumbersome decision-making processes. Recent examples illustrate how delays in finalizing frameworks for fiber deployment, spectrum licenses, mobile coverage reporting, and network resilience have impeded progress. For instance, it took five years (October 2020 to October 2025) to finalize fiber pole attachment rates. This drawn-out timeline is emblematic of structural inefficiencies that leave telecom operators hesitant to commit capital investments while awaiting regulatory clarity.
Adding to the frustration was a nine-month delay in issuing public consultations on mobile wireless coverage methodology, which arose three years after a government directive for standardized reporting was issued. The knock-on effect? Investments in rural network builds, 5G densification, and overall infrastructure expansion are postponed due to regulatory ambiguity.
The Market Context: Why Delays Hurt the Industry
Canada’s telecom industry operates in a highly competitive and innovation-driven market, where companies like Bell, Rogers, and TELUS frequently invest billions in expanding 5G, fiber optics, and high-tech infrastructure. According to the Canadian Wireless Telecommunications Association (CWTA), telecom operators collectively spend over CAD 10 billion annually on network expansion. However, regulatory uncertainty acts as a “hidden tax,” discouraging investment and urging capital to flow to more stable jurisdictions like the U.S. or Europe, where regulatory processes are more predictable.
This delay is particularly damaging when considering global competition. In 2025, Canada slipped to the 14th position in global network readiness rankings, down from 11th just two years earlier, pointing to the country’s growing inability to foster an attractive investment environment. Meanwhile, other countries with streamlined regulatory processes — like South Korea or Finland — are moving ahead in next-gen connectivity like 6G, ensuring their place in the future of digital infrastructure.
The Path Forward: Industry Experts Weigh In
Experts agree that clear, timely, and predictable regulation is critical for Canada to keep pace. Regulatory delays create a ripple effect: rural areas face connectivity gaps, the evolution of AI and advanced manufacturing slows, and start-ups that rely on high-speed infrastructure suffer setbacks. Michael Goldberg highlights: “Regulatory clarity is not just about reducing bureaucratic hurdles. It’s about aligning with the pace of technological advancement to reap economic and productivity gains.”
One potential solution involves emulating the success of other nations. For instance, the U.K. implemented a targeted timeline of six months for approving major telecom projects. Regulatory bodies in Germany have started pre-validating framework proposals in coordination with stakeholders, cutting approval times by 40% in key network rollouts.
Meanwhile, Canadian regulators need to incorporate data-driven methodologies and adopt technology to streamline decision-making processes. The deployment of AI analytics in regulatory applications, for instance, could cut down the average approval time by 30%-50%, ensuring investments can flow without unnecessary bottlenecks.
Closing Thoughts: Can Canada Meet the Industry’s Speed?
The ability to attract and retain capital is vital as the world enters an era of 6G experimentation, AI-enabled connectivity, and beyond. Canada’s telecom sector is ready to invest billions. Still, regulators need to overhaul their processes urgently to provide the speed and clarity needed to capitalize on these opportunities.
What do you think are the key steps Canada should take to fix its regulatory delays? Share your thoughts below!
Original source: Michael Goldberg
