MONTREAL – Analysts are divided on whether your cellphone bill could rise now that U-S giant Verizon no longer plans on entering Canada’s wireless market.
Telecom analyst Iain Grant says the prospect of Verizon’s entry had produced more options for consumers as the big three wireless carriers offered new data sharing plans.
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Grant says he believes without the threat of Verizon, prices will likely creep up.
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But analyst Troy Crandall says he doesn’t expect Canada’s big carriers to bring in price hikes soon.
He says Bell, Telus and Rogers are competitive and recognize consumers have limits to their monthly telecom budgets.
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Wind Mobile chairman Anthony Lacavera says he still wants Wind to become Canada’s fourth national carrier.
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Lacavera says the markets where his company operates have seen prices drop by 18 per cent.
He says Verizon never was needed to build a competitive telecommunications market in Canada.
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