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Canada’s telecommunications regulator has formally recognized broadband as a basic service and set minimum speed targets that are more ambitious than those in many other countries.
The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) has declared that a baseline broadband offering should provide at least 50 Mbps download and 10 Mbps upload speeds, and that this level of service should be accessible to every Canadian, including those living in rural and remote communities.
For context, the minimum speed standard set by regulators in the United States is 25 Mbps, and other jurisdictions generally fall below Canada’s new threshold. CRTC chair Jean-Pierre Blais said the commission deliberately chose a higher target to avoid being “in the middle of the pack,” noting that the U.S. and Australia have set 25 Mbps targets, Europe typically aims for around 30 Mbps, and Germany has set a 50 Mbps goal.
Because urban areas in Canada already exceed these minimum speeds, the new rules are aimed primarily at closing the gap in rural regions. The CRTC also emphasized that unlimited data plans should be available broadly, addressing a common trend where rural customers are limited to capped data allowances.
Access to reliable broadband is increasingly viewed as essential in a digitally connected society. The CRTC stated that broadband internet access services are integral to Canadians’ quality of life and enable participation as citizens, creators, and consumers.
To help rural providers reach these targets, the government has launched a $750 million fund specifically for areas that do not yet meet the minimum speeds. This support will complement an existing $500 million federal fund intended to strengthen the backbone infrastructure that serves smaller communities.
“These goals are ambitious, they will not be easy to achieve and they will cost money. But we have no choice,” Commission Chair Jean-Pierre Blais said at a news conference. He added that the future of Canada’s economy, prosperity and society depends on setting ambitious targets and connecting all Canadians for the 21st century.
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