Canada's Wireless Industry:
A Global Success Story Continues

In just two short decades, wireless products, services and networks have become integral to the lives and businesses of Canadians and essential to the social and economic fabric of Canada. More than 25,000 Canadians work in or for the industry. The industry generated more than $15.9 billion in 2008.

Aggressive competition, inventive marketing and exceptional customer service are some of the reasons for this impressive growth. What's more, when the circumstances call for it, the industry's team spirit comes into play and it adopts a cooperative approach to provide Canadians with the services they demand, such as inter-carrier text messaging, common short codes and interoperable Wi-Fi hotspots.

In the race to expand market opportunities, Canada's wireless companies have also proven themselves to be global competitors. They are swift, smart and willing to work with a myriad of partners along the way.

Today, Canadians have access to extensive digital wireless networks that bring the benefits of networking to the individual anywhere, anytime. Each Canadian wireless service provider offers a range of mobile devices that, in addition to voice calls, provide always-on data connections that allow access to e-mail and instant messaging, corporate networks, and the World Wide Web.

This is the new world of wireless communications - a world that will be shaped by the proven ingenuity, commitment and customer focus of Canada's wireless industry.

The Canadian Market

• Wireless phones are among the fastest growing consumer products in history.
• At the end of September 2009, Canadian wireless phone subscribers numbered 22.5 million.
• Despite the atypical distribution of Canada's relatively small population across our vast land mass - and perhaps because of it - Canada has been and remains a world leader in communications networks and technology. And for an industry that is just two decades old, Canada's wireless phone industry, in particular, has made remarkable progress. Together, Canada's wireless carriers now offer coverage to more than 99 per cent of Canadians.
• 75% of Canadian households have access to a wireless phone.
• Canadians send 100 million text messages per day.
• Each year, Canadians place more than 6 million calls to 9-1-1 or emergency numbers from their mobile phones.
• Wireless revenues in Canada totalled $15.9 billion in 2008.
• Half of all phone connections in Canada are now
  wireless.