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CANADIAN MOBILE WIRELESS
COMMUNICATIONS SERVICES
MARKET REPORT



 


2003 EDITION







NBI/Michael Sone Associates Inc.

193 Church Street

Toronto, Ontario

M5B 1Y7



October 2003




Phone: (416) 360-0424

Fax: (416) 360-7546

e-mail: msone@nbicanada.com

 

 


 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

Section  Page
About this Report vi
A note on Accuracy vii
1.0 Executive Summary 1
    1.1 Service Delivery 1
    1.2 Challenges 2
    1.3 Metrics 3
2.0 Voice-Data Convergence – Finally! 8
3.0 Voice Overview 12
4.0 Some Key Issues and Points of Interest 17
5.0 Service Providers 20
    5.1 The Bell Wireless Alliance 20
        5.1.1 Bell Mobility 20
        5.1.2 Aliant Mobility 28
        5.1.3 MTS Mobility 35
        5.1.4 SaskTel Mobility 41
    5.2 Microcell 45
    5.3 Rogers AT&T Wireless 54
    5.4 TELUS Mobility 69
6.0 Distribution 80
7.0 Resale and Resellers 85
    7.1 Microcell Connexions 86
8.0 Data and Messaging Overview 89
    8.1 First Generation 96
        8.1.1 Paging 96
        8.1.2 Data over Cellular 98
        8.1.3 Packet Radio Networks 99
    8.2 Second Generation 101
        8.2.1 Two-Way Paging 101
            8.2.1.1 Bell Mobility 101
            8.2.1.2 PageNet of Canada 102
    8.3 Mobile Browsers and Direct Access 106
        8.3.1 Bell Mobility 106
        8.3.2 Aliant Mobility 108
        8.3.3 MTS Mobility 109
        8.3.4 TELUS Mobility 111
        8.3.5 Microcell 112
        8.3.6 Rogers Wireless 114
    8.4 SMS 117
        8.4.1 Bell Mobility 118
        8.4.2 Aliant and MTS Mobility 119
        8.4.3 Microcell 120
        8.4.4 Rogers Wireless 120
        8.4.5 TELUS Mobility 121
9.0 Towards Third Generation – Are We There Yet? 124
    9.1 Internet over Cellular 127
    9.2 Bluetooth – Once Bitten…? 129
    9.3 WAP Update – RIP? 129
10.0 Additional Products and Services 132
    10.1 Handset Rental 132
    10.2 Telematics 136
11.0 Future Technologies 137
    11.1 Public Wi-Fi 137

 


 

List of Exhibits

Exhibit Page
Exhibit 1: Cellular Subscribers/Net Activations by Service Provider (2001-2006) 142
Exhibit 2: Cellular Subscribers, by Service Provider by Province (2001-2006) 143
Exhibit 3: Cellular Subscriber % Share, by Service Provider by Province (2001-2006) 144
Exhibit 4: Cellular Subscriber % Share, by Service Provider by Region (2001) 145
Exhibit 5: Cellular Activations, by Distribution Channel, 2002 146
Exhibit 6: Cellular Subscriber Penetration of Canadian Population (2001-2006) 146
Exhibit 7: Cellular Subscribers. by Service Type, by Service Provider (2001-2006) 147
Exhibit 8: Cellular Revenue, Minutes of Use & Revenue per Subscriber, by Service Provider (2001-2006) 148
Exhibit 9: Cellular Monthly Churn (%) and Cost of Acquisition, by Service Provider (2001-2003) 149
Exhibit 10: Capital Expenditures, by Service Provider (2001-2006) 149
Exhibit 11: One-way Messaging Subscribers, by Service Provider (2001-2006) 150
Exhibit 12: One-Way Messaging Service Revenue, by Service Provider (2001-2006) 150
Exhibit 13: Two-Way Messaging Subscribers/Net Subscriber Additions, by Service Provider, (2001-2006) 151
Exhibit 14: Data Network & Two-Way Messaging Service Revenue, by Service Provider (2001-2006) 151
Exhibit 15: Text and SMS users, by Service Provider (2001-2006) 152
Exhibit 16: Text and SMS Messages, by Service Provider (2001-2006) 152
Exhibit 17: Text and SMS Revenues, by Service Provider (2001-2006) 152
Exhibit 18: Mobile Internet Browser Users, by Service Provider (2001-2006) 153
Figure
Figure 1: Canadian Cellular/PCS Market - Number of Subscribers (1995-2006) 11

 


 

About This Report

 

At approximately 150 pages, NBI/Michael Sone Associates’ Canadian Mobile Wireless Communications Services Market Report, 2003 Edition continues its tradition as the most comprehensive study published on this industry.

The report examines the cellular, wireless messaging and data markets in Canada, its evolution toward the wireless Internet, the services currently offered and their probable future direction. Of particular importance is the role played by two-way messaging devices and digital cellular handsets in popularizing the increased mobility of Internet access. This phenomenon is examined through a detailed description and discussion of the services and technologies that have made this possible.

The first section comprises an Executive Summary that offers the reader a quick study on the market and all the relevant issues and is followed by a discussion on the convergence of voice and data. Next is an overview and detailed profiles of the wireless service providers. Particular emphasis is placed on recent developments in the marketplace and the effects of different airtime plans, pre-paid packages, value-added services, marketing programmes and distribution channels on revenues, subscriber growth, churn, usage patterns, acquisition costs and capital spending programmes. The next section examines the concept of resale and discusses the current players in this market.

The second half of the report opens with a section that deals with the various types of first generation mobile data applications, networks and devices along with their relevance to today’s market. The limited success of two-way paging introduces second-generation messaging services and describes the services currently available. This is followed by a review of mobile Internet services that are available now and planned for in the near and more distant future, including sections that offer detailed discussions on SMS and mobile browsers. The final part of the report offers the reader NBI/Michael Sone Associates’ view of the future of the wireless mobile Internet, updates on the relevant technologies and is rounded out with a description of some additional services.

Eighteen exhibits illustrate subscriber data by service provider including projections to 2006 for customer and revenue growth, provincial, service type and technology segmentation, penetration rates and distribution.

Please watch for our upcoming Canadian Mobile Wireless Communications Equipment Market Report, 2004 Edition.

 

 


 

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