Canada: Traffic Management Regulation Applies to Mobile Data

     

The Canadian regulator, CRTC, decided last week that its "ITMP (see below) policy framework set out in Telecom Regulatory Policy 2009-657 applies to the use of mobile wireless data services to provide Internet access".

See "Telecom Decision CRTC 2010-445 - Modifications to forbearance framework for mobile wireless data services" - here.

The distinction between wireless and wireless services exist in other countries, as the way these operators got their licenses and the competition level is different. While you may have only one broadband service available (usually an incumbent carrier which used to be a country owned PTT) a number of wireless services are there to chose from (which paid for the licenses). Supporters of Net Neutrality naturally like it to be implemented by all ISPs and carriers.

CRTC's ITMP (Internet traffic management practices), adapted on October 21, 2009. The, it was not applicable to wireless services, and determined that ISPs traffic management:

• Should be transparent, address a specific need and "not unjustly discriminatory nor unduly preferential"
   
• Cannot block internet traffic
   
• Allowed to delay non-time-sensitive applications ("P2P file sharing applications") [which may be considered as not "Net Neutrality" correct)
   
• Not allowed to delay real-time-sensitive applications ("real-time audio or video")

Related post: "DPI Deployments - Part7: Canadian ISPs" - here. See also "Canada Approves Consumption-Based Billing" - here.