CRTC Mandates New Signal Strength Reporting to Expose Coverage Gaps
AI-generated image · Bay Street Wire
The regulator aims to move beyond basic broadband maps by requiring providers to disclose outdoor signal power levels to improve network accuracy.
The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) is implementing a new reporting framework designed to provide consumers with a more granular understanding of mobile network quality and identify existing service gaps, as CityNews Toronto first reported.
According to CityNews Toronto, the CRTC announced a decision on Friday to require telecommunications service providers to report specific data regarding their mobile network coverage. A key component of this new standard is the requirement for providers to disclose outdoor signal strength measured at various electrical power levels.
While the CRTC currently gathers coverage data to supply Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada for the national broadband map, the regulator states that this new approach is intended to increase accuracy. The goal is to provide Canadians with more detailed information about specific areas, which the CRTC suggests will allow consumers to better compare service providers and report instances where official coverage maps do not align with their actual user experience.
CRTC Chairperson and CEO Vicky Eatrides stated that enhancing the reporting process and creating a mechanism for Canadians to flag coverage gaps is intended to drive investment toward the areas where it is most needed, as reported by CityNews Toronto.