When wireless data access becomes truly ubiquitous, will we have any further use/desire for the landline network connectivity?

Let's say "No." Next question. Whoa! Wait a minute. That's no small thing. Personal private and corporate data networks with complete mobility. That could change the fabric of our society. Perhaps we all should pay more attention. Next question.

Will Canadian customers get the best deal?

Frustatingly, the answer will most likely remain "No."

Hard to believe when data rates are (truly) dropping, bandwidth is expanding, plans are becoming more affordable and Mobile Broadband is becoming recognized around more corporate networks. And the really big market of consumer-accessible, unlimited, affordable, data capacity is not so Roddenberry-esque. Because the iPhone is coming to Canada (some day soon) and every competitor will drop their proverbials to keep up with competitive deliverables. Which is why land-based connectivity should end up in Dodoland, which is all good for the customer......

......as long as the CRTC (Canadian Radio and Television Communications) doesn't chisel Canadians out of a dynamic, competitive market.

But the forthcoming auction by the muddling government agency, the CRTC, of wireless digital spectrum for data is not yet clarified in terms of rules for potential bidders, their background or infrastructure. This means we don't know how much opportunity will be opened up in the Canadian market for customer choice. If the rules skew to Telcos, Telco wannabes, or Media conglomerates the industry will continue with business as usual, which places Canada as the highest cost per data on the planet right now. What if a Google, a Walmart or even Mac's Milk wanted to set up shop? The air we breathe is free and roaming is how we enjoy the vast expanse of our great nation, so let's open up the airwaves and inhale data. The more competition the more innovation and customer benefit.

How likely is it that the CRTC will put the customer's needs ahead of the industry?

Hindsight being 20-20 we should expect any upstart bidders following in the footsteps of ClearNet or Microcell to be swallowed up in about 5 years or less. We can blame the CRTC in advance for this. This process of controlled auction is a constrained money grab for the Govt paying lip-service only to the notion of free enterprise. It compels new entrants to exhaust capital to get in the game, and then drain all operating revenues with low-ball offers to customers to compete with entrenched competition, then struggle to retain these customers as they expand their infrastructure, just to satisfy the demand. When this vicious circle finally erodes investor confidence they are bought for the value of their customer data by the entrenched competition, who continue to play promotional customer tennis with their nearest and most devious competitor. It's a weird spin cycle and all the customer ends up with is less choice.

Wireless data may eventually kill off land-based digital connectivity, which is a 'hooray' for all of us. But there is no big 'hooray' if the customer doesn't also get better choices.