![]() ![]() Bell says it has 16 devices for the new network. Langton said the new network contributed to the quarterly record 523,000 new activations in its recent fourth quarter. "But it's a brand new network, so we're just getting started," said spokesman Mark Langton. Telus has 6.5 million wireless subscribers.īell Mobility wouldn't say how much traffic is on its new network. Neale wouldn't say how many customers are on the new network but said "just shy of six million customers" are on Telus's older wireless network. Telus says it has 14 devices, including two USB sticks for mobile laptop use, for its HSPA-plus network. "All the Canadian carriers now have access to the hundreds of phones that are being developed for the global standard. Segan noted that Canadian carriers will have to compete on monthly service plans and customer service. "But you are in the pack of technologically competitive countries." "I wouldn't say you are out front," Segan said. "Canadian carriers are out of the mobile phone ghetto," said Segan, managing editor of mobile at PCMag Digital Network in New York. ![]() PC Magazine analyst Sascha Segan said, for the first time, Canadian carriers are all competing with the same network technology. "(But) people are being added all of the time." "In relative terms, the network is still what you would consider pretty much empty," said Neale, chief futurist and senior vice-president of strategic content services. Telus executive David Neale said its advanced network isn't busy yet. The two telecoms also operate older networks with different technology that's considered less relevant globally. It will take "fully three years" for Bell and Telus to gradually move their subscribers to the new network from existing ones, Levy said. ![]() Not only does the wireless carrier have to invest in a lineup of devices for such a network, it also has to migrate customers onto the network who already have existing cellphone contracts waiting to expire. "The network comes first and then the devices follow," said Levy, an independent analyst in London, Ont. That would ideally mean experiencing close to the speed of home Internet service on your mobile phone, speed needed for data-intensive activities rather than just for talking.īut the mobile phones available up to this point haven't yet caught up to the network's full capacity. ![]() In industry jargon, it's called an HSPA-plus network, part of a common global standard, and it stands for High Speed Packet Access. "You would always rather be ahead of the game than behind," he said.īell and Telus launched next-generation wireless networks last fall, aimed at smartphones and mobile laptop use, and have been offering the iPhone like competitor Rogers. "It's like building a 10-lane highway, even though there's only enough traffic out there currently to justify having a three-lane highway," said technology analyst Carmi Levy. That's because there isn't always a lot of network traffic to compete with when they get up and running. MONTREAL - Traffic tie-ups aren't a big problem on this highway and speed isn't an issue.Ĭanada's smartphone customers, including Apple iPhone users, are having a pretty good ride on new advanced, wireless networks as they surf the Internet and download software apps. ![]()
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