I believe it's already in the early stages of happening here. 
My phone is relatively new. (almost two years old) but the phone itself isn't the problem.
I have no 5G. Just 4G. Rogers tells me that because of the deeply discounted plan I have, 5G is not possible and that I must step away from my grandfathered plan and pay for one of the more current ones to make 5G possible.
WOW...Just wow. Thankfully, 4G data is meeting my needs just fine.
 

"Sending prices soaring again.."  How much per month did your bill go up RA?  What do you pay per month for your service?  

RadioActive wrote:

It's been a while since the price change, but as I recall it was close to about $4-5 a month. That's almost 50-60 bucks extra a year. That's not really the issue. My ISP, Teksavvy, took the CRTC's word for their new policy and immediately reduced prices that same month as a service to their customers. They were very unhappy several months later when they were told the CRTC had suddenly changed its mind. 

It's a terrible way to regulate an industry, because now none of the small guys trust the Commission or know when to take them at their word. Imagine if your boss promised you a raise and then took it away before you really had it with no reason. It's just not the way anyone should operate. 

I know you like to take contrary positions to mine and that's fine. But in this case, what the CRTC did - followed by the somewhat suspicious public celebratory drink between chair Ian Scott and Bell CEO Mirko Bibic - showed a real lack of leadership and proved nothing they say can be trusted. Maybe it's not true, but it sure makes it look to most of us like the fix is in. And the CRTC is not on the consumers' side. 

I hear you loud and clear.  However I am sure you are already paying considerably less than what it would be with similar service with Bell or Rogers.  You never ever lower your rates until everything is signed sealed and approved.

 Just because the commission says this is what they are looking at or thinking doesn't mean it will happen. If the independents immediately lowered rates based on something verbal is a big mistake and premature.   Bell and Rogers own the equipment and technology and have paid the freight, and deserved the right to respond to the CRTC.  Remember it was the commission that forced Bell and the rest to share their technology with the independents in the first place. 

They made the case to the CRTC that costs were higher than expected and they in turn expect the independents to pay more to use their system.  The big conglomerates carry a big stick and employ thousands and invest billions.  So the CRTC had to let them make their case, and they did.  Is that fair?  Maybe or maybe not, but unfortunately for the independents this is the situation that they are in. 

I know many are not thrilled that Quebecor may be entering into the fray in the rest of the country, however they could also mix things up a fair bit.  In Quebec apparently they undercut both Rogers and Bell and they have stated that they intend to do the same in the rest of the country. And they have the money to do it. Not sure that some Canadians will be interested in using a company owned by a sometime separatist.  However monsieur Paladeau seems to have rediscovered his federalists roots again. Wonder why??   Rest assured however Bell  Rogers and Telus won't let them make many inroads without a big fight and some lower package rates.   



 

Speaking of the less than redoubtable Ian Scott:

CRTC Chair’s Email Spoofed, Asks Employees to Buy iTunes Cards

And later, in keeping with Mr. Scott's previous actions, the scammer later told the victims after they'd made their purchases, that he didn't want them to buy gift cards after all...