Pyramid Research estimates that nearly 42 percent of Canadian households will have a triple play subscription in 2006, up from about 30 percent at the end of 2005. Nearly 60 percent of Canadian households have some form of bundled services, a figure forecast to rise to more than 90 percent over the next five years. Such figures put Canada well ahead of such key markets as the US, France, and even South Korea, which will have triple play penetration levels at 8 percent, 4 percent, and 1 percent, respectively, at the end of 2006. The reasons behind Canada’s success are two-fold: market structure and providers giving customers what they want.
However, Pyramid Research don’t expect Canada to necessarily lead in the convergence stakes.
Canada’s dominant players are present across key market segments and are largely integrated operations. Bell Canada controls satellite DTH player Express Vu, and through it, nearly 20 percent of the Canadian Pay TV space. Likewise, Rogers Communications is present across segments. Taken together, Bell Canada, Rogers, and Telus control substantial portions of the segments critical to offering triple and quadruple play. To keep up, other players have had to accelerate their own evolution, with Telus launching IPTV, and cable players such as Videotron striking MVNO deals to offer mobile services. Another driver has been the role of regulation; Canada’s competition authorities have allowed some degree of cross-segment ownership, making it possible for players to be present across platforms.
Louis Rhéaume
Infocom Intelligence
infocom@videotron.ca
514-528-6422
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