Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED) wants to make it faster and cheaper to build wireless networks, MobileSyrup reports, citing PlanHub. October 7 was the deadline for final comments. These are still proposals, with no effective date yet.

The main changes:

  • A 45-day clock: municipalities would have 45 days to approve or formally challenge a tower. Silence would count as approval.
  • Small towers: carriers could build towers under 15 metres without the usual municipal and public consultation.
  • Small cells: ISED is looking at easing deployment, which matters as carriers densify 5G.
  • Roaming on request: the “where technically feasible” wording is gone. Carriers would have to provide roaming whenever a customer’s device can use the host network.
  • Tower sharing: carriers would have to share antenna sites on request.
  • Disputes would go to arbitration rather than to ISED.

The government says roaming and sharing will “empower smaller or regional licensees to provide increased choice for Canadians.”

Why it matters: Coverage gaps and slow approvals are a big reason rural service lags, and why smaller carriers struggle to compete. Faster approvals help everyone. Mandatory roaming and tower sharing help challengers like Freedom, Videotron and Eastlink most. Expect neighbourhood pushback on the reduced consultation for small towers.