TORONTO — Artificial intelligence, investment decisions and regulation are at the forefront of this year’s Canadian Telecom Summit in downtown Toronto, where hundreds of industry players gathered Tuesday for the 25th edition of the annual event.
This year’s two-day conference comes during a transition for the sector, as major telecoms look to new sources of potential growth — such as automation, cybersecurity or sports assets — while high churn and slow population growth limit revenue from traditional sources.
Some are pulling back on investment in telecom infrastructure, highlighted by Rogers Communications Inc.’s announcement last month it would slash capital spending by 30 per cent compared with last year, which it blamed on regulatory and competitive pressures.
The CRTC, which is set to present at the conference, has unveiled a handful of consumer protections this year, including the elimination of fees when customers cancel or change plans.
Meanwhile, a recent report by PricewaterhouseCoopers says telecom services have become more affordable relative to household income in Canada, with mobile and internet costs falling 41.8 and 6.2 per cent, respectively, between 2020 and 2024.
Conference host Richard Jirka, vice-president of Macgregor Communications’ technology group, says there are opportunities for innovation in the telecom industry, but it “requires that we make the right decisions at the right pace, with the right policy environment behind us.”
This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 12, 2026.
Sammy Hudes, The Canadian Press
