Wireless Communications

Canada’s wireless firms are considered global leaders in several areas, such as mesh networks, WiMAX, RFID, UWB and SDR, as well as broadband, satellite, and fibre-optic applications.

“ Canada is one of the world’s leaders in mobile-software development. Venture capitalists have started taking note. Google is certainly taking note. ”
Chris O’Neill, Managing Director, Google Canada

Canada’s performance in wireless technologies and applications continues to draw international investors. Along with a highly educated and experienced workforce, competitive labour costs, world-class R&D and favourable tax rates and benefits, Canada also offers a savvy and fast-growing consumer market: Canadian consumers will spend some $6 billion on mobile devices in 2012 and by the end of that year, the number of smart phones in the country is expected to equal that of portable PCs.

Among Canada’s 300 wireless firms are one-quarter of North America’s fastest growing companies in the sector. ¹
The Canadian market for telecom services is expected to generate revenues of $43.5 billion in 2012, with wireless data becoming the fastest growing segment. ²
Canada’s wireless and telecommunications firms spend more than $6.2 billion annually on research and development.
Between 2003 and 2011, more than 20 foreign companies established greenfield projects in Canada’s wireless-communications industry.
Canadian firms are at the forefront of next-generation network (NGN) technologies, nanomaterials and power amplifiers: advances that will reduce the size, weight and power consumption of wireless equipment.

1 Deloitte, Technology Fast 50 Programme (2011)

2 Electronics Industry Market Research and Knowledge Network, Canadian Telecom Service 2011-2016 (2012)