Quote:
Originally Posted by MrMastodonFarm
I don't know how to respond to that, that's awful. The fact that people like yourself, and many others in this country, just accept this, is also one of the problems.
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What rate plans are actually that much better in North America?
In the US comparable plans are just as, if not more expensive.
Sprint: $99 for the unlimited everything plan.
AT&T: $45 for 4G data, Unlimited Nationwide Calling $69.99 etc.
Verizon: Unlimited Voice $69.99, Unlimited Messaging $20, 5GB for $50
T-Mobile: Unlimited Voice + Unlimited Messaging + 5GB data is $89.99
All of the above options in the U.S. are more expensive then the equivalent plans from any of the big three in Canada or their value brands.
As I said we are not comparable to Europe because a much different infrastructure is needed since the population is much more highly densely populated in smaller areas. The U.S. is a much better comparison.
I will feel free to pay a premium because I understand I am paying more for more value and price certainty, while you can join a new entrant that has shoddy coverage areas and no price certainty if you are ever roaming. I would rather not be roaming everytime I visit a friend in Chestermere or go shopping at Cross Iron Mall.
Quote:
Originally Posted by GreenLantern2814
This is a fallacy. I myself actually used to think that the reason our wireless rates were so expensive is because we had such a large piece of land to cover, but the truth is, 81% of this country's population occupies 4% of the landmass.
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That is only relevant if we only want cell reception in that 4% of landmass. Personally I like having a cell phone that will actually work when I am away from the city and in most of the other 96% of the landmass.
As I said the new entrant make sense if you are a city dweller, but if you travel out of town lots then it makes less sense because you are always roaming anyways. There is a reason the new entrants don't include the areas outside the city and have not built the infrastructure its because it is expensive.
Once the new entrants start to build more towers and expand their coverage area their rates will go up accordingly. They are able to charge unlimited everything for $30 now because they know what they need to do to survive since they can't compete on network or devices so they have to compete on cost.