Canadians now spending more on Internet access than on television

OTTAWA — Canadians spent more on Internet access than television services for the first time last year, according to a report by the CRTC.

The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission said that in 2015 communications service industry revenues from Internet access were $9.8 billion, while subscription television services accounted for $8.9 billion.

The shift also saw wireless data usage increase by 44 per cent from 2014 to 2015, while fixed data usage through home Internet services increased by about 40 per cent.

The CRTC found that Canadians aged 30 and younger spent three times more on wireless services than those aged 65 and older.

Overall, the federal regulator said communications industry revenues reached $65.7 billion in 2015, up from $64.1 billion in 2014 — a gain of 2.5 per cent, slightly above the five-year average growth rate of 2.1 per cent.

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Increases in revenue for mobile and Internet services were offset by a drop in home television and home telephone service.

The Canadian Press