Wireless carriers directly employ more than 14,000 Canadians. Suppliers of products and services to the wireless industry generated another 12,000 jobs for the economy in the hi-tech sector. Thousands more ancillary positions have been created as a result of the wireless industry. The demand for highly skilled wireless communications specialists is so great, Canadian post-secondary institutions are creating programs specifically geared to the wireless industry. The Canadian Market Wireless communications is creating a fundamental shift to personal, not location-specific, communication.
Wireless phones are the fastest growing consumer products in history.
The number of wireless phones in Canada is likely to increase between 20 to 30 per cent over the next 12 months. 41 per cent of Canadian households owned or had access to a wireless phone in 1999, compared to 37 per cent in 1998. More than half of all Canadians have a choice of four service providers for mobile phone service. On average, Canadians use their wireless phones approximately 185 minutes per month. Minutes of usage is generally trending upwards.