Canada has taken a significant step in collaborating with global partners to enhance the security, resilience, and innovation of telecommunications networks. In an effort to ensure Canadians have access to secure and reliable telecom services, the Canadian government, led by François-Philippe Champagne, the Minister of Innovation, Science, and Industry, has announced its participation in the Global Coalition on Telecommunications (GCOT). This initiative brings together countries such as the United Kingdom, the United States, Australia, and Japan to create a coalition focused on fostering diverse supply chains, establishing secure and interoperable standards, and promoting innovation in the telecommunications sector.
The GCOT, through a Joint Statement of Intent, has outlined shared objectives, including enhancing cooperation and coordination in telecommunications among coalition partners, building international consensus on critical telecommunications policies, facilitating dialogue between policymakers, industry, and academia, and encouraging innovation and growth in the industry. To achieve these objectives, the GCOT will explore opportunities for closer collaboration in areas such as information sharing, research and development, alignment of funding priorities, vision setting, standards development, and international outreach.
Canada’s involvement in the GCOT builds upon its Telecommunications Reliability Agenda, an initiative aimed at improving telecom network reliability and ensuring the protection of Canadians. The coalition’s efforts will also align with initiatives such as the Prague Proposals on Telecommunications Supplier Diversity and the UK’s Open RAN Principles, both of which Canada endorsed in 2022. These initiatives are vital for promoting diversity among telecom suppliers, ultimately leading to enhanced network reliability security and fostering innovation and competition within the telecommunications industry. The government remains committed to working closely with telecommunications companies and international partners to enhance the reliability of Canada’s telecom networks.
