Telecommunications statistics

In 1999, the telecommunications industry had operating revenues of $29.0 billion and operating expenses of $25.1 billion. This yielded operating profits of $3.9 billion or 13.5% of operating revenues. This is a marginal increase from the $3.8 billion, or 13.4% of revenues, reported for 1998. Although both operating revenues and operating expenses rose approximately $500 million each, the increase in operating profits is attributable to a larger increase in revenues.

Further to the data and bulletin releases for the telecommunications industry (NAICS 5133) for 1999, provincial and detailed national data are now available in the annual publication, Telecommunications in Canada. In addition to industry level information on operating revenues and operating expenses, this publication also has a detailed telecommunications industry balance sheet, and data covering capital expenditures, employment, traffic (telephone calls), network infrastructure, international trade and household indicators.

The annual publication's feature article examines industry performance by revenue size categories for five supplier groups: wireline incumbents, wireline entrants, cellular, paging and all other service providers. There is also a detailed glossary of telecommunications terms and concepts.

The annual publication Telecommunications in Canada, 1999 (56-203-XIE, $32) is now available.

For more information, or to enquire about the concepts, methods or data quality of this release, contact Haig McCarrell (613-951-5948) or Cimeron McDonald (613-951-2741), Science, Innovation and Electronic Information Division.