In a landmark ruling, Canadian regulator the CRTC has opened incumbent fiber networks to layered, over the top broadband competition. The CRTC ruling requires that incumbent Canadian ISPs like Bell must now give smaller ISPs like Primus, Distributel or TekSavvy access to their last mile fiber networks. The ruling initially impacts Ontario and Quebec, but will cover all of Canada in time.

It's a huge ruling for independent ISPs who were against the ropes due to usage-based billing charges in Canada just a few years ago.

It's the kind of news incumbent ISP executives in the States and Canada have had nightmares about for years because it opens the door to increased competition.

Under the CRTC's new proposal, independent ISPs will have "disaggregated" access to the end user at a regional point of access much closer to the consumer. Smaller ISPs are then responsible for transport of data from this own regional interface to their own central office, connectivity that's either owned or leased.

"As Canadians participate more actively in the digital economy, they will need access to higher Internet speeds to power their broadband homes and businesses," CRTC boss Jean-Pierre Blais said in a statement.

"By continuing to mandate certain wholesale services, and including access to fibre facilities, we are continuing our work to drive competition so Canadians have access to more choice, innovative services and reasonable prices. At the same time, we fully expect that companies will continue to invest in their networks, including in fibre technology, to meet the growing needs of consumers."

There's some additional conversation to be found in our Canadian broadband forums. It's now just a matter of waiting for incumbent ISPs to actually open up their networks to independent ISPs and greater competition.