Nokia and Government Relations Plan

6.  Government Relations Plan [3 pages, 4 max]

6.1 Introduction

Nokia intends to gain entry into the Canadian market by becoming the wireless communications service provider of choice for customers and competing with other established companies in this industry. The intended strategy includes a plan to set up a series of physical broadcast locations across the country in order to offer competitive cellular infrastructure. Support from the Canadian Federal Government and the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) will be necessary in order to establish this network as well as cooperation at the Provincial and Municipal levels of government.

6.2 Goals

To achieve cooperation with Canadian Federal, Provincial, and Municipal government officials, in one year from now, to advance the interests of Nokia and to achieve buy-in of a plan to install a new nation-wide telecommunications network in order to offer competitive cellular service to Canadian customers and ultimately competitive cellular pricing for Canadian end-users.

6.3 Objectives [similar to goal(s) but more detailed]

• To build recognition amongst legislators and government officials of Nokia’s capabilities and the advantages of introducing new telecommunications infrastructure across Canada.
• Assist the Canadian Government in achieving a more competitive nation-wide cellular industry.
• Need to approval and acquire license to operate in Canada
• Obtain financial assistance from all levels of government (municipal, provincial and federal) for the deployment of wireless infrastructure nationally.

6.4 Contextual Issues

The Liberal Party of Canada holds a majority position in the Parliament for the next four years since being voted into power in October 2015. Nokia will need to develop a strong working relationship with this party and its leaders to affect regulatory or legislative changes, if needed.

Since assuming office, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has announced his plans to take advantage of the low cost of borrowing to build and improve national infrastructure. This presents an opportunity for Nokia to partner with the federal government to build wireless infrastructure nationally.

• The CRTC, which reports to the Parliament, has been requiring big telecoms to share their networks with smaller competitors. This step was taken to increase competition in the wireless telecommunications space after numerous complaints from consumer groups of monopoly by the three major players (Bell, Rogers and Telus). The government is also actively involved in auctioning wireless spectrums to enhance competition.
• Talk about three major players
• Why is government regulating it so much?
• Talk about government
•  Federal: Liberal majority government. CRTC is currently reviewing differential pricing practices related to wireline and wireless data plans, with a public hearing October 31, 2016. The CRTC is aiming to develop a clear and transparent regulatory approach to provide greater certainty to consumers, application providers and Internet service providers.
• Provincial: BCE attempting to buy MTS (reducing competition in Manitoba). BCE, Telus, and Rogers have a footprint in major markets across Canada. Provincial cooperation will be required to support the nation-wide plan.
• Municipal: various municipalities across the nation will have to be consulted once physical locations are selected.

6.5 Key Messages [what you would say to the elected official if given the opportunity]

• Ex. “ACPPI is the optimal choice for improving research, innovation and commercialization success in Canada.”
• Nokia Canada is the optimal choice for providing the next generation of new, innovative, and competitive telecommunications infrastructure in Canada.
• Nokia’s telecommunications solutions and comprehensive industry alliances will provide the framework for successful, relevant, and timely cellular network alternatives.
• More affordability, more jobs, more competitive environment. Innovative solutions

6.6 Tactics [tactics he asked for in class but the course outline has: Metrics and Measures of Success, but let’s assume tacticsfor now?; base these tactics on the objectives above; how can the government help you enter the market?]