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Canada’s telecom regulator said Thursday it will take a closer look at the rates cellphone providers charge their competitors to roam on each others’ networks, something it says the country’s big players could be using to kill competition from new entrants.

The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission said it will hold a public proceeding next year, hinting it would consider regulating the rates.

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That would be welcome relief for small players in the cellphone industry but it is likely too late for some struggling companies that have been crushed by the weight of the incumbents notwithstanding Ottawa’s attempts to promote four competitors in all regions.

While the average consumer may be more concerned about the rates they pay when they cross international borders, domestic roaming is a crucial issue for carriers who do not operate national networks.

In order to offer uninterrupted service outside of their coverage areas, smaller carriers must negotiate wholesale roaming agreements with the country’s dominant players — Rogers Communications Inc., Telus Corp. and BCE Inc. — and the terms they agree on can affect retail rates.