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The CRTC said spending was up on wireless data and Internet services with faster broadband speeds and over the past five years, one million fewer Canadians have landline telephone subscriptions while subscriptions to wireless services increased by 5.8 million.

Tracking Canadians across all income brackets, the commission found average spending on mobile phones, Internet, cable or other television services and traditional landlines increased 2.4% to $185 per month, up from $181 per month in 2011.

Canadian households in the highest income category (more than $111,639), spent on average $258 per month, up 4.4% from $247 per month in 2011.

Those in the lowest income bracket (less than $27,875), spent less per month on average, $119, down 2.3% from $122 in 2011.

Across all income brackets tracked, the CRTC found spending on wireless services was up the most significantly while spending on landline telephone was down across the board.

Revenues for the overall communications industry grew 2.3% while the wireless industry, which accounts for about one third of overall spending and has been the focus of much public attention in recent months, grew at a pace of 6.5%.

Wireless services accounted for revenues of $20.4-billion in 2012, up from $19.1-billion the previous year.

The number of wireless subscribers increased to 27.9 million, up 1.8% from 27.4 million in 2011, slower growth than in previous years.

But Canadian families spent more on their mobile services: $67 per month on average, up from $61 in 2011.