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TORONTO — A new report challenges the belief that Canadians pay too much for their wireless communications services.

The Montreal Economic Institute says it’s too simplistic to say Canadians pay some of the highest wireless prices in the world.

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The private-sector think tank says Canada’s relatively high prices are justified by the quality of the networks, the size of the country and the investments that carriers are making in fifth-generation wireless technology.

The study comes as the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission is in the midst of requiring Rogers, Bell and Telus to add a basic, data-only wireless service to their product lineup.

Hundreds of consumers making submissions to the CRTC’s public consultations have generally rejected the pricing proposals submitted recently by Canada’s three main carriers as too expensive.

Study author Martin Masse says Canada’s telecom industry is now competitive enough that there’s no need for government and regulatory attempts to force down consumer prices.