Regulation-Competition, Operator Profits and Customer Welfare

The constant tussle between firms’ profits, customer welfare (prices and quality) and the regulatory burden of balancing theses interests in the real world (less than perfect markets) is a worldwide phenomenon. 

A recent news item about Canada’s Competition and Radio-TV and Communications Regulators issuing a joint statement to the effect that they would work together to “ensure access to services at competitive prices” also informs us that large  domestic firms are up in arms against the government’s decision to allow foreign participation in spectrum auctions. The government justifies its decision as it finds that “Canadians pay some of the highest wireless rates in the developed world and that more players would help boost competition.” Three big operators insist that “wireless rates in Canada are competitive with those in the United States.” 

My question is that is U.S.A the correct benchmark?