Satellite, Mobile, Wi-Fi Interests Push Canada for More Spectrum Releases
Satellite, terrestrial and tech interests had numerous recommendations for Innovation, Science and Economic Development (ISED) Canada, as the agency asked for input on releasing spectrum for commercial mobile services, license-exempt applications, satellite services and wireless backhaul services through 2022. The…
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docket SLPB-006-17 comments were posted Friday. Intelsat said ISED should await outcomes of the 2019 World Radiocommunication Conference on a variety of WRC-19 agenda items -- such as non-geostationary fixed satellite service (FSS) use of the 37.5-39.5, 39,5-42.5, 47.2-50.2 and 50.4-51.4 GHz bands -- before making decisions that might not be compatible with WRC-19. SES said ISED's conclusion that the 3.7-4.2 GHz band should be considered for mobile use is "unfounded" and that such mobile use could negatively affect downlinks there. It said if any additional services are introduced in the 24.75-25.05 GHz or 25.05-25.25 GHz bands, FSS needs to retain access on a co-primary basis. It also pushed for making the entire V-band available for satellite FSS use and for removing the restriction on FSS in the 39.5-40 GHz band to government use only. Telesat Canada said the current FSS allocation at 24.75-25.25 should be retained if spectrum is released in the 24.25-27.5 GHz band for terrestrial use. It also said the satellite industry has interest in the E-band and higher spectrum. ISED should make spectrum above 24 GHz available for flexible use across platforms (HAPS), including high altitude platform stations and consider licensing schemes that would let HAPS be used in the band to support 5G, Facebook said. It also backed making the 64-71 GHz band available for license-exempt use and for identifying other mid-band frequency for license-exempt use, such as the 6 GHz band. The Wi-Fi Alliance said spectrum sharing is possible in the 6 GHz band, and other bands could potentially be made available for sharing in the future. It also backed making the 5350-5470 MHz band available for license exempt operations in Canada and said it was essential that ISED continue to allow license-exempt operations in the millimeter wave spectrum. It said the agency should consider making the 5.9256-7.125 GHz band available for license-exempt use. Allowing commercial mobile broadband in the 814-824 MHz band, paired with 859-869 MHz, would mutually benefit the U.S. and Canada by maximizing the spectrum available for commercial mobile broadband in this band along the shared border, Sprint said. Microsoft said there should be "significantly more" license-exempt spectrum released in the 5, 6, 60 and 70 GHz bands.