1 WiMAX and the Canadian Radio Spectrum April 28, 2006 Angela Choi Communications Engineer Pacific Region Industry Canada

2 Content Industry Canada and Spectrum Management WiMAX and standards/policies on the frequency bands of interest Status of these frequency bands

3 Who is Industry Canada Federal Department of Industry reporting to the Minister of Industry The mandate is to “foster a growing competitive, knowledge-based Canadian economy…”

4 Industry Canada The Minister of Industry has responsibility over more than 60 Acts, including the Radiocommunication Act (RA). The Minister has the power to ensure the “orderly development and efficient operation of radiocommunication in Canada”  (Radio) Spectrum Management

5 Spectrum Management Industry Canada: –Participates in international frequency allocation work; –Establishes domestic frequency allocation and spectrum utilization policies; –Introduces legislation, regulations, equipment standards, licensing policies and procedures; –Issues Radio authorization; –Ensures Compliance; and –Performs other duties related to spectrum management.

6 WiMAX “Equipment is certified to conform with IEEE and ETSI HiperMAN standards”, and “Will provide broadband access for –Fixed, portable, nomadic and eventually mobile use.” System profiles address the spectrum allocations, channeling plans, and standards of different countries.

7 Radio Spectrum and WiMAX WiMAX has profiles for fixed systems: –5.8 GHz for licence-exempt equipment. –2.5 and 3.5 GHz for licensed equipment, and In the near future, profiles for fixed and mobile systems: –2.3 and 2.5 GHz licensed equipment. Other possible bands of interest? –4.9 GHz, 700 MHz, and others...

8 FACT “Industry Canada does not designate spectrum for specific technologies, such as WiMAX, but WiMAX can be used in any band, subject to compliance with the technical limits.” source: “The Implications of WiMAX for Competition and Regulation”, a report by the Working Party on Telecommunication and Information Services Policies, OECD, March 2, 2006.

9 Canadian Rules on 5 GHz The primary allocation varies by sub-bands, but the footnotes C39A and C39B allocate these frequencies to licence-exempt local area network use. In Canada, the spectrum policy for this band is SP-5150, while the equipment standard is RSS – 5825 MHz 5250 – 5350 RADIOLOCATION EARTH-EXPLORATION SATELLITE, MOBILE, RADIOLOCATION, SPACE RESEARCH EARTH-EXPLORATION SATELLITE, MARITIME NAVIGATION, MOBILE, RADIOLOCATION PRIMARY ALLOCATION ISM 5150 – 5250 indoors only

10 Canadian Rules on 2.3 GHz WCS 2345 – 2360 MHz PRIMARY ALLOCATION SYSTEM PLAN EQUIPMENT STANDARD FIXED MOBILE RADIOLOCATION SRSP RSS-195 WCS 2305 – 2320 MHz FIXED MOBILE RADIOLOCATION SRSP RSS-195 Satellite Digital radio Terrestrial Repeater frequencies in Canada US-DARS

11 Canadian Rules on 2.3 GHz One paired blocks ( MHz), although the licensees may divide them into sub-blocks. WCS operators have to consider the presence of satellite radio terrestrial repeaters and vice versa. Provisional coordination procedure has been published.

12 Canadian Rules on 3.5 GHz FWA core spectrum 3475 – 3650 MHz 3650 – 3700 MHz TBD 3400 – 3475 MHz Reserved for radiolocation PRIMARY ALLOCATION SYSTEM PLAN EQUIPMENT STANDARD FIXED FIXED-SATELLITE (3500 – 3700 MHz) SRSP RSS-192 FIXED RADIOLOCATION (3450 – 3500 MHz) US ALLOCATION: RADIOLOCATION Licensed BWS in the U.S.

13 Canadian Rules on 3.5 GHz 7 × 25 MHz channels in 3475 – 3650 MHz : –Three paired blocks and one single block. 3.5 GHz licensees have to expect occasional interference from U.S. radiolocation devices (radars) in areas close to the border and in Canadian coastal waters.

14 Status of 2.3 GHz and 3.5 GHz After two auctions in 2004 and 2005, 32 entities were awarded 840 spectrum licences offered in the 2.3 GHz and 3.5 GHz bands in Canada. Some licensees are deploying broadband wireless service using pre-WiMAX and WiMAX equipment. The Department is still to consult on 3650 – 3700 MHz.

15 Canadian Rules on 2.5 GHz* MCS 2500 – 2596 MHz MDS 2596 – 2686 MHz MCS/MDS MCS/MDS BROADCASTING FIXED MOBILE EQUIPMENT STANDARD RSS-193 TBD RSS-193 TBD BPR-6 TBD RSS-193 TBD FIXED MOBILE SRSP TBD FIXED MOBILE FIXED MOBILE PRIMARY ALLOCATION SYSTEM PLAN SRSP TBD SRSP TBD SRSP TBD *New rules were introduced in March International Allocation for IMT-2000AWS Upper 2110

16 Status of the 2.5 GHz MCS band In 2001, Industry Canada conducted competitive licensing for 2.5 GHz MCS spectrum in the country: –Special provision was given to Manitoba, which already had many interactive ITV systems in use. –Three licensees were awarded spectrum licences. –All provinces and territories are covered.

17 Status of the 2.5 GHz MDS bands MDS is broadcasting so each operation must be authorized by the CRTC and certified to be technically acceptable) by Industry Canada: –Authorizations are site specific and for estimated coverage areas; and –11 licensees hold authorizations to serve 86 communities. Some MDS operators are providing broadband internet service using excess capacity in their MDS spectrum.

18 New Canadian Policy on 2.5 GHz On March 30, 2006, Industry Canada published a new policy on the 2.5 GHz spectrum. –Market force will determine if the spectrum will be used for fixed, mobile or broadcasting. –Mobile spectrum is valuable and implementation of mobile service justifies reassessment of the licensing requirements.

19 New Canadian Policy on 2.5 GHz Cont. MDS operator may continue to offer broadcasting service, or apply to convert to MCS operation MCS operation must be fixed ONLY, no mobile service allowed. If an operator wants to offer mobile service, the operator must return 1/3 of spectrum to IC for auction. Unassigned MDS spectrum will be auctioned.

20 TBD Canadian Rules on 2.5 GHz Channelling plan may be harmonized with the U.S., where appropriate: –Currently the channelling plan is for 6 MHz channels for 2500 – 2686 MHz. –The new FCC plan (for BRS and EBS) is a mix of 1, 4, 5.5 and 6 MHz channels for 2495 – 2690 MHz. Licensing policy and procedures, including details of auctions.

21 Other Bands of Interest The WiMax Forum has commented on the Department’s consultation paper on 4.9 GHz. Upper 700 MHz (TV channels 60 – 69) is another band that is considered a potential candidate for WiMAX? The spectrum policies on these two bands are still to be decided in Canada.

GHz in Canada In 2005, Industry Canada gazetted a proposal on public safety fixed and mobile broadband in 4940 – 4990 MHz, and requested comments on: Eligibility criteria, including three categories of public safety organizations; Technical criteria, including a band plan of 1 and 5 MHz blocks; Spectrum licence fees of $ per population, and service standard of four weeks; The need for interoperable frequencies; The need to protect radio astronomy frequencies; and Other issues.

23 Upper 700 MHz in Canada Ch 63Ch MHz806 MHz764 – – 800 TV Channels 60 – 69 EQUIPMENT STANDARD BPR-7 In draft BROADCASTING MOBILE PRIMARY ALLOCATION SPECTRUM POLICY SP-746 US Band Plan SYSTEM PLAN In draft

MHz in Canada No sunset date yet for NTSC TV in Canada. –There are 49 incumbent TV stations in channels 60 – 69, 31 of them are low power TV. A moratorium is in place for TV in channels 63 and 68, which are set aside for public safety mobile use. The Department is still to consult on channels 64 and 69.

MHz for Broadband Use? In the U.S., the sunset date for NTSC TV is now set to Feb Ch. 63, 64, 68 and 69 have been designated as public safety spectrum in the U.S. since –Current FCC channelling plan is divided into narrow band (6.25 kHz) and wide band (50 kHz) segments. –In March 2006, the FCC proposed to rechannelize these frequency bands to accommodate broadband communications.

26 For more information on spectrum management in Canada, visit: strategis.ic.gc.ca/spectrum

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