SRSP-519 — Technical Requirements for the Ancillary Terrestrial Component of Mobile-Satellite Service Systems Operating in the Bands 2000–2020 MHz and 2180–2200 MHz

Standard Radio System Plan SRSP-519, Technical Requirements for the Ancillary Terrestrial Component of Mobile-Satellite Service Systems Operating in the Bands 2000-2020 MHz and 2180-2200 MHz, issue 2, replaces SRSP-519, issue 1, dated July 9, 2015.

The following are the main changes:

1. Referenced Radio Standards Specification RSS-139, issue 4, because that standard now contains provisions on the band 2180-2200 MHz.
2. Clarified that both bands 2000-2020 MHz and 2180-2200 MHz are used for downlink.
3. Added an allowance to replace out-of-band emission e.i.r.p. of -100.6 dBW/4 kHz with a requirement to establish a coordination agreement with earth station operators.
4. Incorporated technical rules to facilitate the deployment of active antenna systems.
5. Made editorial updates throughout the document to align with the format of other SRSPs.

Issued under the authority of
the Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry

Martin Proulx
Director General
Engineering, Planning and Standards Branch

1. This Standard Radio System Plan (SRSP) sets out the minimum technical requirements for the efficient use of ancillary terrestrial component (ATC) equipment in the bands 2000-2020 MHz and 2180-2200 MHz. In the bands 2000-2020 MHz and 2180-2200 MHz, ATC is also referred to as advanced wireless service (AWS-4).

2. This SRSP is intended to aid in the design of radio systems and specifies the technical characteristics related to efficient spectrum usage only; it is not to be regarded as a comprehensive specification for equipment design and/or selection.

3. Even if a radio station or system complies with the requirements of this SRSP, Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED) may require modifications to the station or system whenever harmful interference is caused to any other licensed radio station or system. The term “harmful interference,” as defined in the Radiocommunication Act, means an adverse effect of electromagnetic energy from any emission, radiation or induction that:

1. endangers the use or functioning of a safety-related radiocommunication system; or
2. significantly degrades or obstructs, or repeatedly interrupts, the use or functioning of radio apparatus or radio-sensitive equipment.

4. The arrangements for non-standard systems are outlined in Spectrum Utilization Policy SP Gen, General Information Related to Spectrum Utilization and Radio Systems Policies.

5. ISED should be advised when potential conflicts between radio systems cannot be resolved in a timely fashion. After consulting with the parties concerned, ISED will determine the modifications to be made and the implementation schedule to be followed in order to resolve the conflict.

6. ISED may require licensees to use system receiver selectivity characteristics that provide improved rejection of harmful interference.

7. AWS equipment must be certified in accordance with Radio Standards Specification RSS-170, Mobile Earth Stations and Ancillary Terrestrial Component Equipment Operating in the Mobile-Satellite Service Bands, or RSS-139, Advanced Wireless Services Equipment Operating in the Bands 1710-1780 MHz and 2110-2200 MHz, as applicable.

8. Licensees are required to provide to ISED, upon request, information on certain technical parameters of their radio systems.

9. Revisions to this SRSP will be made as required.

10. All ISED publications related to spectrum and telecommunications are available on the Spectrum Management and Telecommunications website. Refer to the following documents as needed:

Acronyms

CPC: Client Procedures Circular
RP: Radio Systems Policy
RSS: Radio Standards Specification
SLPB: Spectrum Licensing Policy Branch
SP: Spectrum Utilization Policy
SRSP: Standard Radio System Plan

11. The following terms are used in this document.

Ancillary terrestrial component (ATC)
A ground communications network that complements and operates as part of an integrated mobile-satellite service (MSS) system, and provides an integrated satellite offering. The ground component is controlled by the satellite resource and network management system, and it uses the same authorized frequency band as the associated operating MSS. In the bands 2000-2020 MHz and 2180-2200 MHz, ATC is also referred to as advanced wireless service (AWS-4).

Ancillary terrestrial component (ATC) base station equipment
Terrestrial fixed equipment designed for communicating with ATC mobile equipment.

Active antenna system (AAS)
An antenna system where the amplitude and/or phase between antenna elements is dynamically adjusted, resulting in an antenna pattern that varies in response to short-term changes in the radio environment. An AAS may be integrated into a base station. An AAS may be integrated into a base station. An antenna system used for long-term beam shaping, such as fixed electrical down tilt, is not considered an AAS.

Antenna height above average terrain (HAAT)
The height of the centre of radiation of the antenna above the average elevation of the terrain between 3  and 16 km from the antenna, for an individual radial. The final antenna HAAT (also known as the effective height of the antenna above average terrain [EHAAT]) is the average of the antenna HAATs for 8 radials spaced every 45 degrees of azimuth starting with true north.

Non-active antenna system (non-AAS)
An antenna system that does not meet the criteria of an AAS.

12. The band plan for the bands 2000-2020 MHz and 2180-2200 MHz is described in figure 1 below. Each band is divided into two blocks of 10 MHz.

13. The band 2180-2200 MHz is designated for downlink operations from ATC base stations to user equipment.

14. The band 2000-2020 MHz was originally designated for uplink or downlink operations to or from ATC base stations. ISED allowed the ATC licensee to decide if the terrestrial use of the band would be for uplink or downlink operations and notify ISED of the decision by May 20, 2016. The decision regarding the uplink or downlink operations would then apply across Canada for the rest of the licence term. In May 2016, the licensee notified ISED that the band would be downlink only.

15. As a result of the decision by the ATC licensee, the bands 2000-2020 MHz and 2180-2200 MHz are now both designated for downlink operations from ATC base stations to user equipment.

16. Fixed systems that support the MSS or ATC systems of the existing licensee may be permitted in the bands 2000-2020 MHz and 2180-2200 MHz as long as they adhere to the technical requirements set out for ATC equipment in these bands.

Figure 1: 2 GHz ATC band plan

17. This section covers technical criteria that must be met related to power, unwanted emission limits and antenna height, including criteria for the use of multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) antennas.

6.1 Base stations using non-active antenna systems

18. This section describes how equivalent isotropically radiated power (e.i.r.p.) is calculated for base stations using non-active antenna systems (non-AAS).

6.1.1 E.i.r.p. for non-AAS correlated transmission

19. In non-AAS correlated transmission, multiple non-AAS antennas can be used at a station to transmit the same digital data in a given symbol period (even with different coding or phase shifts) for transmit diversity or to steer signal energy towards a particular direction for enhanced directional gain (i.e. beamforming), or to devise any other transmission mode where signals from different antennas are correlated. For these uses, the e.i.r.p. shall be calculated based on the aggregate power conducted across all antennas and on the resulting directional gain 10 log₁₀(N) + G_max dBi. Here, N is the number of antennas and G_max is the highest gain in dBi among all antennas.

6.1.2 E.i.r.p. for non-AAS uncorrelated transmission

20. In non-AAS uncorrelated transmission, multiple non-AAS antennas can be used at a station to each transmit different digital data in a given symbol period (i.e. space-time codes) or independent parallel data streams over the same frequency bandwidth in order to increase data rates (i.e. spatial multiplexing), or to form any other transmission mode where signals from different antennas are completely uncorrelated. For these uses, the e.i.r.p. shall be calculated based on the aggregate power conducted across all antennas and the maximum antenna gain (G_max).

6.1.3 Radiated power and antenna height limits for base stations using non-AAS systems

21. For base stations operating in the bands 2000-2020 MHz and 2180-2200 MHz with an antenna height above average terrain (HAAT) of up to 300 m, the e.i.r.p. shall not exceed 62 dBm when transmitting with an emission bandwidth of 1 MHz or less.

22. For base stations operating in the bands 2000-2020 MHz and 2180-2200 MHz with an antenna HAAT of up to 300 m, the e.i.r.p.shall not exceed 62 dBm/MHz when transmitting with an emission bandwidth greater than 1 MHz.

23. Base stations located in geographic areas at a distance greater than 26 km from large or medium population centres may increase their e.i.r.p. to a maximum of 65 dBm when transmitting with an emission bandwidth of 1 MHz or less, and 65 dBm/MHz when transmitting with an emission bandwidth greater than 1 MHz, with an antenna HAAT of up to 300 m. According to Statistics Canada’s Census Dictionary, a large urban population centre has a population of 100,000 or more and a population density of 400 persons or more per km², and a medium population centre has a population of between 30,000 and 99,999 and a population density of 400 persons or more per km². MapInfo files describing the boundaries of these centres are available online.

24. Within 26 km of any large or medium population centre, base stations may operate with an increased e.i.r.p. if more than 50% of the population within a particular sector’s coverage is located outside a large or medium population centre. The population within the sector’s coverage may be determined using the MapInfo spectrum grid-cell data available online at ISED’s Service areas for competitive licensing web page.

25. Base stations operating with an increased e.i.r.p., as specified above (i.e. up to 65 dBm/MHz), must not be used to provide coverage to large and medium population centres. However, some incidental coverage of these population centres by stations operating with an increased e.i.r.p. is permitted.

26. A licensee operating a base station with an e.i.r.p. greater than 62 dBm/MHz must coordinate in advance with all AWS-4 licensees authorized to operate on adjacent frequency blocks within the same band.

27. Base stations with an antenna HAAT exceeding 300 m shall apply a reduction in e.i.r.p. according to the following formula:

28. The HAAT of a base station with multiple antennas shall be calculated based on the measurements of the highest antenna.

6.2 Technical requirements and antenna height limits for active antenna systems

29. For base stations operating in the bands 2000-2020 MHz and 2180-2200 MHz using active antenna systems (AAS), the technical requirements in table 1 apply:

30. The following equation shall be used in determining the e.i.r.p. for base stations operating in the bands 2000-2020 MHz and 2180-2200 MHz:

31. The maximum permissible TRP limits are specified in RSS-139 and RSS-170.

32. Within 26 km of any large or medium population centre, base stations may operate at an increased e.i.r.p., as specified above (i.e. up to 65dBm/MHz), if more than 50% of the population within a particular sector’s coverage is located outside a large or medium population centre. The population within the sector’s coverage may be determined using the MapInfo spectrum gridcell data available online at ISED’s Service areas for competitive licensing web page.

33. Base stations operating with an increased e.i.r.p., as specified above (i.e. up to 65dBm/MHz), must not be used to provide coverage to large and medium population centres. However, some incidental coverage of these large and medium population centres by stations operating with an increased e.i.r.p. is permitted.

34. A licensee operating a base station with an e.i.r.p.greater than 62 dBm/MHz must coordinate in advance with all AWS-4 licensees authorized to operate on adjacent frequency blocks within the same band.

6.3 Radiated power limits for ATC mobile equipment

35. As mentioned in section 5 above, bands 2000-2020 MHz and 2180-2200 MHz are both used for downlink; therefore, there is no ATC mobile equipment transmitting in the bands.

6.4 Transmitter unwanted emission limits

36. The unwanted emissions of ATC base station equipment transmitting in the bands 2000-2020 MHz and 2180-2200 MHz shall comply with the limits specified in RSS-170 and RSS-139 respectively.

37. In addition to complying with RSS-170 and RSS-139, the specifications in section 8.3 shall apply to equipment operating in the band 2180-2200 MHz.

38. The operation of ATC base stations in the bands 2000-2020 MHz and 2180-2200 MHz shall not cause harmful interference to, and shall accept any interference from, MSS operations in these bands.

39. The operation of ATC base stations in the bands 2000-2020 MHz and 2180-2200 MHz shall not cause harmful interference to, nor claim protection from, primary radio services operating in adjacent bands.

40. Any ATC base station equipment transmitting in the bands 2000-2020 MHz and 2180-2200 MHz shall meet the technical specifications defined in this SRSP, in RSS-139 and in RSS-170.

41. Possible interference conflicts resulting from the operation of ATC and radio systems operating in adjacent bands may occur even though the technical specifications of this SRSP, RSS-139 and RSS-170, as amended, have been met.

42. Interference conflicts such as those mentioned above should be resolved through mutual arrangements between the affected parties following consultation and coordination.

43. Before deploying a station, licensees should consult ISED’s Spectrum Management System Data search tools for an up-to-date list of licensees in the area in adjacent bands.

44. ISED shall be advised when potential conflicts between systems cannot be resolved in a timely fashion. After consulting with the parties concerned, ISED will determine the necessary course of action.

8.1 Personal communications service systems operating between 1995 MHz and 2000 MHz

45. Coordination may be required between any systems of personal communications service (PCS) block H that may be operating in the band 1995-2000 MHz and AWS-4 base stations operating in the band 2000-2020 MHz.

8.2 Mobile systems operating above 2020 MHz and below 2180 MHz

46. Coordination may be required between any mobile systems that may be operating in the band 2020-2025 MHz (block J) and AWS-4 base stations operating in the band 2000-2020 MHz.

47. Mobile systems below 2180 MHz (AWS-3) operate in accordance with SRSP-513, Technical Requirements for Advanced Wireless Services in the Bands 1710-1780 MHz and 2110-2180 MHz. Coordination may be required between these systems and AWS-4 base stations operating in the band 2180-2200 MHz.

8.3 Space operation service, Earth exploration-satellite service and space research service operating between 2200 MHz and 2290 MHz

48. Default limits: Except as provided in the “Agreements” section below, the following default distance and out-of-band emission limits shall apply to ATC operations in the band 2180-2200 MHz:

1. No ATC base station operating in the band 2180-2200 MHz shall be located less than 820 m from an earth station facility operating in the band 2200-2290 MHz
2. The power of any emission from an ATC base station operating in the band 2180-2200 MHz shall not exceed an e.i.r.p. of -100.6 dBW/4kHz at the band edge of 2200 MHz and above

49. Agreements: The distance and out-of-band emission limits provided in the “Default limits” section above may be modified only with the agreement of the AWS-4 licensee and licensees of earth stations in the band 2200-2290 MHz. Such agreements shall be transmitted to ISED for approval.

50. ISED approval of modifications to the distance and out-of-band emission limits provided in the “Default limits” section would be subject to the following conditions being met:

1. The AWS-4 licensee shall maintain coordination agreement(s) with existing earth station licensees in the band 2200-2290 MHz to protect their operations and avoid interference to the earth station receivers in that band. Such agreements shall be in place with earth station licensees in all licensed areas in which the AWS-4 licensee operates that contain an earth station in the band 2200-2290 MHz. Coordination agreements shall also be in place with any other 2200-2290 MHz earth station licensees outside that AWS-4 licensee’s licensed areas that could be impacted by the operations of the ATC base stations.
2. The AWS-4 licensee is required to accommodate and protect any new earth station in the 2200-2900 MHz band impacted by the ATC deployment. The AWS-4 licensee must establish coordination agreements with any new earth station licensee to protect the earth station; if no agreements are established, the default limits apply.
3. If an earth station licensee in the band 2200-2290 MHz reports an incidence of interference, the AWS-4 licensee will be required to immediately mitigate such interference while the cause is being investigated.

51. In the absence of the above-mentioned agreements, the AWS-4 licensee is to comply with the technical specifications in RSS-139, RSS-170 and this SRSP for all AWS-4 licensed areas in which licensed earth stations are located.

52. Through the conditions of licence, the ATC licensee (also referred to as an AWS-4 licensee) will be required to comply with certain technical requirements and to coordinate with licensees in the United States (US) in accordance with the conditions of any international arrangements or agreements into which Canada enters.

53. At the time of publication, ISED and the Federal Communications Commission were negotiating an arrangement defining the coordination rules and procedures for the sharing of the bands 2000-2020 MHz and 2180-2200 MHz between Canadian and US licensees. ISED anticipates that the resulting arrangement will include rules and procedures for licensee to licensee coordination between AWS-4 licensees in both countries similar to those for other AWS bands.