SRSP-101

Standard Radio System Plan SRSP-101, Technical Requirements for Fixed Earth Stations Operating Above 1 GHz in Space Radiocommunication Services and Earth Stations in Motion (ESIMs) Operating in the Fixed-Satellite Service, issue 3, replaces SRSP-101, Technical Requirements for Fixed Earth Stations Operating Above 1 GHz in Space Radiocommunication Services and Earth Stations on board Vessels (ESVs) Operating in the Fixed-Satellite Service, issue 2, dated August 2019.

The following are the main changes:

1. In section 4, specifications have been included for unwanted emissions for space radiocommunication services in the out-of-band domain.
2. The specifications for earth stations on board vessels have been extended to earth stations in motion, including aeronautical, land and maritime (which replaces the term “on board vessels”).
3. Refences to other applicable documents have been updated.
4. Editorial changes and clarifications have been made, as appropriate.

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

____________________________________
Martin Proulx
Director General
Engineering, Planning and Standards Branch

This Standard Radio System Plan (SRSP) states the minimum technical requirements for fixed earth stations operating above 1 GHz in any space radiocommunication service, other than mobile-satellite and amateur-satellite services, and for earth stations in motion (ESIMs) communicating with space stations of the fixed-satellite service. This SRSP is intended to be used in evaluating the technical component of applications for new or modified earth stations, including ESIMs, submitted in accordance with the current issue of Client Procedures Circular CPC-2-6-01, Procedure for the Submission of Applications for Spectrum Licences and Site Approvals for Earth Stations Requiring Site Approval, and CPC-2-6-03, Procedure for the Submission of Applications for Generic Earth Station Spectrum Licences.

This SRSP replaced the technical requirements that were previously set out in Radio Standards Procedure RSP-114, Licence Application Procedure for Planned Earth Stations in Space Radiocommunication Services, and RSP-116, Licence Application Procedure for Planned Television and/or Radio Receive Only (TVRO) Earth Stations in the Fixed satellite Service. With the release of SRSP-101, RSP-114 and RSP-116 were rescinded.

Existing earth stations that were authorized prior to the issuance of this SRSP may continue to operate with their current technical characteristics. However, new earth stations being deployed or modifications made to existing earth stations will need to conform to the requirements of this SRSP.

This SRSP specifies system characteristics relating to efficient spectrum usage only and is not to be regarded as a comprehensive specification for equipment design and/or selection.

The technical requirements stated in section 4 of this SRSP only apply to earth stations operating within specific space radiocommunication services, as stated for each requirement. In cases where earth stations will operate in a space radiocommunication service where technical requirements of this SRSP do not apply, Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED) may establish alternate requirements on a case-by-case basis.

Note that in this document, a “fixed earth station” is an earth station located at a specified fixed point and is not restricted to an earth station in the fixed-satellite service, and that “Maritime ESIMs” (M-ESIMs) in the C- and Ku-bands are also referred to as “earth stations on board vessels” (ESVs) in the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) Radio Regulations.

Earth stations that conform to these technical requirements will be given priority in licensing over non-standard earth stations operating in the same band.

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

Although an earth station may conform to the requirements of this SRSP, modifications to that earth station may be required whenever harmful interference is caused. Note that for the purpose of this SRSP, “harmful interference” means interference that endangers the functioning of a radionavigation service or other safety services, or seriously degrades, obstructs, or repeatedly interrupts a radiocommunication service operating in accordance with regulatory and technical requirements enacted by ISED under the Radiocommunication Act.

It should be noted that earth stations may operate in frequency bands that are shared with other stations operating in the same service and other services that operate in accordance with the Canadian Table of Frequency Allocations and spectrum utilization policies. Domestic and international coordination with these other stations may be required.

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

Acronyms

• CPC: Client Procedures Circular
• CTFA: Canadian Table of Frequency Allocations
• RP: Radio Systems Policy
• RSS: Radio Standards Specification
• SMSE: Canada Gazette Notice
• SP: Spectrum Utilization Policy
• SRSP: Standard Radio System Plan
• TRC: Telecommunications Regulation Circular

The technical requirements stated in this section only apply to earth stations operating within the space radiocommunication services specified. They also apply to ESIMs that are permitted in the frequency bands specified in annex A of CPC-2-6-03. Additional requirements that apply only to specific bands can be found in SRSP-102, Band-Specific Technical Requirements for Earth Stations in the Fixed-Satellite Service.

Compliance with this SRSP does not eliminate the obligation to comply with other requirements specified in the ITU Radio Regulations.

4.1 Power limitations for space radiocommunication services in frequency bands shared with terrestrial services in Canada

For space services sharing frequency bands above 1 GHz with terrestrial services, the equivalent isotropically radiated power (e.i.r.p.) transmitted in any direction towards the horizon by an earth station shall not exceed the following limits:

1. in frequency bands between 1 GHz and 15 GHz
   • +40 dBW in any 4 kHz band for θ ≤ 0°
   • +40 + 3θ dBW in any 4 kHz band for 0° < θ ≤ 5°
2. in frequency bands above 15 GHz
   • +64 dBW in any 1 MHz band for θ ≤ 0°
   • +64 + 3θ dBW in any 1 MHz band for 0° < θ ≤ 5°

where θ is the angle of elevation of the horizon viewed from the centre of the radiation of the antenna of the earth station and measured in degrees as positive above the horizontal plane and negative below it.

These limits apply to earth stations operating in any of the space services and frequency bands shown in table 1, where the frequency bands are shared with equal rights with the fixed or mobile service.

Note: Not all the listed space services operate in every listed frequency band.

For angles of elevation of the horizon greater than 5°, there shall be no restriction as to the e.i.r.p. transmitted by an earth station towards the horizon.

4.2 Power stability for space radiocommunication services

For each earth station, the power output level of the amplifier shall remain within ±1 dB of its nominal setting.

4.3 Frequency tolerance for space radiocommunication services

For each earth station, the frequency tolerance from nominally assigned frequencies of the earth station shall be within:

• ±0.002% for frequencies below 2.45 GHz
• ±0.005% for frequencies between 2.45 GHz and 10.5 GHz
• ±0.01% for frequencies between 10.5 GHz and 40 GHz

4.4 Emission limits for space radiocommunication services

This section specifies the unwanted emissions limits for radiocommunication services in both the out-of-band domain and the spurious domain for both transmitters and receivers.

4.4.1 Unwanted emission limits for space radiocommunication services in the out-of-band domain

The transmitter unwanted emission limits are specified in terms of out-of-band power masks.

4.4.1.1 Out-of-band masks for fixed-satellite service and mobile-satellite service earth stations

The mean power of emissions shall be attenuated below the mean output power of the transmitter in accordance with paragraphs (1) through (3) below:

1. In any 4 kHz band, the centre frequency of which is removed from the assigned frequency by more than 50% up to and including 100% of the authorized bandwidth: 25 dB.
2. In any 4 kHz band, the centre frequency of which is removed from the assigned frequency by more than 100% up to and including 250% of the authorized bandwidth: 35 dB.
3. When an emission outside of the authorized bandwidth causes harmful interference, ISED may, at its discretion, require greater attenuation than specified in paragraphs (1) and (2) above.

4.4.1.2 Out-of-band mask for the space research service, space operations service, and Earth exploration satellite service earth stations operating in the 1-20 GHz band

1. The mask shown in figure 1 applies to single carrier emissions from space research service (SRS), space operations service (SOS), and Earth exploration-satellite service (EESS) earth stations operating at centre frequencies between 1 GHz and 20 GHz.
2. The emission mask is specified in dBsd units measured in a 4 kHz reference bandwidth.
   • The emission mask is defined to be:
     • Attenuation = -15 + 15(X/50%) dBsd for 50% < X ≤ 150% (1)
     • Attenuation = +12 + 6(X/50%) dBsd for 150% < X ≤ 250% (2)
     • where X is specified as a percentage of the necessary bandwidth.
3. The emission mask herein is only applicable to single-carrier emissions in the space research, space operation and Earth exploration-satellite stations in bands between 1 GHz and 20 GHz.

Figure 1: Recommended out-of-band mask for SRS, SOS and EESS earth stations using single carrier emissions in the bands between 1 GHz and 20 GHz

Note: The emission mask generally extends to 250% of the necessary bandwidth. However, the outer edge of the out-of-band domain for narrowband and wideband systems is modified as indicated in Recommendation ITU-R SM.1539.

4.4.2 Unwanted emission limits for space radiocommunication services in the spurious domain

This section specifies the limits of the unwanted emissions in the spurious domain for both the transmitter and receiver.

4.4.2.1 Transmitter spurious emission limits for space radiocommunication services

For any frequency removed from the assigned channel centre frequency by more than 250% of the necessary bandwidth, the mean power of emission shall be attenuated by 43 + 10 log (total mean power in watts) dBc or 60 dBc relative to the full carrier power in the assigned channel in any 4 kHz reference bandwidth, whichever is less stringent. In the case of multiple carriers from a single amplifier, the emission limits apply to each carrier.

The term dBc is the number of decibels relative to the unmodulated carrier power of the emission. In cases where it is not possible to measure the carrier, the reference level equivalent to the dBc level is the number of decibels relative to the mean power. The emission limits apply to all emissions, including harmonic emissions, intermodulation products, frequency conversion products and parasitic emissions.

The total mean power is the average power in watts supplied to the antenna transmission line by a power amplifier during a sufficiently long interval of time compared with the lowest frequency encountered in the modulation taken under normal operating conditions. When burst transmission is used, the mean power P and the mean power of any spurious domain emissions are measured using power averaging over the burst duration.

4.4.2.2 Receiver spurious emission limits for space radiocommunication services

Receiving earth stations may not emit electromagnetic waves that have a field strength greater than that which would occur if the stations were replaced by an isotropic transmitter of five nanowatts.

4.5 Off-axis equivalent isotropically radiated power density limits for earth stations operating with geostationary satellites in the fixed-satellite service

The limits described in annex A shall apply. Annex C illustrates how to calculate the power density in a reference bandwidth.

4.6 Antenna gain patterns for earth stations operating with geostationary satellites in the fixed-satellite service

The antenna gains described in annex B shall apply.

The coordination of earth stations with respect to space stations of other space networks is addressed when the space networks are coordinated. When the coordination of earth stations is required with terrestrial networks and/or earth stations of other space networks operating in the opposite direction of transmission, the domestic and international coordination requirements are contained in CPC-2-6-01, Procedure for the Submission of Applications for Spectrum Licences and Site Approvals for Earth Stations Requiring Site Approval, CPC-2-6-03, Procedure for the Submission of Applications for Generic Earth Station Spectrum Licences, and CPC-2-6-04, Procedure for the Submission of Applications to Approve the Use of Foreign-Licensed Satellites in Canada.

Actual transmit and receive parameters shall be used where possible for coordination with terrestrial networks rather than the envelopes illustrated in annexes A and B.

The following off-axis equivalent isotropically radiated power (e.i.r.p.) density limits, under clear sky conditions, shall be observed (see note A1). These limits can normally be met by a transmitting antenna whose pattern complies with one of those in annex B, as appropriate. For antennas not complying with the limits in annex B, the input power of the station needs to be reduced to meet the limits contained herein. The off-axis angle is defined as the angle between the direction of interest and the axis of the main lobe. The e.i.r.p. density for any angle of rotation about the boresight axis must meet the specified e.i.r.p. density limits. Several notes at the end of this annex provide additional information on the application of these limits.

A.1. For earth stations installed prior to January 1, 1986, and not modified since that date (see notes A2 and A3):

A.1.1 For earth stations operating in the frequency band 5925–6425 MHz:

A.1.2 For earth stations operating in the frequency band 13.75–14.5 GHz:

A.2. For all earth stations installed or modified on or after January 1, 1986 (see notes A2, A3, A6 and A8):

A.2.1 For earth stations operating in the frequency band 5925–6425 MHz, other than those considered in section A.2.2 of this annex, the e.i.r.p. density in any direction within ±3° of the geostationary satellite orbit (GSO) shall not exceed the following values:

A.2.2 For earth stations in motion (ESIMs) operating in the frequency band 5925–6425 MHz (see notes A4 and A5):

i. For co-polarized signals, the e.i.r.p. density emitted from an ESIM in the plane of the GSO arc shall not exceed the following values:

ii. For co-polarized signals, the e.i.r.p. density emitted from an ESIM in all other directions shall not exceed the following values:

iii. For cross-polarized signals, the e.i.r.p. density emitted from an ESIM in all directions shall not exceed the following values:

A.2.3 For earth stations operating in the frequency band 13.75–14.5 GHz other than those considered below in section A.2.4 of this annex, the e.i.r.p. density in any direction within ±3° of the GSO arc shall not exceed the following values:

A.2.4 For ESIMs operating in the frequency band 14–14.5 GHz (see notes A4 and A5):

i. For co-polarized signals, the e.i.r.p. density emitted from an ESIM in the plane of the GSO arc shall not exceed the following values:

ii. For co-polarized signals, the e.i.r.p. density emitted from an ESIM in all other directions shall not exceed the following values:

iii. For cross-polarized signals, the e.i.r.p. density emitted from an ESIM in all directions shall not exceed the following values:

A.2.4 bis) For ESIMs operating in the frequency band 13.75-14.0 GHz (see notes A4 and A5):

i. For co-polarized signals, the e.i.r.p. density emitted from an ESIM in the plane of the GSO arc shall not exceed the following values:

ii. For co-polarized signals, the e.i.r.p. density emitted from an ESIM in all other directions shall not exceed the following values:

iii. For cross-polarized signals, the e.i.r.p. density emitted from an ESIM in all directions shall not exceed the following values:

A.2.5 For earth stations operating in the frequency band 24.75–25.25 GHz:

i. For co-polarized signals, the e.i.r.p. density in any direction within ±3° of the GSO arc shall not exceed the following values:

ii. For co-polarized signals, the e.i.r.p. density for all directions other than within ±3° of the GSO arc shall not exceed the following values:

iii. For cross-polarized signals, the e.i.r.p. density in all directions other than within ±3° of the GSO arc shall not exceed the following values:

A.2.6 For earth stations operating in the frequency band 27.5–30 GHz (see note A7):

i. For co-polarized signals, the e.i.r.p. density in any direction within ±3° of the GSO arc shall not exceed the following values:

ii. For co-polarized signals, the e.i.r.p. density for all directions other than within ±3° of the GSO arc shall not exceed the following values:

iii. For cross-polarized signals, the e.i.r.p. density in all directions relative to the GSO arc shall not exceed the following values:

A.2.7 For ESIMs operating in the frequency bands 27.5-29.1 GHz and 29.25-30 GHz (see notes A4 and A5):

i. For co-polarized signals, the e.i.r.p. density emitted from an ESIM in any direction within ±3° of the GSO arc shall not exceed the following values:

ii. For co-polarized signals, the e.i.r.p. density emitted from an ESIM for all directions other than within ±3° of the GSO arc shall not exceed the following values:

iii. For cross-polarized signals, the e.i.r.p. density emitted from an ESIM in all directions relative to the GSO arc shall not exceed the following values:

Note A1:

For operations at frequencies above 10 GHz, earth station operators may exceed the uplink e.i.r.p. density limits specified under the conditions of uplink fading due to precipitation by an amount not to exceed 1 dB above the actual amount of monitored excess attenuation over clear sky propagation conditions. The e.i.r.p. density levels shall be returned to normal as soon as the attenuating weather pattern subsides. The maximum power level for power control purposes shall be coordinated between and among adjacent satellite operators.

Note A2:

For any direction outside of ±3° from the GSO arc, the limits in sections A.1.1 and A.1.2 of this annex shall apply, unless specified otherwise.

Note A3:

For off-axis angles ɸ > 7°, the limits shall not be exceeded by more than 10% of the earth station antenna side-lobes provided that no individual side-lobe exceeds the limits given by more than 3 dB.

Note A4:

For non-circular ESIM antennas, the major axis of the antenna should be aligned with the tangent to the GSO arc at the target satellite point, to the extent required to meet specified off-axis e.i.r.p. criteria.

Note A5:

ESIMs are allowed to operate in the specified fixed-satellite service frequency bands within the limits specified and on the condition that the use of such frequencies shall not cause harmful interference to an authorized station.

Note A6:

For systems where more than one earth station is expected to transmit simultaneously in the same frequency band, the e.i.r.p. density limit should be reduced by 10 log₁₀ (M), where M is the maximum number of simultaneously transmitting co-frequency earth stations in the receive beam of the satellite.

Note A7:

Earth stations operating in the frequency band 27.5–30 GHz that have lower elevation angles to the GSO arc will require higher e.i.r.p. density levels relative to the same terminals at higher elevation angles to achieve the same power flux densities at the GSO arc. This is due to the combined effect of increased distance and atmospheric absorption. Earth stations with low elevation angles may exceed the levels specified in section A.2.6 of this annex by the following amount:

Note A8:

For earth stations that operate in bands not shared with terrestrial stations, the e.i.r.p. density limit can be relaxed by 10 dB in the back lobe, i.e. for off-axis angles between 85° and 180°.

For coordination purposes, it will be assumed that the antenna gain within ±3° of the geostationary satellite orbit (GSO) is described by the following expressions in sections B.1 to B.3 of this annex as applicable. The off-axis angle is defined as the angle between the direction of interest and the axis of the main lobe. The measured radiation pattern for any angle of rotation about the boresight axis must meet the specified radiation pattern envelope. Several notes at the end of this annex provide additional guidelines on the application of these antenna gains.

B.1. For earth stations that operate in frequency bands shared with terrestrial stations:

as applicable in accordance with the relevant sections in annex A.

B.2. For earth stations that operate in frequency bands not shared with terrestrial stations:

B.3. For television receive only (TVRO) earth stations in the frequency band 3700–4200 MHz, the protection antenna pattern requirements are:

B.4. For angles more than 3° away from the GSO, the gain will be assumed to be:

as applicable in accordance with the relevant sections in annex A.

Note B1:

Where earth station antennas have gain patterns which are better than those shown (i.e. lower off-axis gain), the actual pattern may be used for coordination purposes.

Note B2:

The gain is considered in the plane of the GSO as it appears at the particular earth station.

Note B3:

The envelope may be exceeded by no more than 10% of the side-lobes provided that no individual side-lobe exceeds the gain envelope given by more than 3 dB.

Note B4:

In the frequency band 3700–4200 MHz, licences to operate protected TVRO earth stations will only be issued if the antenna radiation pattern is such that 90% of the side-lobe peaks fall within the envelope given in section B.3 of this annex.

The following equations show how to average an equivalent isotropically radiated power (e.i.r.p.) density over a different reference bandwidth, as required in annex A, for a digital carrier.

It may be necessary to convert the e.i.r.p. density value to a different reference bandwidth, e.g. 4 kHz, 40 kHz or 1 MHz. The following methods should be applied, where:

EIRPD_W/Hz = e.i.r.p. density, W/Hz, of the digital carrier
B_c = carrier bandwidth, expressed in hertz
B_r = reference bandwidth, which could be 4 kHz, 40 kHz, or 1 MHz, expressed in hertz

Case 1: B_c < B_r

EIRPD_W/Br = EIRPD_W/Hz × B_c (watts per reference bandwidth, B_r, e.g. W/4kHz, W/40 kHz, or W/1MHz)

Case 2: B_c ≥ B_r, then

EIRPD_W/Br = EIRPD_W/Hz × B_r (watts per reference bandwidth, B_r)

Note that this assumes that the power of the digital carrier is uniformly spread over the concerned frequency band.