SRSP-102 — Band-Specific Technical Requirements for Earth Stations in the Fixed-Satellite Service

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 specific technical requirements for earth stations operating in certain frequency bands in the fixed-satellite service (FSS). This document is in addition to the requirements set out in 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, which specifies general technical requirements that apply to all earth stations in the FSS. This document will be updated as technical requirements are established in each specific band following policy decisions, as appropriate.

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

3. Following the publication of SLPB-002-21, Decision on the Technical and Policy Framework for the 3650-4200 MHz Band and Changes to the Frequency Allocation of the 3500-3650 MHz Band, the minimum technical requirements for FSS earth stations operating in the 3700-4200 MHz band are included as annex A of issue 1 of this SRSP.

4. Technical rules for other bands will be added as new annexes, as needed.

5. The current issues of the following documents are applicable and are available on the Spectrum management and telecommunications website.

2.1 Related documents for the 3700-4200 MHz band

Acronyms

• CTFA: Canadian Table of Frequency Allocations
• DGSO: Canada Gazette Notice
• SLPB: Canada Gazette Notice
• SMSE: Canada Gazette Notice
• SPB: Canada Gazette Notice
• SRSP: Standard Radio System Plan

6. This section lists the specific frequency band(s) covered by this SRSP and indicates the corresponding annex(es) where the minimum technical requirements for each band can be found.

3.1 Minimum technical requirements for the 3700-4200 MHz band

7. The minimum technical requirements for FSS earth stations operating in the 3700-4200 MHz band are contained in annex A.

A.1 Definitions for the 3700-4200 MHz band

The following terms are used in this annex.

Consolidated gateway site
A site identified in SLPB-002-21, Decision on the Technical and Policy Framework for the 3650-4200 MHz Band and Changes to the Frequency Allocation of the 3500-3650 MHz Band, and listed in table A1, below, for the consolidation of gateway earth stations that are located outside satellite-dependent areas but serve satellite-dependent areas.

Non-transitioned earth station

1. Before October 1, 2023, an earth station that could operate in the 3700-4200 MHz band under:
   1. a site-specific radio licence issued before the publication of SLPB-002-21 (May 21, 2021) for a location in a satellite-dependent area;
   2. a site-specific radio licence issued for a location at a consolidated gateway site;
   3. a site-specific radio licence issued to the Government of Canada at various locations, including in the North Bay tier (4-097) and in satellite-dependent areas; or
   4. an interim authorization, and was uploaded in a satellite-dependent area in Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada’s (ISED) Spectrum Management System before October 22, 2021.
2. After October 1, 2023, with the implementation of SMSE-008-22, Decision on Updates to the Licensing and Fee Framework for Earth Stations and Space Stations in Canada, a fixed earth station that operates in the 3700-4200 MHz band under:
   1.    e. an earth station site approval converted from a), b), or c) above; or
   2.    f. a generic earth station spectrum licence converted from d) above.

Satellite-dependent area
A rural or remote area where communities depend on satellite services for telephony and broadband connectivity, as identified in SLPB-002-21 and listed in table A2, below.

Transitioned earth station
An earth station in any area that either:

1. has completed its applicable transition to 4000-4200 MHz, as outlined in SLPB-002-21; or
2. communicates with a satellite that is licensed/approved for operation only in 4000-4200 MHz.

Transitioning earth station
In the context of this SRSP, a transitioning earth station is an earth station authorized in the 3700-4200 MHz band before the publication of SLPB-002-21 (May 21, 2021) that is required to, but has yet to, transition to be entitled to protection in accordance with SLPB-002-21. Specifically, an earth station that must obtain authorization for, and complete one of the following modifications by March 31, 2025:

1. relocating to one of the consolidated gateway sites, if the station is a civilian gateway located outside satellite-dependent areas but is serving satellite-dependent areas;
2. relocating to the Government of Canada site in the North Bay tier (4-097), if the station is a Government of Canada station located outside satellite-dependent areas; or
3. changing its receiving range to the 4000-4200 MHz band, if the station is located outside satellite-dependent areas and not eligible for the modifications described in a) and b) above.

A.2 Technical criteria

Earth stations in one of the following groups may continue to operate under their authorized parameters:

1. non-transitioned earth stations; and
2. transitioning earth stations in the 3700-4200 MHz band, but only until March 31, 2025.

New or transitioned earth stations in the 4000-4200 MHz band requiring protection must obtain authorization and meet the minimum receiver filter parameters as set out in table A3, below:

A.3 Coexistence requirements for earth stations operating in the 3700-4200 MHz band

For coexistence with other radio service licensees, both in-band and adjacent-band, specific requirements are provided below; in some cases, coordination may also be required. Coordination involves consultation between licensees to ensure coexistence with other systems.

Where an interference conflict occurs, licensees are directed to resolve the conflict through mutual arrangements between the affected parties following consultation and coordination.

When potential conflicts between systems cannot be resolved in a timely fashion, ISED shall be so advised, whereupon, following consultations with the parties concerned, ISED will determine the necessary course of action.

A.3.1 Receipt of notification from licensees planning to operate in the 3450-3700 MHz and 3700-3900 MHz bands

The following groups of earth station licensees will receive notification from licensees deploying other radio services within the same, or an adjacent, band.

1. Until March 31, 2025:
   1. Licensees of site-approved earth stations in the 3700-4200 MHz band will be notified by wireless broadband services (WBS) licensees, in accordance with SRSP-303.65, Technical Requirements for Wireless Broadband Services (WBS) in the Band 3650–3700 MHz. (Note that before the implementation of SMSE-008-22 on October 1, 2023, site-approved earth stations are site-licensed.)
2. After March 31, 2025:
   1. Licensees of site-approved non-transitioned earth stations in the 3700-4200 MHz band will be notified by operators planning flexible use stations in the 3450-3700 MHz band, in accordance with SRSP-520, Technical Requirements for Fixed and/or Mobile Systems, Including Flexible Use Broadband Systems, in the Band 3450-3900 MHz.
   2. Licensees of site-approved non-transitioned earth stations in the 3700-4200 band will be notified by WBS licensees, in accordance with SRSP-303.65.

Although a response is not required, the above groups of earth station licensees are encouraged to acknowledge receipt of notification in a timely manner.

A.3.2 Coordination with licensees planning to operate in the 3450-3700 MHz and 3700-3900 MHz bands

The following groups of earth station licensees must respond when approached for coordination by licensees deploying other radio services within the same, or an adjacent, band:

1. Licensees of earth stations operating only in the 4000-4200 MHz band (including transitioned earth stations) must respond to any coordination requests for flexible use stations planned in the 3700-3900 MHz band, in accordance with SRSP-520.
2. Until March 31, 2025:
   1. Licensees of site-approved earth stations in the 3700-4200 MHz band must respond to any coordination requests for flexible use stations planned in the 3450-3700 MHz band in accordance with DGSO-006-23, 3800 MHz Transition Manual and Licence Exchange Process for Flexible Use Licensees in the 3500/3800 MHz Bands (the 3800 MHz Transition Manual).
   2. Licensees of all earth stations in the 3700-4200 MHz band must respond to any coordination requests for flexible use stations planned in the 3700-3900 MHz band, in accordance with the 3800 MHz Transition Manual.
3. After March 31, 2025:
   1. Licensees of non-transitioned earth stations in the 3700-4200 MHz band must respond to any coordination requests for flexible use stations planned in the 3700-3900 MHz band, in accordance with SRSP-520.

The earth stations referred to in the paragraph above are entitled to protection as per SLPB-002-21. However, earth stations that operate in only the 4000-4200 MHz band (including transitioned earth stations) must meet the minimum receiver filter parameters set out in table A3, above, to be entitled to protection.

When coordination is sought, both parties are expected to cooperate and jointly resolve any issues in a timely manner to ensure equitable access to, and use of, the spectrum.

In the absence of a coordination agreement and in the event of interference to any protected earth stations (irrespective of whether the fixed or base stations comply with the applicable rules), the responsibility for mitigating that interference will be on the licensee of an interfering system in the other radio service.

A.3.3 Coexistence with non-competitive local licensed systems in the 3900-3980 MHz band

The non-competitive local (NCL) licensing tool will account for the following groups of earth stations in the 3700-4200 MHz band in issuing authorizations in the 3900-3980 MHz band:

1. all earth stations already authorized to operate only in the 4000-4200 MHz band;
2. until March 31, 2025, all earth stations authorized in the 3700-4200 MHz band; and
3. after March 31, 2025, non-transitioned earth stations authorized in the 3700-4200 MHz band.

The earth stations referred to in the paragraph above are entitled to protection as per SLPB-002-21 and SPB-001-23, Decision on a Non-Competitive Local Licensing Framework, Including Spectrum in the 3900-3980 MHz Band and Portions of the 26, 28 and 38 GHz Bands. However, earth stations that operate in only the 4000-4200 MHz band (including transitioned earth stations), must meet the minimum receiver filter parameters set out in table A3, above, to be entitled to protection.

In the event of interference to any protected earth stations (irrespective of whether the fixed or base stations comply with the applicable rules), the responsibility for mitigating that interference will be on the licensee of an interfering NCL-licensed system in the 3900-3980 MHz band.

A.3.4 Additional coexistence considerations

ISED encourages earth station operators to consult ISED’s Spectrum Management System search tools for a current list of operators with uploaded deployments or NCL-licensed service areas in a given area.

In the planning of any new earth stations in the 4000-4200 MHz band, FSS operators are required to take into account all flexible use stations already deployed in the 3700-3900 MHz band, and all NCL service areas already licensed in the 3900-3980 MHz band, as any new earth stations may not claim protection from already established stations.

A.4 International coordination

Until any applicable international agreements are finalized, the following groups of earth stations are afforded protection from US fixed or base stations deployed in the 3700-3900 MHz band:

1. non-transitioned and transitioning earth stations; and
2. transitioned earth stations meeting the requirements set out in this SRSP.