Decision on Proposed Revisions to the Canadian Table of Frequency Allocations 2022 Edition

1. Through the release of this document, Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED) announces changes to the Canadian Table of Frequency Allocations (the Canadian Table) resulting from consultation process SMSE-006-22, Proposed Revisions to the Canadian Table of Frequency Allocations, 2022 Edition (the Consultation). The Canadian Table will be modified accordingly and published on ISED’s Spectrum Management and Telecommunications website.

2. ISED revises the Canadian Table on a periodic basis, typically following an International Telecommunication Union (ITU) World Radiocommunication Conference (WRC). The most recent WRC, held in November 2019, resulted in a number of updates to the International Table of Frequency Allocations (the International Table). As the Canadian Table is derived from the International Table, corresponding updates were required.

3. On January 13, 2022, ISED released a public consultation on these updates, as well as on proposed updates related to domestic policy changes. During the consultation comment period, which ended on March 21, 2022, comments were received from five entities.

4. Comments were received from Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC), the Radio Advisory Board of Canada (RABC), Rogers Communications (Rogers), SES S.A. (SES), and Viasat, Inc. and Viasat Canada Corp. (collectively Viasat).

5. There was general support for most of the proposed changes to the Canadian Table. For a few proposals, stakeholders requested some additional revisions or editorial corrections.

6. ECCC requested a delay in the adoption of a primary allocation to the mobile service (MS) in the frequency band 24.25-25.25 GHz to a future consultation. They stated that additional ITU Radiocommunication Sector (ITU-R) studies on the out-of-band emission limits on the MS that may be necessary to protect the Earth exploration-satellite service (EESS) (passive) operating in 23.6-24.0 GHz are currently being carried out.

7. The RABC requested that a sentence be added to Canadian footnote C52 regarding high altitude platform stations to indicate that future policy development will consider other primary services allocated in the relevant frequency bands. They also requested that a sentence be added to Canadian footnote C39B, noting Canada’s reservation in the Final Acts of WRC-19 to Resolution 229 (WRC-19). As well, they asked to maintain the mobile-satellite service (MSS) primary allocation in the frequency band 806-890 MHz and to not suppress footnote (FN) No. 5.317.

8. Rogers did not agree with the proposed removal of the primary allocation of the MSS in the frequency band 806-890 MHz or of FN No. 5.317. Rogers also requested two additional Canadian footnotes: one to extend the range of the MSS allocation to 894 MHz and one to establish priority to the MS in the frequency band 806-894 MHz.

9. SES suggested that ISED reconsider the MS allocation in the millimetre wave frequency bands (27.5-28.35 GHz and 37.5-40.0 GHz) given the limited demand for 5G in those bands and the challenging business case. SES did not agree with adopting the Resolution 169 (WRC-19) regulatory conditions as a domestic standard for earth stations in motion (ESIMs) in the frequency bands 17.7-19.7 GHz (space-to-Earth) and 27.5-29.5 GHz, as it felt the framework in the Resolution is overly restrictive to ESIMs.

10. Viasat also commented on the ESIM item, noting the provisions of Resolution 169 (WRC-19) that are more restrictive apply to border situations and a regulatory framework in Canada could consider other conditions in areas away from the border.

11. This section details ISED’s decisions on changes to the Canadian Table, including proposals for which no issues were raised and proposals for which comments were received.

4.1 Proposals for which no issues were raised

12. Support was expressed, or no comments were received, on the majority of the proposed changes to the Canadian Table in section 6 of the Consultation. ISED will adopt those proposed changes.

Decision

4.2 Proposals for which comments were received

13. With respect to the sections of the Canadian Table for which comments were received, ISED has assessed the comments and will adopt specific decisions for each, as outlined below.

4.2.1 Request to delay primary allocation to the MS in the frequency band 24.25-25.25 GHz

14. As mentioned in the Consultation, ISED will carry out a separate domestic policy consultation before the frequency band 24.25-25.25 GHz, or parts thereof, is considered for possible 5G deployment in Canada. Mandatory unwanted emission limits were added to Resolution 750 (WRC-19) to ensure coexistence with EESS (passive) receivers in the frequency band 23.6-24.0 GHz. Recommendations on additional unwanted emission limits developed within the ITU-R will be taken into account if the frequency band is considered for possible 5G deployment in Canada. A delay in adding the primary allocation to the MS in the frequency band 24.25-25.25 GHz in the Canadian Table is therefore not warranted.

Decision

4.2.2 Request for additional wording to Canadian footnote C52

15. Consideration of allocated services in a frequency band is a fundamental component of spectrum management and planning, and forms the basis of ISED’s policy development. ISED is of the view that the proposed addition to C52 is therefore not required, and ISED will adopt the wording proposed in the Consultation.

Decision

4.2.3 Request for additional wording to Canadian footnote C39B

16. The Consultation did not propose any changes to C39B. Although factual and providing historical context, the reservation expressed by Canada in the Final Acts of WRC-19 is not appropriate in Canadian footnote C39B. Technical and operational conditions applicable to this frequency band are reflected in ISED’s spectrum policy and radio standard specification documents. The existing wording of C39B in the Canadian Table will be maintained.

Decision

4.2.4 Request to maintain FN No. 5.317 and consider new Canadian footnotes

17. ISED agrees with the request to maintain FN No. 5.317 in the Canadian Table, which allocates the frequency band 806-890 MHz to the MSS on a primary basis. At this time, ISED sees no justification to extend this allocation to 894 MHz nor to add additional Canadian footnotes to this effect. Further consideration of the MSS deployment in this frequency band will be the subject of a future consultation.

Decision

4.2.5 Request to reconsider the primary MS allocation to the frequency bands 27.5-28.35 GHz and 37.5-40.0 GHz for 5G

18. Following public consultation, ISED made a spectrum policy decision on the referenced frequency bands in 2019 in its Decision on Releasing Millimetre Wave Spectrum to Support 5G. In June 2022, ISED released the Consultation on a Policy and Licensing Framework for Spectrum in the 26, 28 and 38 GHz Bands, which closed on November 8, 2022. The MS allocation will not be reconsidered.

4.2.6 Comments applicable to Resolution 169 (WRC-19) in the context of the implementation of ESIMs in Canada in FN No. 5.517A

19. ISED is of the view that FN No. 5.517A, referencing Resolution 169 (WRC-19), provides the basis for a regulatory framework for the operation of ESIMs in Canada and the protection of other services. ISED’s recent Decision on Updates to the Licensing and Fee Framework for Earth Stations and Space Stations in Canada includes ESIMs in the licensing and fee framework. Specific technical rules for ESIMs may be the subject of a future consultation.

Decision

20. All ISED publications related to spectrum management and telecommunications are available on ISED’s Spectrum Management and Telecommunications website.