CPC-2-6-06 — Guidelines for the Submission of Applications to Provide Mobile Satellite Services in Canada

Preface

Comments and suggestions may be directed to the following address:

Industry Canada
Engineering, Planning and Standards Branch
235 Queen Street
Ottawa, Ontario
K1A 0H5

Attention: DSS-O

Email: ic.spectrumpublications-publicationsduspectre.ic@canada.ca

All Spectrum Management and Telecommunications publications are available on the following website: ic.spectrumpublications-publicationsduspectre.ic@canada.ca.

1. Introduction

This circular deals with the procedures to obtain approval in principle to provide mobile-satellite services in Canada. Mobile-satellite service includes earth stations on board vessels (ESVs).

2. Principles

The radio frequency spectrum is a public resource and Industry Canada is responsible for making spectrum available to specific users in Canada. Mobile-satellite service in Canada is available to members of the public through mobile-satellite service providers, which hold the licences and enable their subscribers to use the radio spectrum.

3. Mandate

Section 5 of the Radiocommunication Act stipulates that the Minister of Industry may issue radio or spectrum licences and fix the terms and conditions of such licences in order to permit the use of the radio spectrum in Canada.

4. Policy

4.1 General Policy

The licence holder must be an entity that is eligible under subsection 9(1) of the Radiocommunication Regulations to hold a radio authorization.

Prospective mobile-satellite service providers must demonstrate, where applicable, that they meet the assessment criteria and factors contained in Radio Systems Policy RP-007, Policy Framework for the Provision of Mobile Satellite Services via Regional and Global Satellite Systems in the Canadian Market.

Spectrum licensing approaches developed for mobile-satellite service operating below and above 1 GHz were published in Canada Gazette Notice No. DGRB-001-97, Radio Authorization Fees for Mobile Satellite Services Using Radio Spectrum Below 1 GHz, and Canada Gazette Notice No. DGRB-009-99, Radio Authorization Fees for Mobile Satellite Services Using Radio Spectrum Above 1 GHz, respectively. The key point in the spectrum licensing process is that service providers hold all the licences that permit the operation of the subscriber earth stations. The spectrum licences authorize the use of specified radio frequencies within a defined geographic area.

4.2 Mobile Earth Stations Using Fixed-Satellite Service (FSS) Frequencies

These procedures also apply to earth stations that provide mobile-satellite service using FSS spectrum.

4.3 Earth Stations On Board Vessels

For earth stations on board vessels (ESVs), applicants must provide additional information to meet the requirements of Standard Radio System Plan 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.

5. Procedures

5.1 Application for Approval in Principle

Prospective mobile-satellite service providers must submit a letter of intent to Industry Canada, using Annex A as a guide. In some cases, the Department may require the submission of additional information in order to complete the evaluation of an application.

If the application is found to be acceptable, the Department will issue a letter of approval in principle. An approval in principle may be granted subject to certain licence conditions, which are derived from elements of government policy applicable to the service provided. Such licence conditions may include requirements that licensees:

  1. implement their system as outlined in their application;
  2. invest a minimum of two percent of annual adjusted gross revenues resulting from the provision of mobile-satellite service on satellite-related research and development activities averaged over the term of the licence;
  3. make fair and reasonable efforts to provide mobile-satellite service to all regions of Canada within the coverage contour and the service availability;
  4. file an annual report outlining progress made in implementing the system and providing statistics on the number of different types of subscriber units;
  5. coordinate, both domestically and internationally, the operation of the earth stations prior to the commencement of commercial operations;
  6. ensure that subscriber radio equipment is certified in accordance with the applicable standard; and
  7. ensure that the operation of subscriber earth stations is in accordance with the recommendations for the safe use of radiation emitting devices as determined by Health Canada. These recommendations are provided in Health Canada’s publication, Limits of Human Exposure to Radiofrequency Electromagnetic Energy in the Frequency Range from 3 kHz – 300 GHz (Safety Code 6).

5.2 Application for Spectrum Licences

Only mobile-satellite service providers that have received an approval in principle in accordance with the above procedure may obtain a spectrum licence. Such spectrum licences are issued subject to the licensee’s acceptance of the licence conditions, and permit the provision of mobile-satellite service by authorizing the use of spectrum within Canada.

To obtain a spectrum licence, mobile-satellite service applicants must agree to the licence conditions and submit the applicable spectrum licence fee. Information on fees for spectrum licences can be found in Canada Gazette Notice No. DGRB-001-97, Radio Authorization Fees for Mobile Satellite Services Using Radio Spectrum Below 1 GHz and Notice No. DGRB-009-99, Radio Authorization Fees for Mobile Satellite Services Using Radio Spectrum Above 1 GHz. To license feeder link or telemetry, tracking and command (TT&C) earth stations associated with a mobile-satellite system, applicants should refer to Client Procedures Circular CPC-2-6-01, Procedure for the Submission of Applications to License Fixed Earth Stations and to Approve the Use of Foreign Satellites in Canada.

6. Developmental Licences

Industry Canada will issue developmental radio licences, on a case-by-case basis, for purposes such as developing terminal equipment or conducting limited service trials. Licence conditions associated with developmental radio licences may include operating on a no-interference, no-protection basis and limiting operations to specific geographical locations. When applying for a developmental licence, only technical information needs to be provided. To this end, applicants should submit the information requested in Annex B, as appropriate.

7. Mailing Instructions

Enquiries and applications for developmental licences should be addressed to the appropriate regional office of Industry Canada, listed in Radiocommunications Information Circular RIC-66, Addresses and Telephone Numbers of Regional and District Offices. All other submissions or enquiries concerning applications for the licensing of mobile-satellite service should be sent by email to the Manager, Satellite Authorization Policy, at ic.satelliteauthorization-autorisationsatellite.ic@canada.ca.

8. Related Documents

  1. Radiocommunication Act
  2. Radiocommunication Regulations
  3. Radio Systems Policy RP-007, Policy Framework for the Provision of Mobile Satellite Services via Regional and Global Satellite Systems in the Canadian Market
  4. Canada Gazette Notice No. DGRB-001-97, Radio Authorization Fees for Mobile Satellite Services Using Radio Spectrum Below 1 GHz
  5. Canada Gazette Notice No. DGRB-009-99, Radio Authorization Fees for Mobile Satellite Services Using Radio Spectrum Above 1 GHz
  6. Client Procedures Circular CPC-2-6-01, Procedure for the Submission of Applications to License Fixed Earth Stations and to Approve the Use of Foreign Satellites in Canada
  7. Radiocommunications Information Circular RIC-66, Addresses and Telephone Numbers of Regional and District Offices
  8. Client Procedures Circular CPC-2-0-03, Radiocommunication and Broadcasting Antenna Systems
  9. Radio Standards Procedure RSP-100, Radio Equipment Certification Procedure
  10. 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.

The above-mentioned documents are available at http://www.ic.gc.ca/spectrum.

Annex A – Required Information for a Letter of Intent to Provide Mobile-Satellite Service in Canada

  1. Applicant
    • 1.1 A description of the applicant, indicating the primary business of the company, the organizational status of the applicant (whether a person, corporation, or limited partnership, etc.), a contact name, position, postal address, email address and telephone number.
    • 1.2 The basic incorporation details, such as where and when the corporation was incorporated and the jurisdiction.
    • 1.3 A copy of the applicant’s certificate of incorporation.
  2. Services
    • 2.1 A detailed description of the proposed mobile-satellite service to be provided.
    • 2.2 A five-year schedule providing implementation plans for the service. Service implementation dates and growth of spectrum requirements should be included in this plan. Sufficient information should be provided to validate the schedule.
    • 2.3 A description of the nature of the relationship between the applicant and the users of the mobile radio equipment.
    • 2.4 A description of how the applicant will accommodate the circulation and operation of non-Canadian registered subscriber stations while located in Canada.
  3. Mobile-Satellite Service Policy Framework
  4. Service Provider Agreement
    • 4.1 A copy of the agreement between the service provider and the satellite operator for the provision of mobile-satellite service within Canada.
  5. System Description
    • 5.1 A description of the proposed mobile satellite system and subscriber earth stations, using Annex B as a guide.
  6. Other Information
    • 6.1 Any other information which may facilitate the evaluation of the application.

Annex B – Required Information to Describe the Mobile-Satellite Service and Subscriber Earth Stations

  1. Information About the Proposed System
    • 1.1 Type of stations: transmit only, transmit-receive, receive only.
    • 1.2 Area of operation of the subscriber earth stations. A description of the coverage area, as well as the overall link availability within the coverage area, should be provided.
    • 1.3 The type of service to be provided (data, voice, video, facsimile, etc.).
    • 1.4 The proposed space stations with which communications are to be made. The name of the space stations, the orbital parameters, and associated radio frequency bands should be provided.
    • 1.5 A technical description of how communications occur between the subscriber earth stations, the space stations, and any other earth stations that comprise the system.
    • 1.6 The points of origin and destination of traffic within the applicant’s overall communication system, including any interconnection of the proposed services with other telecommunications systems.
    • 1.7 An estimate of the initial and final loading, and projected growth of spectrum usage of the system in terms of bandwidth requirements and numbers of subscriber stations over the first five, and if available, 10 years. In addition, the capacity of the system in terms of the number of subscriber stations that the system can support, both globally and in Canada.
    • 1.8 The name and location of any other existing or planned earth stations with which communication will be carried out. Identify the frequency assignments and space stations associated with these earth stations.
  2. Information Relating to Transmitting Earth Stations
    • 2.1 The number of radio frequency transmit channels in the proposed subscriber earth stations.
    • 2.2 Each carrier frequency of emission, as well as the corresponding class of emission, necessary bandwidth and description of modulation.
    • 2.3 The isotropic or absolute gain (dBi), beamwidth and polarization of the antenna.
    • 2.4 For each carrier, the peak envelope power (dBW) and the maximum power density in dB(W/Hz) supplied to the input of the antenna averaged over the worst 4 kHz band for carriers below 15 GHz, or averaged over the worst 1 MHz band for carriers above 15 GHz.
    • 2.5 The characteristics of the signal modulating the carrier.
    • 2.6 A technical description of how the subscriber earth stations avoid causing interference to other radiocommunication services or systems that operate in the same or adjacent bands of frequencies.
  3. Information Relating to Receiving Earth Stations
    • 3.1 The number of radio frequency receive channels in the subscriber earth stations.
    • 3.2 Each carrier frequency of emission, as well as the corresponding class of emission, necessary bandwidth and description of modulation from the related space stations.
    • 3.3 The isotropic or absolute gain (dBi), beamwidth and polarization of the antenna.
    • 3.4 An indication of whether protection for the receive portion of the earth stations is required. If protection is required, indicate the degree to which the proposed receivers can operate in the presence of existing radio transmitters using the same or adjacent bands of frequencies.
  4. Other Information
    • 4.1 Any other information that may assist Industry Canada in the technical evaluation of the proposal to provide mobile-satellite service in Canada.
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