The government also said it will be making more 5G spectrum available in the future, including through non-competitive local licensing
The government of Canada announced an outline detailing how it plans on releasing spectrum for mobile communications services between 2023 and 2027, and the spectrum bands under consideration.
The government said that its “Spectrum Outlook 2023 to 2027” lays out the government’s spectrum release plans for the coming years, ensuring that enough spectrum is available for the provision of mobile services nationwide.
“Overall demand for data and the number of connected devices will continue to experience significant growth. Demand for commercial mobile services is increasing, but existing and planned spectrum releases and consultations are likely to be able to meet this demand,” the report says. It also acknowledges that terrestrial and space-based systems’ needs will have to be balanced in the coming years.
In terms of bands under consideration, the report identifies three levels of priority for various airwaves. The first priority group, for which international standards already exist or equipment is available/expected to be available, includes some bands with work already underway. That list includes the 3.8 GHz band, 3.9 GHz band, 5.9 GHz, and millimeter-wave spectrum at 24 GHz, 26 GHz, 28 GHz and 38 GHz, as well as several bands above 95 GHz.
The second priority group includes bands on which ISED expects to begin work between 2023 and 2027 to bring them to commercialization in Canada, including through sharing arrangements and addressing potential allocation changes. Those bands include 900 MHz, the L-Band at 1.4-1.5 GHz, AWS-3 unpaired at 1.695-1.710 GHz and AWS-4 in the 2 GHz range; 2.5 GHz, 23 GHz, 37 GHz, 47.2-48.2 GHz and potential backhaul bands in the range between 92 and 174.8 GHz, among others.
The third priority group will be monitored for developments during the 2023-2027 period, because there is “uncertainty about the international developments or potential equipment available for these bands.” That group includes satellite bands in the 1.5 GHz, 1.6 GHz and 2 GHz range, AWS-2, 4.9 GHz, and potential flexible use at 40-43.5 GHz, as well as additional midband spectrum at 3.1-3.45 GHz (which the U.S. also has under consideration for repurposing).
“When put to good use, spectrum can drive innovation, improve rural connectivity, promote competition and even support efforts to address climate change. The Government of Canada will continue to make more of this important public resource available and ensure it is quickly put to use to strengthen the telecom services Canadians depend on,” said François-Philippe Champagne, minister of innovation, science and industry.
The government said it will be making more 5G spectrum available in the future, including through non-competitive local licensing and an upcoming auction for millimeter wave spectrum.
The government noted that the 3.8 GHz auction, scheduled to begin on October 24, 2023, will be the third major auction to make spectrum available for 5G, following the 600 MHz auction in 2019 and the 3.5 GHz auction in 2021. The government recently confirmed that more than 20 companies have applied to participate in the auction, including Rogers, Bell, Telus, Vidéotron, Bragg Communications, and City West.
For this spectrum auction, the government had decided to impose a 100-megahertz cap on the large national providers as to how much combined 3.5 GHz and 3.8 GHz spectrum they can acquire. Another measure requires a reserve of a total of 150 megahertz across the two bands for smaller competitors.
The government also said it will implement strong deployment requirements ensuring companies must “use or lose” the spectrum they win.
These rules follow the government’s decision to repurpose the 3.8 MHz band to support 5G services, which was announced in 2021.
The government of Canada recently announced a new licensing policy with the aim of providing easy local access to 5G spectrum for Internet service providers and innovative industries as well as rural communities.
The Canadian government noted that the emergence of new wireless technologies is supporting the creation and expansion of new spectrum applications in many industries, including agriculture, mining, manufacturing, health care, public safety and transportation.
The government highlighted that this new local licensing process will help smaller users access 5G spectrum in very localized areas, including in rural, remote and Indigenous communities.