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SP 3-30 — Revisions to Spectrum Utilization Policies in the 3-30 GHz Frequency Range and Further Consultation
3.4 Further Consultation
The band 5850-5925 MHz is allocated to the FSS (Earth-space) on a co-primary basis. The Department notes the US allocation to FSS is limited under footnote US245 to international intercontinental systems, which in effect means that the number of actual earth terminals will be small, and coordination with terrestrial systems will not be difficult. Since the List of Satellites Approved to Provide Fixed satellite Services (FSS) in Canada does not contain any satellites employing the band 5850-5925 MHz, it is timely to request input on the status between FSS and DSRC systems now designated in the band.
Further Consultation:
The Department is therefore proposing to establish by domestic footnote that DSRC systems in the FS and MS services will have priority over FSS operation:
- C16X
- In the band 5850-5925 MHz the use of the fixed and mobile services has priority over the use of the fixed-satellite service. The use of the fixed-satellite service in this band shall be limited to applications that pose minimal constraints on the deployment of fixed and mobile service systems. An example of such an application would be the use of a small number of large aperture earth stations, taking into account existing and potential service areas for ubiquitous deployment of fixed and mobile service systems
Comment is sought on the proposal for a domestic footnote to ensure that DSRC systems in the FS and MS services have priority over FSS operations in the band 5850-5925 MHz.
A comment period of three months from the release of this document will apply.
Future Consultation:
The precise definition of use and eligibility for use of ITS applications will be the subject of a future consultation.
3.5. 8 GHz Band - Addition of Low-Capacity Fixed Service
The band 7725-8275 MHz is designated for medium and high-capacity fixed service microwave systems. In the consultation document the Department proposed the addition of a designation for fixed service low-cpacity systems in the band. While there was general support for the proposal, Department of National Defence (DND) was opposed to the addition.
The band 7900-8400 MHz is shared with FSS (Earth-to-space), limited to the Government of Canada (GoC) and used by DND for a small number of earth stations. The band is used by DND and by NATO countries for national and internationally deployed military FSS communications. DND operates a NATO terminal at Folly Lake, Nova Scotia, and has invested heavily in transportable Tactical Long-Range Communications Terminals (TLRCT). The addition of low-cpacity FS would impede the short notice military deployment of these FSS terminals across the country because of the need to coordinate with an anticipated increased number of FS systems. DND is also developing a number of suitcase-size FSS terminals in this military band. The Department notes that in the US, a similar FSS allocation, further restricted to military use, is shared with a number of FS applications. While the band is allocated exclusively to the Government, fixed service uses include point-to-point microwave links for remote data connections from air traffic control radars, weather, vessel traffic information, SCADA or the management of electric power distribution systems, as well as military fixed service applications.
Spectrum Pairings
The pairing for this FSS spectrum in the space-to-Earth (downlink) direction is in the band 7250-7750 MHz. This overlaps the band 7125-7725 MHz (7 GHz) designated for use by low, medium and high-capacity systems in the fixed service on a co-primary basis with FSS.
In the considerations for the C band it was noted that the low level of available margin makes satellite receivers susceptible to even low levels of interference, making coordination with terrestrial systems difficult. Conversely, satellite uplinks are not significantly affected by terrestrial transmitters, and since terrestrial receivers typically have more available margin than satellite receivers, sharing is deemed to be more manageable than is the case in the satellite downlink band.
The concern with the addition of low-cpacity FS was the need to coordinate with an increased number of FS systems. Since this is inherently more difficult to achieve with receiving earth terminals than transmitting terminals, from an FSS perspective it would seem preferable to encourage the use of low-cpacity systems in the uplink band.
An additional issue is that the Department has established preferred access for electric power utilities to parts of the 7 GHz microwave band for the carriage of critical telemetry, control and protection circuits by identifying two pairs of 30 MHz channels for their use. While low-cpacity spectrum was only recently added to the band, the uptake of use for low-cpacity in this portion of the spectrum has not been great. In making the designation for low-cpacity it was anticipated that a transition from analogue to digital systems by the utilities would make more spectrum available. This has not been the case, however, with the spectrum requirements in the 7 GHz band increasing in many areas. In the process of upgrading their systems to digital, some electric utilities have requested multiple 30 MHz channels. While the entire band is designated for high-capacity, the current Standard Radio System Plan (SRSP) has limited the number of 30 MHz channels in the band in order to facilitate access by low-cpacity systems. This has meant that the high-capacity systems either use the adjacent band or implement on a non-standard basis. An additional benefit of a designation in the 8 GHz band for low-cpacity systems is that some additional high-capacity channels could be considered in the 7 GHz band. This would simply require a revision of the SRSP by the Department in consultation with industry.
Recognizing the importance of GoC FSS use of the band and the concerns expressed by DND, the Department still sees value in the addition of a designation for low-cpacity fixed service in the 8 GHz band shared with FSS in the Earth-to-space direction.
Decision:
The Department is adding a designation for low-cpacity systems in the fixed service to the band 7725-8275 MHz.
In addition, since the consultation, DND has requested access to more of the band 7900-8025 MHz for military mobile-satellite service (MSS) applications. Present NATO satellites only carry 50 MHz (7975-8025 MHz) of the ITU MSS (primary) allocation in the band 7900-8025 MHz under footnote 5.461. The next generation of NATO satellites, which will be acquired under the NATO SATCOM Post-2000 Program, will have the capacity to use the full 7900-8025 MHz band for MSS use. The increased emphasis on deployed forces communications as opposed to strategic communications makes an increase in capacity for military mobile-satellite users necessary. While international footnote 5.461 making the allocation for MSS has been accepted in the Canadian Table of Frequency Allocations for the band 7900-8025 MHz (Earth-to-space), a primary allocation for MSS has only been made in the band 7975-8025 MHz. This allocation is further limited to Government of Canada use by domestic footnote C50. Current spectrum utilization policies for the fixed service in the band avoid the use of the 50 MHz of spectrum allocated and designated for MSS due to the difficulty in coordination between the two services. This request is currently on hold pending additional clarification of the requirement. It will therefore not be treated in this document.
4.0 The Ku Band
The Ku-band refers to frequencies within the range 10.7 GHz - 14.5 GHz. The conventional bands are 11.45-12.2 GHz, and 13.75-14.5 GHz. The allotment bands are 10.7-10.95 GHz, 11.2-11.45 GHz, and 12.75-13.25 GHz.
4.1 Background
In Canada, the predominant use by the FSS in the Ku band is in the exclusive 11.7-12.2/14-14.5 GHz portions of the conventional band. As discussed previously, the WTO agreement has allowed the introduction of competition in the fixed-satellite market and foreign fixed-satellite stations are being approved for use in Canada. In the consultation document, the Department noted that there are seven filings in the U.S. for global NGSO FSS systems. It is anticipated that direct-to-subscriber applications within the Ku bands will continue to grow. One of the key aspects that has facilitated access directly to business is the small size of antenna required at these frequencies. In Canada, the bands 11.7-12.7 GHz and 13.75-14.5 GHz are exclusively for satellite services; however, there are two bands 10.7-11.7 GHz and 12.7-13.25 GHz which have a significant number of fixed systems.
As discussed in the consultation, the Department has allowed use of spectrum beyond the conventional Ku bands in the extended conventional and allotment Ku bands. Operations using satellites in the bands 10.7-11.45 GHz and 12.7-13.25 GHz have been restricted to large antennas mostly located outside urban areas in accordance with domestic footnote C16A, which emphasises that customer service links will not be licensed in any of these bands prior to a public consultation which will consider the interests of all spectrum users.
Having received strong representation from the satellite industry that fixed-satellites or earth station deployment should not be limited in these bands, the Department noted that Canada has three orbital positions (107.3°W, 111.1°W and 114.9°W longitude) available at which the Ku allotment bands can be used. Input was requested under the individual bands as to whether opening the allotment bands for deployment of earth stations in Canada on a coordinated first-come, first-served basis with the fixed service would stimulate the development of these orbital positions, or whether the application of domestic footnote C16A should be retained.
4.2 10.7-11.7 GHz
The fixed service and fixed-satellite service (space-to-Earth) share the band on a primary basis. It is used by low, medium and high-capacity digital line-of-sight radio systems in the fixed service. Typical deployments of these fixed systems include single and multi-hop point-to-point configurations. These systems are authorized on a site-by-site and frequency-by-frequency basis.
This is also a downlink (space-to-Earth) band for the fixed-satellite service, with pairings for use prescribed by domestic footnotes C41 and C16B, and constraints on location and antenna size under footnote C16A.
In the comments to the consultation, the removal of the application of domestic footnote C16A to the band 10.7-11.7 GHz was supported by users and service providers with satellite interests in the band, and opposed by entities with fixed service interests in the band. It was the view of the FSS community that the FS and FSS should be coordinated on a first-come, first-served basis. Ubiquitous deployment of either service is not foreseen in this band and as such domestic footnote C16A is not required. In view of the FCC deliberation on the sharing issues between FS systems and GSO FSS earth stations, the FS community believes that it would be premature to provide full flexibility for the deployment of FSS earth stations in the band 10.7-11.7 GHz on a coordinated first-come, first-served basis with the fixed service. Therefore, the current provision in the footnote C16A should be retained.
It is also worth noting that as discussed at C band, there could be similar difficulties in coordinating transmitting terrestrial systems into an area where a receiving earth terminal has been licensed, particularly in urban areas. This is due to the low level of available margin which makes the satellite receivers susceptible to even low levels of interference.
Harmonization of use with the US was seen as an important objective by both fixed service and fixed-satellite service commenters. The 10.7-11.7 GHz band has been identified in two proceedings as a future home for FS point-to-point systems to be relocated from the 2 GHz band. The consultation noted that in the US, footnote NG104 limits 10.7-11.7 GHz GSO FSS to international systems, which effectively limits the size and number of earth stations which are likely to appear. A further Order (FCC-00-418) limits the implementation of NGSO FSS to feeder link/gateway operations, which have been carefully defined to exclude service links directly to customer premises. The intention was to facilitate the coordination process between NGSO FSS earth stations and terrestrial operations by limiting the FSS to low density implementations. The continued use and growth of terrestrial systems within the band would be protected by effectively limiting the size and number of earth stations which could be implemented in the band.
A recent notice of proposed rulemaking discusses the possible adoption of a ‘growth zone proposal' intended to supplement existing coordination procedures and facilitate sharing between fixed services and new NGSO FSS systems (FCC 03-318).
The Department notes that the process to differentiate between feeder links/gateways and service links in order to ensure sharing compatibility with the fixed service was difficult. While comments to the consultation indicated that the definitions may not align with intended implementations of future FSS systems, comments also indicated that the kinds of applications which would require ubiquitous deployments of earth terminals are not expected, in part due to the shared nature of the band.
The Department is of the view that a requirement for earth stations to be individually coordinated and authorized (i.e. limited to non-ubiquitous deployments) will be sufficient to balance requirements and ensure compatibility on a first-come, first-served basis. The Department notes that there are adjacent bands in which the FSS has exclusive access. Therefore the Department expects that in implementing FSS earth terminals, practicable measures will be taken to facilitate the continued introduction of FS systems in the band, particularly in the vicinity of urban centres.
The Department is therefore implementing its proposal to allow first-come, first-served deployment of both FS andS FSS services and will therefore not retain the application of the current version of C16A to the band 10.7-11.45 GHz. Fixed service and fixed-satellite service stations will be coordinated on a first-come, first-served basis as is the current accepted practice in the conventional C band.
Decision:
The Department will allow first-come, first-served deployment of both the fixed service and the fixed-satellite service in the band 10.7-11.7 GHz, and will also remove the application of the current version of domestic footnote C16A.
Details of the changes to the Canadian Table of Frequency Allocations can be found in the Allocation section of this document.
