SP 5150 MHz — Spectrum Utilization Policy for Licence-exempt Wireless Local Area Networks in the 5 GHz Range (Issue 2)

4.3.3 Spectrum Policy Provisions

The band 5250–5350 MHz, allocated to the mobile service on a primary basis, is designated for use by LE-LANs, on the basis that such devices cannot claim protection from other radio systems and cannot cause harmful interference to licensed radio services.

The technical and operational provisions described in this policy applicable to the band 5250–5350 MHz shall be in effect immediately. Accordingly, RSS-210 will be revised to reflect the provisions specified in this spectrum utilization policy. New products being developed which will meet these parameters will be certified as compliant with the new regulatory provisions.

There are a number of licence-exempt products being certified, distributed and operated under the previous technical rules contained in RSS-210 (Issue 5, November 2001). It is in the public interest to ensure that Canadians continue to have a range of consumer devices to meet their communication needs and convenience. Hence, the Department will continue to allow the certification of equipment meeting those rules for a period of 3 years from the release of this policy document. During this period the Department will monitor the market conditions for licence-exempt devices and their potential impact on licensed services in the band. The Department will review the requirements based on an evaluation of the operating environment and experience gained in terms of the actual interference environment and alternative mitigation techniques. After this review, the Department may serve appropriate notification to cease the certification of new equipment under the previous rules. Further, the Department may evaluate whether there is a requirement to impose restrictions on the distribution of equipment certified under those rules.

4.3.4 Technical and Operational Provisions

The band 5250–5350 MHz is intended to be used predominantly for indoor LE-LAN applications. However, outdoor operation is also permitted.

LE-LAN devices shall be limited to a maximum of 1W e.i.r.p. However, devices with maximum e.i.r.p. greater than 200 mW shall implement an e.i.r.p. elevation mask in accordance with Resolution 229(WRC-03).

LE-LANs shall implement dynamic frequency selection in accordance with Recommendation ITU-R M.1652. Furthermore, a channel closing time of 260 ms, as defined in Section 4.3.2.2, shall apply.

Each LE-LAN device must have the capability to operate at least 6 dB below the maximum permitted e.i.r.p. in order to provide, on average, a mitigation factor of at least 3 dB on the maximum average output power of the system. Alternatively, if TPC is not used, then the maximum permitted e.i.r.p. limit shall be reduced by 3 dB. The maximum permitted e.i.r.p. limit is 1 W with a corresponding maximum e.i.r.p. density of 50 mW/MHz in any 1 MHz band. Therefore, devices with maximum e.i.r.p. of less than 500 mW are not required to implement TPC.

These requirements will be reflected in an appropriate Radio Standards Specification.

4.4 Discussion and Provisions for the Band 5470–5725 MHz

4.4.1 Public Interest Considerations

The band 5470–5725 MHz is shared by a number of radio services (see Appendix 1) including the radiodetermination service, Earth exploration-satellite (active) service and space research (active) service in various sub-bands within this frequency range.

The sub-band 5600–5650 MHz in particular, is heavily used in Canada for national meteorological radars. These radars provide weather related data primarily for use by Environment Canada. The meteorological radar network in Canada operates 24 hours per day, 7 days per week and covers all major cities and over 90 percent of the Canadian population. It enables meteorologists to detect the development, intensity and location of precipitation such as rain, snow or freezing rain. More importantly for the safety of the general public, Doppler weather radars measure the dynamics within storms and detect conditions that could lead to a tornado or other dangerous severe weather.

As indicated earlier, the Department recognizes the requirement to protect licensed services from potential harmful interference. It also recognizes the importance of globally harmonized spectrum, technical rules and flexibility to ensure successful deployment of new services.

The Department would like to stress the importance of weather radars and how they directly impact the safety of the general public. To ensure safe and continued operation of these radars, the Department endeavours to prescribe effective mitigation measures to balance the needs of all parties. These measures are discussed below.

4.4.2 Co-existence Issues

As discussed in Section 2, WRC-03 made a global allocation in the mobile service for wireless access systems including RLANs in this band. Under the WRC provisions, stations in the mobile service shall not claim protection from the radiodetermination service. In addition, technical limits were imposed on the mobile service in order to ensure compatibility with other services.

Similar to the band 5250–5350 MHz, Earth exploration-satellite systems will utilize the band 5470–5725 MHz for many applications. However, sharing between LE-LANs and the Earth exploration-satellite systems is less restrictive in the band 5470–5725 MHz than in the band 5250–5350 MHz. This enables the LE-LANs to operate with higher power and fewer operational restrictions compared to the band 5250–5350 MHz.

Furthermore, as discussed in the previous section, the use of dynamic frequency selection as a mitigation technique to ensure compatibility with the radiolocation service was adopted by WRC-03.

The band 5600–5650 MHz is used heavily in Canada for national meteorological radars. These radars provide weather related data for Environment Canada. Their operation is different than conventional terrestrial scanning radars. In order to protect their operation from aggregate emissions of LE-LAN devices, the ITU-R has developed special provisions in Recommendation ITU-R M.1652 for the band 5600–5650 MHz. An excerpt from this recommendation is given in Appendix 3 of this document. In this Recommendation, it is stated that "in the band 5600–5650 MHz, if a channel has been flagged as containing a radar, a 10-minute continuous monitoring of the flagged channel is required prior to use of that channel. Otherwise, other appropriate methods such as channel exclusion would be required." This 10-minute continuous monitoring requirement may be performed either during or after the 30-minute non-occupancy period. The non-occupancy period is described in Section 3.2 of this document. Some respondents were of the view that the requirement, applicable to the band 5600–5650 MHz, presents a Canada-only scenario, which could be detrimental. The Department disagrees with this view. The requirements in 5600–5650 MHz are in accordance with Recommendation ITU-R M.1652, which was incorporated by reference through Resolution 229 at WRC-03. The 10-minute requirement or channel exclusion requirement is part of Recommendation ITU-R M.1652 in dealing with various types of radiolocation systems operating in the 5 GHz band; it is not a Canada-only solution.

Respondents to the consultation document generally had the same comments for TPC in the band 5470–5725 MHz as with the band 5250–5350 MHz (discussed in Section 4.3.2.1). Similar to the band 5250–5350 MHz, each LE-LAN device should have the capability to operate at least 6 dB below the maximum permitted e.i.r.p. in order to provide, on average, a mitigation factor of at least 3 dB on the maximum average output power of the system. Alternatively, if TPC is not used, then the maximum permitted e.i.r.p. limit should be reduced by 3 dB. In the band 5470–5725 MHz, the maximum permitted e.i.r.p. limit is 1W. Therefore, devices with maximum e.i.r.p. of less than 500 mW are not required to implement TPC.

4.4.3 Spectrum Policy Provisions

The band 5470–5725 MHz, allocated to the mobile service on a primary basis, is designated for use by LE-LANs, on the basis that such devices cannot claim protection from other radio systems and cannot cause harmful interference to licensed radio services.

The spectrum policy provisions, technical and operational provisions applicable to the band 5470–5725 MHz shall be in effect immediately. With respect to the requirements which will protect the operation of weather radars in the band 5600–5650 MHz from interference, the Department may consider other mutually acceptable mitigation techniques.

4.4.4 Technical and Operational Provisions

The band 5470–5725 MHz may be used for both indoor and outdoor LE-LAN operation.

LE-LAN devices shall be limited to a maximum e.i.r.p. of 1 W with a maximum transmitter power of 250 mW.

LE-LANs shall implement dynamic frequency selection in accordance with Recommendation ITU-R M.1652. Furthermore, a channel closing time of 260 ms, as defined in section 4.3.2.2, shall apply.

Each LE-LAN device must have the capability to operate at least 6 dB below the maximum permitted e.i.r.p. in order to provide, on average, a mitigation factor of at least 3 dB on the maximum average output power of the system. Alternatively, if TPC is not used, then the maximum permitted e.i.r.p. limit shall be reduced by 3 dB. The maximum permitted e.i.r.p. limit is 1W with a corresponding maximum e.i.r.p. density of 50mW/MHz in any 1 MHz band. Therefore, devices with maximum e.i.r.p. of less than 500 mW are not required to implement TPC.

These requirements will be reflected in an appropriate Radio Standards Specification.

4.5 Discussion and Provisions for the Band 5725–5825 MHz

The band 5725–5825 MHz is currently allocated to radiolocation service on a primary basis and to the amateur service on a secondary basis. In addition, the band has been available for LE-LAN operation since 1999. This band was not considered by WRC-03, hence, it was not part of the Department's consultation. The Department sees no requirement to change the existing spectrum policy or technical and operational provisions applicable to LE-LAN operation in this band.

4.5.1 Spectrum Policy Provisions

The band 5725–5825 MHz, under Canadian footnote C39A, is for the implementation of LE-LANs on the basis that such devices cannot claim protection from other radio systems and cannot cause harmful interference to licensed radio services.

The band 5725–5875 MHz, which overlaps the 100 MHz for LE-LANs, is designated internationally for industrial, scientific and medical (ISM) applications. Thus, radiocommunication services operating within this band must accept harmful interference which may be caused by ISM devices. In addition to the ISM applications, low-powered licence-exempt devices using spread spectrum techniques are permitted in the 5725–5850 MHz band.

4.5.2 Technical and Operational Provisions

There is no change to existing rules. The technical provisions are described in Radio Standards Specifications.

5. Implementation

In accordance with the spectrum policy and technical and operation limits specified in this document, appropriate Radio Standards Specification(s) will be revised.

Issued under the authority
of the Radiocommunication Act