SRSP-512 — Technical Requirements for Land Mobile and Fixed Radio Services Operating in the Band 220–222 MHz (sf09187)

6. Technical Criteria

6.1 Channel Sharing

The assignment of a frequency or frequencies to a holder of a radio authorization does not confer a monopoly on the use of the frequency or frequencies, nor shall a radio authorization be construed as conferring any right of continued tenure in respect of the frequency or frequencies (see section 40 of the Radiocommunication Regulations).

6.2 Loading Guidelines

6.2.1 Normally, the Department will apply the guidelines found in Channel Loading Guidelines (GL-04) in determining loading of communications channels, and thus, of radio channels.

6.2.2 In the frequency assignment process, these guidelines may be utilized in conjunction with current observed channel occupancy data (obtained with automatic occupancy measuring equipment) to determine whether additional channels are required. Such observations will also be used to assess the general loading criteria and the inherent trade-off between sound spectrum management and acceptable grades of service.

6.2.3 The Department is using this approach to make frequency assignments but may also take into account other considerations when assessing the number of radio channels to be assigned to a system. Applicants are encouraged to provide as much traffic related data as possible with their application.

6.3 Technical Requirements

6.3.1 Limits and Co-channel Assignments

6.3.1.1 Effective Radiated Power (e.r.p.) and Height Above Average Terrain (HAAT) limits, shall be limited to that necessary to provide the required service as determined by the system requirements and will be subject to the limitations below.

Table 6.1 – 220-221 MHz Band – Maximum e.r.p. and antenna height limits

6.3.1.2 Low-power channels: Stations transmitting on the lower frequencies of channels 196 through 200 are limited to a maximum e.r.p. of 2 watts and a maximum antenna height of 6.1 metres above ground.

6.3.1.3 Station location limitations: The maximum e.r.p. for stations located 6 kilometres or less from the Canada/US border transmitting on the lower frequencies of channels 161 through 195 must be in accordance with Table 6.2 below unless otherwise provided for by special authorization. This table does not apply to the low-power channels (196-200).

Table 6.2 – Station Location Limitations

Note: The maximum e.r.p. for these stations cannot be greater than the maximum e.r.p. determined by their antenna height above average terrain.

6.3.1.4 In the band 221-222 MHz, the maximum e.r.p. allowable for mobile units shall be 50 watts. Portable units are considered mobile units. Fixed stations transmitting in this band are permitted up to 50 watts e.r.p. using an antenna with a maximum height of 7 metres above average terrain. Transmissions from antennas that are higher than 7 metres above average terrain will be permitted if the e.r.p. is reduced below 50 watts e.r.p. by 20 log₁₀(h/7) dB, where h is the height of the antenna above average terrain, in metres.

6.3.1.5 Normally, in urban areas and areas of intensive mobile use, for stations of different networks, the minimum geographic separation between co-channel base stations will be calculated based on a non-overlap of the 36 dBµV/m protected contour of the existing station and the 19 dBµV/m interference contour of the proposed station. These criteria are not applicable to systems sharing the same channel at different times (vertical loading).

6.3.1.6 For public safety systems, a carrier to interference ratio (C/I) of 20 dB will be used to calculate the interference contour of the new station. The protected contour of the existing public safety base station will be 36 dBµV/m but the interference contour of the new station will be 16 dBµV/m.

6.3.1.7 The protected contour of the existing station is calculated based on a probability of service of 50% of the time for 50% of the locations at the edge of the contour.

6.3.1.8 The interference contour is calculated using the probability that the signal level used is not exceeded more than 10% of the time for 50% of the locations at the edge of the contour (i.e. 90% of the time, it is below the threshold for 50% of the locations).

6.3.1.9 It is recognized that coverage requirements are a function of operational characteristics and the technology deployed. The Department may accept the use of different methodologies to evaluate separation between co-channel base stations, on a case by case basis.

6.3.1.10 Applicants are invited to include adequate technical details in support of their proposed wireless networks to allow a compatibility analysis with existing and future assignments. These analyses should be prepared using terrain based propagation models.

6.3.1.11 These details should include, but not be limited to, the required service area, the predicted radio coverage, and the design parameters used including the minimum carrier to interference ratio.

Issued under the authority
of the Minister of Industry

R.W. McCaughern
Director General
Spectrum Engineering

Annex A - Frequency Channelling Plan for the Band 220-222 MHz

Figure A1: Spectrum Availability for the Band 220-222 MHz

[Description of Figure]

Figure A2: Canada/United States 120 km Sharing Zones

[Description of Figure]

Annex B - Channel Designations and Preferred Channel Groupings

Table B1 - Channel Designations in the Band 220-222 MHz

Note: Only base station frequencies are listed in MHz. Paired mobile station frequencies are 1 MHz higher

Table B2 - Preferred Channel Groupings

Descriptions of Images

Figure A1: Spectrum Availability for the Band 220-222 MHz

This figure illustrates the availability of channels in Canada and associated channels for land mobile and multipoint communications systems operating in the band 220-222 MHz.

Beyond 120 km from the Canada-United States border, channels 1 to 200 are available for primary use in Canada.

Outside of Sectors 1 and 2, i.e. east of 81 degrees and west of 71 degrees (excluding sectors 1 and 2), channels 1 to 20, 25, 26, 56 to 85, 121 to 145, 155, 156, 175 to 181 and 190 to 196 are available for primary use in Canada.

In Sector 1, i.e. east of 85° W longitude and west of 81° W longitude, channels 121 to 140, 179 to 181 and 193 to 196 are available for primary use in Canada.

In Sector 2, i.e. east of 81° W longitude and west of 71° W longitude, channels 1 to 20, 24 to 27, 31 to 50, 54 to 87, 121 to 147, 154 to 157, 173 to 181 and 189 to 196 are available for primary use in Canada.

In all areas, channels 111, 113, 115, 117 and 119 are designated for Intelligent Transportation Systems/Intelligent Vehicle Highway (ITS/IVHS) communications. Channels 161 to 170 and 181 to 185 are designated for public safety and channels 196 to 200 are designated for low-power communications. These channels are shared with the United States within 120 km of the border.
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Figure A2: Canada/United States 120 km Sharing Zones

This figure shows a partial map of Canada and the United States, illustrating the Sharing Zone according to the Canada/United States Sharing Arrangement, for use of the band 220-222 MHz. The Sharing Zone is the area adjacent to the Canada-United States border extending a distance of approximately 120 km within either country. It includes sectors 1 and 2, which are defined in Table 5.1.
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