SRSP-325.25 — Technical Requirements for Fixed Radio Systems Operating in the Bands 25.25-26.5 GHz and 27.5-28.35 GHz

Preface

Issue 1 of SRSP-325.25 has been developed to reflect Industry Canada’s spectrum utilization policy described in SP 25.25 GHz, Spectrum Utilization Policy, Decisions on the Band 25.25-28.35 GHz. This SRSP replaces SRSP-325.35, Issue 1.

Issued under the authority of
the Minister of Industry

Marc Dupuis
Director General
Engineering, Planning and Standards Branch

1. Intent

1.1 This Standard Radio System Plan (SRSP) states the minimum technical requirements for the efficient use of the frequency bands 25.25-26.5 GHz and 27.5-28.35 GHz by line-of-sight radio systems in the fixed service, including point-to-point and point-to-multipoint systems.

1.2 This SRSP is intended to be employed in the design and specification of radio systems and equipment.

1.3 This SRSP specifies equipment characteristics related to efficient spectrum usage only, and is not to be regarded as a comprehensive specification for equipment design and/or selection.

2. General

2.1 This standard replaces SRSP-325.35, Issue 1. Further revision of this SRSP will be made as required.

2.2 The technical requirements for interim licences outlined in Annex B of DGTP-002-10, Consultation on the Use of the Band 25.25-28.35 GHz, are replaced by this standard. The interim licensing process described in Section 9 of DGTP-002-10 will continue to apply until such time as a formal licensing process is established.

Systems licensed under the interim licensing process must be coordinated under the procedures applicable to radiocommunication station licences,^{Footnote 1} as described in RSP-113, Application Procedures for Planned Radio Stations Above 960 MHz in the Fixed Service. The coordination requirements in sections 7.1 and 8 of this standard will apply once the formal licensing process is established. Upon the establishment of this formal licensing process, this standard will be editorially revised to reflect these changes in coordination requirements.

2.3 Radio systems conforming to these technical requirements will be given priority in licensing over non-standard radio systems operating in this band.

2.4 The arrangements for non‑standard systems are outlined in SP GEN, General Information Related to Spectrum Utilization and Radio Systems Policies.

2.5 The Geographical Differences Policy (GDP) guideline applies in these frequency bands. Additional information on the GDP can be found in SP 1-20 GHz.^{Footnote 2}

2.6 Even though a radio system complies with the requirements of this SRSP, modifications may be required to the system whenever harmful interference^{Footnote 3} is caused.

2.7 When potential conflict between radio systems cannot be resolved by the parties concerned, Industry Canada should be advised. After consultation with these parties, the Department will determine the necessary modifications and schedule of modifications to resolve the conflict. These modifications may include, but are not limited to, changes to the operating frequency channel, the transmitter and/or receiver antenna deployment characteristics (i.e. gain, backlobe and sidelobe discrimination, polarization, elevation angle, etc.) and the use of a receiver with improved selectivity characteristics.

2.8 It should be noted that the fixed service shares this band with other services in accordance with the Canadian Table of Frequency Allocations 9 kHz to 275 GHz.

Notably, the band 27.5-29.1 GHz also has a primary allocation for the fixed-satellite service (FSS) (Earth-to-space). When planning their deployments and conducting interference analyses, fixed service licensees in the band 27.5-28.35 GHz should take into account FSS Earth stations that transmit in this band.

2.9 Upon request, licensees are required to make available to Industry Canada information on certain technical parameters of their point-to-point and point-to-multipoint stations.

3. Related Documents

3.1 The current issues of the following documents are applicable, and are available on Industry Canada’s Spectrum Management and Telecommunications website at http://www.ic.gc.ca/spectrum.

SP – Spectrum Utilization Policy
TRC – Telecommunications Regulation Circular
CTFA – Canadian Table of Frequency Allocations
CPC – Client Procedures Circular
DGTP – Telecommunications Policy

4. Radio Frequency Channel Arrangement Description

4.1 Radio Frequency Channel Description for the Band 25.25-26.5 GHz

4.1.1 The band 25.25-26.5 GHz is divided into 19 paired frequency channels, as shown in Table 1 and Figure 1.

4.1.2 The frequency channels are symmetrically paired to facilitate frequency division duplex (FDD) systems.

4.1.3 Time division duplex (TDD) systems may operate in frequency channels B1/B1' to B12/B12'.

4.1.4 Licensees may deploy point-to-point systems in frequency channels A1/A1' to A7/A7'.

4.1.5 Licensees may deploy point-to-point and/or point-to-multipoint systems in frequency channels B1/B1' to B12/B12'.

4.1.6 Assignments for the frequency range 25.501-26.257 GHz (channels B1/B1' to B12/B12') will first be accommodated in channels B1/B1' for point-to-multipoint systems (both TDD and FDD), whereas the assignments for point-to-point systems (both TDD and FDD) will first be accommodated in channels B12/B12'. If these channels are not available, the assignment will be accommodated in the nearest available adjacent frequency channels.

4.1.7 Upon reasonable justification, Industry Canada may consider, on a case-by-case basis, requests to combine two adjacent frequency channels to form a single larger frequency channel. In such cases, the combined frequency channel must meet all the requirements of this SRSP.

Figure 1 — 25.25-26.5 GHz Band Plan and Associated Usage

4.2 Radio Frequency Channel Description for the Band 27.5-28.35 GHz

4.2.1 The band 27.5-28.35 GHz is divided into paired frequency channels, as shown in Figure 2 and tables 2 to 6.

4.2.2 The frequency channels are symmetrically paired to facilitate frequency division duplex (FDD) systems.

4.2.3 Licensees may deploy point-to-point systems in the frequency channels C1/C1' to C7/C7', D1/D1' to D9/D9', E1/E1' to E12/E12', F1/F1' to F18/F18', and G1/G1' to G36/G36'.

4.2.4 Upon reasonable justification, Industry Canada may consider, on a case-by-case basis, requests to combine two adjacent frequency channels to form a single larger frequency channel. In such cases, the combined frequency channel must meet all the requirements of this SRSP.

Figure 2 — 27.5-28.35 GHz Band Plan and Associated Usage

5. General Coordination Requirements for Point-to-Point and Point-to-Multipoint Systems Operating in the Bands 25.25-26.5 GHz and 27.5 28.35 GHz

5.1 Licensees are expected to take full advantage of interference mitigation techniques, such as antenna discrimination, polarization, frequency offset, shielding, site selection and/or power control, to facilitate the coordination of systems.

6. International Coordination

6.1 Usage of the band 27.5-28.35 GHz near the Canada‑United States border is subject to the provisions of the Interim Arrangement Concerning the Sharing between Canada and the United States of America on Local Multipoint Communication Systems, the Local Multipoint Distribution Service and Certain Other Services in Parts of the Frequency Bands 27.35-28.35 GHz, 29.1-29.25 GHz, and 31.0-31.3 GHz.

6.2 Canada does not currently have a formal arrangement with the U.S. government for the sharing of the frequency band 25.25-26.5 GHz along the border regions. Licensees will be subject to any future agreements between Canada and the United States regarding use of these systems in the border regions, which may include modifications of previously authorized stations.

7. Domestic Coordination for Point-to-Point Systems^{Footnote 4,Footnote 5} Operating in the Bands 25.25-26.5 GHz and 27.5-28.35 GHz

As outlined in Section 2.2, the coordination requirements in sections 7.1 and 8 of this standard shall not apply to systems licensed under the interim licensing process described in Section 9 of DGTP-002-10, until such time as the licensing process for these bands is established.

The following coordination procedures are intended to be used between two licensees in the absence of another mutually agreed upon standard to govern coordination of any proposed transmitter. Licensees who propose transmitters that would normally trigger the present procedure, but who can mutually agree to an alternate coordination procedure with the licensee of an existing or previously notified system, are not bound by this process. A copy of such a mutual agreement must be kept by the licensee and be made available to the Department upon request.

7.1 Co-Channel^{Footnote 6} Frequency Coordination

7.1.1 General Coordination Trigger Criteria

When a licensee proposes to install facilities, successful completion of applicable coordination is required prior to activation. Coordination is required whenever a proposed transmitting station coordination footprint encompasses existing or previously notified receiving stations of another licensee.

The coordination footprint extends to the distances shown in Figure 3 below.^{Footnote 7}

Figure 3 — Co-Channel Frequency Coordination Footprint for Point-to-Point Systems

7.1.2 Notification and Response Process

7.1.2.1 General

If a proposed station triggers the coordination process, the licensee is obligated to notify all licensees concerned. The said notice shall include the applicant’s interference analysis and all data required for the recipients to perform an interference analysis (see Annex A for suggested parameters).

It is recommended that field tests be performed prior to commencement of operation of a radio system to determine whether interference caused by building reflections or other frequency sources, which was not anticipated during the interference calculations,^{Footnote 8} is detected at the proposed site while looking along the proposed azimuth.

7.1.2.2 Response Time

Upon receipt of a coordination notice, a recipient shall have a maximum of 30 calendar days to submit an interference objection. This objection shall include the calculation details of all potential cases of unacceptable interference into and from facilities proposed in the notice. Failure of a recipient to respond to a coordination notice within the 30-calendar-day time frame will indicate that the recipient has no interference objections to the facilities proposed in the notice.

7.1.2.3 Construction/Commencement of Operation Timeline

Upon successful resolution of all interference objections, the licensee shall so inform Industry Canada and have 180 calendar days to construct and commence operation.

7.2 Adjacent Channel Frequency Coordination, Including Inband and Out-of-band Systems

Given the possibility of potential interference between adjacent channel systems operating in the same vicinity, all licensees are expected to conduct adjacent channel interference analyses and coordinate accordingly. Where the interference analysis reveals a potential conflict beyond the first adjacent channel, licensees of these systems are also expected to coordinate.

It should be noted that the band 25.25-26.5 GHz is adjacent to the band 25.05-25.25 GHz, in which fixed point-to-point and point-to-multipoint systems also operate. Despite the presence of a guardband in the range 25.250-25.277 GHz, there is a possibility of interference between systems operating in the lower portion of the band 25.25-26.5 GHz and systems in the same vicinity operating in the upper blocks of the band 25.05-25.25 GHz. As a result, the adjacent channel coordination requirements described above shall also include systems operating in the band 25.05-25.25 GHz,^{Footnote 9} for licensees operating in channels A1 to A7.

8. Domestic Coordination for Point-to-Multipoint Systems^{Footnote 10} Operating in the Bands 25.501-25.837 GHz and 25.921-26.257 GHz

As outlined in Section 2.2, the coordination requirements in sections 7.1 and 8 of this standard shall not apply to systems licensed under the interim licensing process described in Section 9 of DGTP-002-10, until such time as the licensing process for these bands is established.

8.1 Domestic coordination is required between licensed service areas where the shortest distance between the respective service area boundaries is less than 73 km.^{Footnote 11} Operators are encouraged to arrive at mutually acceptable sharing agreements that would allow for the provision of service of each licensee within their service area to the maximum extent possible.

8.2 When a sharing agreement does not exist or has not been concluded between operators whose service areas are less than 73 km apart, the following coordination process shall be employed:

8.2.1 Operators are required to calculate the power flux density (pfd) at the service area boundary of the neighbouring service areas for the transmitting facilities. Pfd is calculated using accepted engineering practices, taking into account factors such as propagation loss, atmospheric loss, antenna directivity toward the service boundary and curvature of the Earth. The pfd level at the service area boundary shall be the maximum value for elevation points up to 500 m above local terrain elevation (see Annex B for a sample calculation of a pfd level).

8.2.2 Deployment of facilities that generate a pfd less than or equal to −125 dBW/m² in any 1 MHz band at the other service area boundaries is not subject to any coordination requirements.

8.2.3 Deployment of facilities that generate a pfd greater than −125 dBW/m² in any 1 MHz band at the other service area boundaries are subject to successful coordination between the affected licensees in accordance with the following coordination process:

8.2.3.1 The operator must notify the respective licensee(s) of its intention to deploy the facilities, and submit the information necessary to conduct an interference analysis.

8.2.3.2 The recipient of the notification must respond within 30 calendar days to indicate any objection to the deployment. Objection may be based on harmful interference to existing systems^{Footnote 12} only.

8.2.3.3 If there is no objection raised, the deployment may proceed.

8.2.3.4 If an objection is raised, the respective licensees must work in collaboration to develop a suitable agreement before the deployment of facilities. The time frame to develop such an agreement should not exceed 30 calendar days.

8.2.3.5 Proposed facilities must be deployed within 180 calendar days of the conclusion of coordination; otherwise, coordination must be reinitiated as per Section 8.2.

8.2.4 The above process is described graphically in Annex C of this document.

8.3 All results of analysis on pfd and agreements made between licensees must be retained by the licensees and made available to Industry Canada upon request.

8.4 Given the possibility of interference between adjacent channel systems operating in the same vicinity, all licensees are expected to conduct adjacent channel interference analyses and coordinate accordingly. Where the interference analysis reveals a potential conflict beyond the first adjacent channel, licensees of these systems are also expected to coordinate.

9. Technical Requirement for Point-to-Point and Point-to-Multipoint Systems Operating in the Bands 25.25-26.5 GHz and 27.5-28.35 GHz

9.1 Frequency Stability

The centre frequency of the emission shall be maintained within ±0.001% of the assigned frequency.

9.2 Transmitter Output Power

The transmitter power into the antenna must not exceed +10 dBW per carrier.

9.3 Equivalent Isotropically Radiated Power

9.3.1 The maximum equivalent isotropically radiated power (e.i.r.p.) of a transmit station must not exceed +55 dBW per carrier.

9.3.2 For point-to-point systems, the e.i.r.p. density must not exceed +30 dBW/MHz.

9.3.3 For point-to-multipoint systems, the e.i.r.p. density must not exceed +30 dBW/MHz for subscriber stations and +14 dBW/MHz for hubs.

For hubs in point-to-multipoint systems operating in the band 25.25-26.5 GHz and having a main beam with an elevation angle Θ greater than 5° above the horizontal plane, the e.i.r.p. density limit must be lowered to +14 − 10log₁₀(Θ/5) dBW/MHz.

9.3.4 For systems operating in the band 25.25-26.5 GHz and having the main beam of the transmitter within a 1.5° angle (taking into account the effect of atmospheric refraction) of the direction of any geostationary‑satellite orbit (GSO) location,^{Footnote 13} the e.i.r.p. density limit must be lowered to +24 dBW/MHz for point-to-point systems and subscriber stations in point-to-multipoint systems, and +8 dBW/MHz for hubs in point-to-multipoint systems. Additionally, for hubs having an elevation angle Θ greater than 20°, the e.i.r.p. density limit must be lowered to +14 − 10log₁₀(Θ/5) dBW/MHz.

9.4 Transmitter Unwanted Emissions

9.4.1 Single-Carrier Transmitter

(a) In any 1 MHz band, where the centre frequency is removed from the assigned channel centre frequency by more than 50% up to and including 250% of the authorized bandwidth, the mean power of emission shall be attenuated below the mean output power of the transmitter in accordance with the following equation.

where

A = attenuation (in dB) below the mean output power level
P = percent of authorized bandwidth removed from the centre frequency of the assigned RF channel
B = authorized bandwidth (in MHz)

Note:

1. In no case shall the attenuation be less than 11 dB.
2. Attenuation greater than 56 dB or to an absolute power of less than −13 dBm/MHz is not necessary.

(b) In any 1 MHz band, where the centre frequency is removed from the assigned channel centre frequency by more than 250% of the authorized bandwidth the mean power of emission shall be attenuated by 43 + 10 log₁₀ (mean output power in watts) dB or 80 dB, whichever is the lesser attenuation.

9.4.2 Multi-carrier Transmitter or Multi-Transmitters Sharing a Common Final Stage Amplifier

For a multi-carrier transmitter or multi-transmitters sharing a common final stage amplifier, the emission mask is to be the same as for single-carrier transmitters, but using the occupied bandwidth that is defined for multi-carrier transmitters. The total mean power shall be the sum of the individual carrier/transmitter powers.

When several transmitters share a passive antenna, each transmitter should satisfy the individual mask for single carrier transmitters; the multi-carrier mask should not be applied in this case.

9.5 International Telecommunication Union (ITU) Requirements

The ITU’s requirements, as described in Annex D of this document, are applicable to the band 25.25-26.5 GHz.

9.6 Antenna Characteristics

For point-to-point systems, the co-polarized radiation pattern envelope in the horizontal plane of the antenna must remain within the envelope shown in Figure 4 and Table 7, for both vertical and horizontal polarizations. For point-to-multipoint systems, there is no requirement to meet any specified co-polarized radiation pattern envelope. However, subscriber stations in a point-to-multipoint system must use a directional antenna.

Figure 4 — Minimum Antenna Characteristics for Point-to-Point Systems Operating in the Band 25.25-28.35 GHz

Annex A — Parameters for Coordination

When coordination is required, it is suggested that the following parameters be provided:

• contact information (corporate name/mailing address/telephone/fax/email)
• location of transmitter (community/province or territory)
• geographical coordinates of transmitting antenna
• equivalent isotropically radiated power (dBW)
• ground elevation and antenna height above ground (m)
• centre frequency (MHz)
• polarization
• antenna pattern/tabulation of the pattern
• azimuth of the maximum antenna gain
• maximum antenna gain (dBi)
• bandwidth and emission designation

Note:  More parameters can be provided if needed for the coordination process.

Annex B — Sample Calculation

The following example is provided to illustrate how the power flux density (pfd) level at the service area boundary can be determined: It should be noted that the calculation example assumes line-of-sight conditions due to a short path length and a high transmitting antenna. In other cases, where the path length is long and the transmitting antenna is low, line-of-sight conditions may not exist. In these cases, an appropriate propagation model that takes the non-line-of-sight situation into account should be used.

Figure B1 — Graphical Representation of the Proposed Situation

The spectral power density in dBW/MHz at the boundary of Service Area Y
(P_{at the boundary of Service Area Y}) may be calculated using free space propagation, taking into account atmospheric losses as follows:

Then, the power flux density in dBW/m² in 1 MHz (pfd) may be calculated as follows:

Annex C — Coordination Determination Process for Point-to-Multipoint Systems in the Absence of a Sharing Agreement Between Licensees

Figure C1

* In the event that an operator uses sites of very high elevations relative to local terrain that could produce interference to service areas beyond 73 km, the operator shall coordinate with the affected licensee(s).

** Pfd is calculated at the service area boundary of the respective counterpart(s).

Annex D — International Telecommunication Union (ITU) Requirements (25.25-27.5 GHz)

In the ITU’s Radio Regulations, the band 25.25-27.5 GHz is allocated on a co-primary basis to the fixed (FS), mobile and inter-satellite (IS) services. The current ITU Regulations (including footnotes) applicable to this band for the fixed service are as follows:

¹ 21.2.1 For their own protection receiving stations in the fixed or mobile service operating in bands shared with space radiocommunication services (space-to-Earth) should also avoid directing their antennas towards the geostationarysatellite orbit if their sensitivity is sufficiently high that interference from space station transmissions may be significant.

² 21.2.2 Information on this subject is given in the most recent version of Recommendation ITU-R SF.765 (see Resolution 27 (Rev. WRC-03)*). * Note by the secretariat: This Resolution was revised by WRC-07.

Excerpts from Table 21-4:

−115 dB(W/m²) in any 1 MHz band for angles of arrival between 0 and 5 degrees above the horizontal plane;

−115 + 0.5 (δ  5) dB(W/m²) in any 1 MHz band for angles of arrival (δ) (in degrees) between 5 and 25 degrees above the horizontal plane;

−105 dB(W/m²) in any 1 MHz band for angles of arrival between 25 and 90 degrees above the horizontal plane.