Following a move by its U.S. counterpart, Industry Canada has decided to add a mobile allocation to the 2500 MHz band and has re-affirmed its commitment to the MDS and MCS services operating in the band by saying operators won’t have to migrate to another band. The changes are not yet written in stone as the department has announced a consultation to gauge the industry’s views of the additional allocation.
While companies such as Inukshuk Internet Inc., Look Communications Inc., and Craig Wireless International Inc.’s SkyCable have been assured that they won’t have to migrate to another band, the department’s move to add a mobile allocation to the band may be a cause for concern.
Industry Canada says this decision will provide increased certainty for current providers in being able to continue to develop and deploy services in these bands. "This will permit them to continue their operations in accordance with their current business plans under existing terms and conditions of licence," Industry minister Brian Tobin said in a release.
There was some uncertainty regarding incumbent providers’ ability to remain in the 2500 MHz band due to 3G considerations south of the border. Last year, the International Telecommunication Union designated the 2500 MHz band as one of the 3G bands.
Following the attacks of Sept. 11, hopes of being able to use the 1700 MHz band were all but lost and mobile operators in the U.S. had to look elsewhere for more bandwidth. An acrimonious war of words raged between the mobile wireless industry and fixed wireless players over the right to use the precious spectrum. Ultimately, the Federal Communications Commission re-affirmed its commitment to the fixed wireless industry at the end of September. It indicated that fixed wireless operators wouldn’t be relocated, but it added the mobile allocation to the band to appease the mobile industry. More details:
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