More licence-exempt 5 GHz spectrum needed, groups tell Industry Canada

The Wireless Ethernet Compatibility Alliance (WECA) is urging Industry Canada to designate more licence-free spectrum in the 5 GHz range for wireless local area network (LAN) systems to expand broadband communications in the country. The growing U.S. wireless lobby group, which now counts about 135 members globally, has the support of Nokia – one of the world’s largest wireless equipment makers – and the Radio Advisory Board of Canada (RABC). In documents submitted to Industry Canada as part of the public consultation on the issue (DGTP 001-02), WECA and Nokia indicate there is already 300 MHz of licence-free spectrum in this band, but the market needs more. They cite a HIPERLAN/2 Global Forum study indicating by 2010 about 540 MHz of spectrum will be needed to accommodate demand. The RABC supports continued harmonization with the United States and other parts of the world, but also notes that more licence-exempt spectrum would help avoid future interference issues. "It is our belief that allocation of this additional spectrum in the 5 GHz band and the use of interference mitigation techniques such as dynamic frequency selection and automatic transmit power control would avoid the type of congestion currently seen in the 2.4 GHz band in some urban environments," it writes in its April 30 comments. WECA is also lobbying the U.S. government for more spectrum in the 5 GHz band. Earlier this year, the group filed a Petition for Rulemaking with the Federal Communications Commission requesting additional spectrum in the 5470-5725 MHz range for licence-exempt LAN systems. More available spectrum in this range would help prevent interference to and from these systems, the group states. "WECA urges Industry Canada to allocate sufficient spectrum to firmly establish wireless access to the vast array of multimedia resources and information currently available only via wireline access to the Internet," it writes. "By allocating more spectrum to LE-LAN devices, Industry Canada would permit the general public to experience unparalleled wireless high-speed transfers of data and voice and would also provide capacity to handle ever-increasing demand for high-speed broadband wireless access." The 5 GHz band is of considerable importance globally, as well. The next World Radiocommunication Conference (WRC-03) will look at opening more of it up for licence-exempt devices. Agenda Item 1.5 will consider changing the regulatory provisions and spectrum requirements for mobile, fixed, radiolocation, Earth exploration-satellite and space research services in the 5150 to 5725 MHz range. Globally harmonized bands are a key contributor to economies of scale for equipment manufacturers. As WECA states, "a globally coordinated spectrum allocation would allow consumers to use only one LE-LAN device while traveling both to and from Canada, as there would be no need to reset the LE-LAN device to ensure that the device and any applications would continue to function seamlessly from country to country," Nokia concurs with the WECA assessment. It also notes that the 5470-5725 MHz band is already allocated to wireless networks on a licence-free status in Europe, and as such, harmonization is desirable. However, there is some opposition to the opening up of more spectrum for wireless access. The Canadian Cable Television Association writes that in light of the recent failures of several competitive providers, there isn’t a spectrum supply shortage, but rather a technological or demand constraint (RoW, May 13/02). While the CCTA highlights this issue, it recognizes there are inherent benefits in harmonizing spectrum allocations with that of other administrations. Spectrum harmonization provides equipment manufacturers with cost advantages that can be realized through economies of scale, the CCTA notes.

More licence-exempt 5 GHz spectrum needed, groups tell Industry Canada

News | May 27, 2002

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