Industry Canada changes rules for 3500 MHz spectrum, going ahead with auction
Industry Canada has opened up more spectrum for fixed wireless access (FWA) systems operating in the 3500 MHz range. In DGTP-006-003, the department added the sub-band 3475-3500 MHz to the existing core band of 3500-3650 MHz. 
The decision comes on the heels of a department decision to suspend new authorizations in the 3450-3500 MHz band so it could conduct an interference assessment of FWA and radiolocation systems (DGTP-002-03; RoW Update, Feb. 24/03). In that ruling, the department also realigned the FWA spectrum, moving the core band from the 3400-3550 MHz range to the 3500-3650 MHz range. Following the interference study, Industry Canada has decided that more spectrum could be opened up for commercial FWA systems and some previous safeguards have been removed.
"In releasing this additional spectrum across Canada, there will be more opportunity to develop local distribution facilities to accommodate new services and service providers," the department wrote in the decision released April 19.
In its decision, Industry Canada also noted that it will be moving ahead with the auction of this frequency range in the near future. Two years ago, the department consulted the public and the industry about auctioning licences in the 3500 MHz and 2300 MHz bands (RoW, Aug. 21/01). It is still unclear at this point whether the 2300 MHz band will be auctioned at the same time as the 3500 MHz band.
Look for more details of the Industry Canada decision and the future auction for spectrum in the 3500 MHz band in an upcoming issue of Report on Wireless.