Wireless industry pans government proposals to give away key backhaul spectrum

Proposals from Industry Canada to give additional satellite frequencies to direct-to-home (DTH) television services and to allocate more bandwidth for tactical systems are being criticized by the wireless industry. The Canadian Wireless Telecommunications Association (CWTA) tells the department that giving portions of the 15 GHz band to tactical common data link (TCDL) systems will throw a wrench into backhaul activities for wireless carriers. “More than 1,000 fixed service links are at risk of being displaced from the 15 GHz band, with few alternatives for operators,” reads the CWTA’s submission in response to DGTP-004-08. The wireless association acknowledges that aerial surveillance and TCDL are incompatible with fixed systems, but asks Industry Canada to recognize the significant investment already made in backhaul in this band. In addition to the five-year notification period for displacement, the CWTA wants an additional five years of operating with no-protection. Not only is the department proposing to reduce wireless carriers’ ability to use the 15 GHz band, its proposal for additional DTH bandwidth in the 11 GHz range will also have negative consequences for wireless operators’ backhaul. In a joint filing to the DTH consultation, a group of wireless companies say giving this spectrum to DTH will leave them with little choice for backhaul bandwidth. The Fixed Service Providers – Bell Canada, Harris Stratex Networks LLC, Telus Communications Co., and Rogers Communications Inc. – tell Industry Canada in response to DGTP-003-08 that they have made long-term network and equipment planning based on the availability of this spectrum and allocating it for satellite TV services would have negative service quality consequences at a time when demand for mobile services is increasing. “While the options available to the Fixed Service Providers are under threat of diminishing, it is important to note that demand for suitable additional microwave backhaul spectrum is dramatically increasing as these providers expand the capacity of their networks to support new and innovative mobile broadband data services and applications,” they say. “Additional spectrum is required for microwave wireless backhaul, not less, and the 11 GHz band is a key backhaul alternative that is available to mobile service providers, when expanding the capacity of their networks to keep up with the surging demand for broadband mobile services,” reads the Fixed Service Providers submission. “Restricting the use of the 11 GHz and 15 GHz bands by fixed services will create a void in the options that are available to mobile service providers as they build and enhance their networks.” Mobile satellite services (MSS) providers TerreStar Networks and SkyTerra Communications are also opposed to allowing DTH companies to tap into the 11 GHz band. Both companies have received approvals in principle to operate satellites: SkyTerra Canada at the 107.3 degrees west orbital position and TerreStar Canada at the 111.1 degrees west orbital slot. In a joint filing, the two companies tell Industry Canada that using portions of the band for DTH wouldn’t be compatible with their satellite feeder downlinks. “In particular, it would not be technically feasible to re-use this feederlink spectrum for DTH services at the same orbital locations because the separation between the satellites would not be sufficient to permit spectrum re-use.” Industry Canada’s consultation comes after Telesat Canada had asked for the right to use the extended Ku-band for DTH services for Star Choice Communications. In an interview with Report on Wireless earlier this year, Paul Bush, Telesat’s VP of North American sales, said the company could move quickly to address this shortage if approval is given. “Through the expansion of DTH in Canada for Star Choice as well as the expansion for distribution to cable, extended Ku-band is here and now, and we’re prepared to move forward with the build of a satellite that would augment the Star Choice system today,” he said at the time.

Wireless industry pans government proposals to give away key backhaul spectrum

Broadcast | May 4, 2009

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