Scant evidence to oppose HPODs in 5GHz: telecoms

Canada’s largest telecoms said opponents of high-power and outdoor devices (HPODs) in the 5GHz frequency band have failed to provide adequate evidence against the move. Earlier this month, Canada’s major telecoms said the country should harmonize with the United States in opening the 5GHz band to HPODs — which use spectrum to allow for high-speed data transfer between devices, such as for outdoor WiFi — before the World Radiocommunications Conference in 2019. But opposition from parties including Transportation Canada and the Canadian Space Agency highlighted concerns including interference with satellites and the potential to “pre-judge” the results of WR-19, with suggestions that demand for additional radio local area network spectrum is overstated. On Tuesday, Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED) released replies to those concerns, with telecoms and other parties — besides pointing to the large number of commentators supporting the move — suggesting there isn’t adequate evidence supporting those concerns. “Although some parties were not in favour of allowing outdoor and higher power indoor devices prior to WRC-19, they did not provide any convincing evidence to support their position,” Howard Slawner, vice-president or regulatory telecom for Rogers Communications Inc. said in a reply dated last week, adding concerns from satellite proponents about potential interference concerns are “overstated.” BCE Inc. also held a similar position, pointing to “the inference studies conducted in the U.S.,” which suggests that the “use of these devices does not pose a threat to satellite receivers.” The U.S. allowed HPODs in the 5GHz band in 2014. Those in support of the move to the less congested band have pointed to an increasing demand for data and new developments, such as the upcoming 5G technology and the Internet of Things (IoT). None “of the opponents explain why this readily available data overstates the demand for additional Wi-Fi spectrum, nor have they provided studies of their own which demonstrate that the demand levels in Canada are lower,” Shaw Communications Inc. said in its reply, dated last week. Other parties also weighed in: “The argument regarding proliferation of ‘potentially harmful devices’ and the capability to remove devices from the market is a non-issue,” the Wireless Broadband Alliance (WBA) said in its reply. It added: “The risk is much larger — if Canada delays its decision till after WRC-19 — that US devices might come (illegally) into the Canadian market, and tracking of these devices is then virtually impossible.”

Scant evidence to oppose HPODs in 5GHz: telecoms

Brief | April 19, 2017

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Scant evidence to oppose HPODs in 5GHz: telecoms

Brief | April 19, 2017

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