Telesat pitches plan to fast-track sale of 3800 MHz spectrum

Canadian satellite operator Telesat Holdings Inc. has spruiked its proposal to fast track the auction of 200 MHz of spectrum in the 3800 MHz spectrum band, stating in a Tuesday release that it’s the “only actionable path to rapidly deploy true 5G service in Canada and to connect rural and remote Canadian communities with fast, affordable broadband.” Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada last week launched a consultation on repurposing the 3800 MHz band, which ranges from 3650 to 4200 MHz, for 5G services. The industry and interested parties were given 60 days to comment on a number of ISED’s proposals, as well as the Telesat submission, which would see a further 100 MHz of spectrum in the 3800 MHz band cleared for broadband wireless services. The band is widely seen as one of the bands crucial for 5G deployment, and Telesat currently holds most of the spectrum in the band. That spectrum is now mainly used for fixed satellite services (FSS), to deliver broadband services, as well as for feeder links for TV broadcasts, according to the ISED consultation document. In order for the 3800 band to be used for 5G services, ISED proposes clearing FSS from 3700 to 4000 MHz, except in satellite dependent communities, by December 2023. ISED’s plan would result in 250 MHz, from 3650 to 3900 MHz, becoming available for wireless services, while it also suggests a 80 MHz carve out, between 3900 and 3980 MHz, be used for flexible use, plus a 20 MHz guard band between 3980 and 4000 MHz. The remaining 200 MHz would be used for fixed satellite services. But Telesat proposes freeing up more spectrum for wireless use, including making 200 MHz of the band available more than two years earlier than ISED planned, but in exchange the company would reinvest the profits into its low-orbit earth (LEO) constellation, where it would transfer most of its customers. In a document submitted to ISED, Telus proposes clearing fixed satellite services from all bar 100 MHz of the band, stating it can be achieved “with no loss of service to existing end users,” provided sufficient investment was made in new facilities. Under Telesat’s plan, 200 MHz of spectrum -- from 3700 to 3900 MHz -- would be cleared for wireless services and auctioned next year alongside the 3500 MHz spectrum band, with Telesat to sell the rights to that spectrum directly in the secondary market, instead of an ISED licencing process. In its submission, Telesat says the net proceeds of the spectrum sale -- which does not include the cost to the company of clearing the band -- would be invested in new satellites and facilities, particularly its low-orbit earth constellation, Telesat LEO. “For the avoidance of doubt, without the funding needed to invest in these new facilities, Telesat would not be able to support these critical services without continuing to use the entire downlink bandwidth of the 3800 MHz band,” Telesat said in its submission to ISED. A further 200 MHz, from 3900 to 4100 MHz would be cleared by Dec. 5, 2025, with that spectrum, minus a 20 MHz guard band, to be returned to ISED and auctioned at the department’s discretion. Under Telesat’s proposal, 380 MHz of spectrum in the 3800 MHz band would be auctioned for flexible use, compared to the 250 MHz in ISED’s plan and the 280 MHz cleared for it in the U.S. Telesat would also clear the spectrum in all parts of Canada, Telesat manager of government affairs Stephen Hampton said in an interview, rather than ISED’s plan to allow satellite services to remain in the 3700 to 3900 MHz frequency range in satellite dependent communities. In its submission, Telesat said it uses all of its 500 MHz in the 3800 MHz band currently, including to provide satellite internet, telephone and broadcasting service to indigenous communities, government departments and to the energy sector. “There’s some northern areas where there may need to be slightly more and we’ll work with the minister on it, but the goal is to clear it entirely and make it available for 5G,” Hampton said. Hampton said mid-band spectrum was the “goldilocks spectrum” that would be a great foundation for 5G with its high speeds, capacity and ability to travel medium distances, and the more available to spectrum auctions, the better. Once set asides and the amount of spectrum retained by incumbents was factored in, the 200 MHz of 3500 band spectrum set to be auctioned next year quickly becomes far less than that, Hampton said. “You kind of see there is a massive demand for more mid-band spectrum. We looked at it and said, through our proposal, we can aggressively accelerate how much spectrum we can make available to the wireless carriers which will result in way better 5G, more affordable 5G and quicker 5G for Canadians,” Hampton said. Asked why Telesat’s plan had more MHz cleared for flexible use than the U.S. or ISED’s proposal, Hampton said the company felt there would be sufficient demand over time for that additional spectrum. “The main driver for us was getting as much mid-band out as quickly as possible in a way that we can still ensure that all of our customers who are receiving lifeline critical services can continue to be connected via Telesat LEO thereafter,” he said. -- With reporting by Adam Langenberg at alangenberg@thewirereport.ca and editing by Anja Karadeglija at akarad@thewirereport.ca

Telesat pitches plan to fast-track sale of 3800 MHz spectrum

News | 09/01/2020 6:35 pm EDT

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