Announcement - Release of 896-901 MHz and
935-940 MHz Land Mobile spectrum formerly held in reserve in the Golden Horseshoe Area of Ontario, December 24, 2004

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Intent

This announcement formalizes the reopening and availability of land mobile spectrum in the band 896-901 MHz and 935-940 MHz (900 MHz band) for the area encompassed by Ontario’s Golden Horseshoe Area. Unassigned spectrum in this band was placed in reserve status in November 1998 and set aside exclusively to meet the needs of public safety systems.

The release of the 900 MHz reservation will allow for the introduction of new services or systems and where necessary provide added capacity to existing systems.

Background

The land mobile radio environment in the Golden Horseshoe Area surrounding Toronto is generally recognized as the most frequency congested in the country. In order to meet the spectrum usage requirements of radio communication users, allocation and assignment policies are reviewed on a continuing basis.

During the period 1993 to 1997, the land mobile bands 896-901 MHz and 935-940 MHz experienced significant licensing activity primarily due to the demand for spectrum by Radiocommunication Service Providers. A review of spectrum available in 1998 revealed that the land mobile bands 896-901 MHz and 935-940 MHz in the Golden Horseshoe Area of Toronto were approaching depletion. At that time, the Department had on hand applications for 900 MHz spectrum which exceeded supply including two proposals by public safety agencies expressing interest in deployment at 900 MHz. With no new land mobile spectrum to be released in the short term, the usual first-come, first-served licensing process was suspended and the remaining 900 MHz land mobile spectrum was held in abeyance to meet the needs of priority users.

The Department has a long standing policy to give priority access to public safety users. Theis decision follows a similar one in 1992 decision to limit future licensing in the land mobile bands 806-‑ 821 MHz and 851-866 MHz (800 MHz) to exclusively meet the needs of public safety users.

Since the spectrum reservation in 1998, few applications by public safety agencies were received requesting licensing at 900 MHz. In addition, there has been an increase in available 900 MHz due to spectrum recovery associated with failed deployments and the return of spectrum that had been granted on a temporary basis. The total number of unassigned channels may vary with further spectrum recovery or assignments to priority users. Currently, there are 51 unassigned channels in the land mobile band 896-901 MHz and 935-940 MHz, within the geographical area depicted in Figure 1.

Figure 1

Industry Canada staff conducted a study in 2001 to assess the current spectrum utilization and future spectrum requirements of public safety users in the GHA. The study group produced a report entitled "Report on GHA Public Safety Services Spectrum Requirements to the Year 2006".

Key findings of the study revealed that the current needs of public safety users in the GHA are largely satisfied and recommended maintaining a reserve of 16 channels to meet potential medium term demand to the year 2006.

Frequency requirements of public safety agencies are spread across bands at VHF, UHF, 800 MHz and 900 MHz.  There has been a significant investment by public safety users in systems operating at 800 MHz and available capacity in this band continues to be important for future expansion. The 2001 study also revealed that public safety agencies had expressed little interest in the 896-901 MHz and 935-940 MHz band and that no large-scale deployments of public safety systems were anticipated in this frequency band.

Decision

Consultation with public safety users concluded that the 900 MHz spectrum reservation is no longer required.

There continues to be demand and applications for 900 MHz land mobile spectrum for use during short-term special events. To accommodate these needs within the GHA, the Department will continue to sub-allocate 10 channels in the 900 MHz land mobile spectrum. These channels will not be available for multi-year licensing.

The Department is releasing the remaining spectrum in the band 896-901 and 935-940 MHz for the provision of Land Mobile and Fixed Radio Systems. Requests by applicants will be managed using normal licensing procedures giving priority to public safety and preferred services applicants.

If the demand for spectrum exceeds that available or cannot be managed in the available spectrum the Department reserves the right to change its licensing process. A change in process may involve moving from a managed first-come, first-served basis to a competitive licensing process or again placing a certain amount of spectrum in reserve status to manage specific requests or meet the needs of priority users.

The spectrum set-aside at 800 MHz (806-821 and 851-866 MHz) will continue to be held in reserve for public safety.

Submission of Applications

Interested applicants should contact their local district office concerning the submission of an application. SRSP-506 provides details of the minimum technical requirements for systems licensed in this band.

Applications must be received by Industry Canada within 90 days of publication of this notice, at which time the Department will assess the level of demand. Where demand for licensing exceeds availability, applicants will be contacted by the Department concerning further instructions for participation in a competitive process.

Obtaining Copies

Copies of this announcement are available electronically on the Spectrum Management and Telecommunications Web Site at http://strategis.gc.ca/spectrum.

John Baggio
Director Spectrum
Ontario Region