Industry says 5G tech rollout relies on timely access to spectrum

TORONTO Canada’s push toward fifth-generation wireless technology promises network upgrades that could enable everything from powering complex new technologies to closing the digital divide.

But long before Canadians see the results, the federal government must decide how it will allocate the necessary spectrum in a new auction round. For 5G technology to work as Canada’s carriers hope, they will need huge blocks of spectrum — the radio frequencies that carry signals to receivers embedded in smartphones, sensors and other connected devices.

“Industry needs that (spectrum) to deliver all of the capabilities of 5G and to keep up with the demand for wireless services,” says Eric Smith, a spokesman for the Canadian Wireless Telecommunications Association. “So timely allocation of the necessary spectrum is important.”

The problem, however, is the Canadian government has been slow to make decisions when it comes to the allocation of the 600- and 3,500-megahertz spectrums — two frequency bands that could be useful for 5G wireless networks.

The telecoms are waiting for the Department of Innovations, Science and Economic Development to set out a framework for acquiring 3,500 MHz spectrum, a midrange set of frequencies that’s been identified as the primary band suitable for the introduction of 5G services in Europe before 2020.

Consultations on 3,500 MHz won’t be officially launched until the summer and it’s unclear when the auction will be held. In fact, ISED only announced last week the terms for holding a 600 MHz auction next March — years after it began the process of deciding what to do with it.

ISED Minister Navdeep Bains says the government is aware of 5G technology’s importance, and is committed to supporting it, but it wants to get the ground rules right for the industry and consumers.