The government of Canada has finally decided to open the 6GHz band of spectrum that would triple the current amount available for Wi-Fi. This will lead to faster speeds and greater coverage.
"High-quality and affordable wireless services have never been more important in the everyday lives of Canadians," Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne said. "This decision will make staying connected easier for Canadians who rely on their Wi-Fi for accessing school, work, and health care from home."
Based on the document that initiated a consultation on the technical and policy framework for license-exempt use of the 6 GHz band, in the Canadian Table of Frequency Allocations (CTFA), the 6 GHz band is allocated to fixed service and fixed-satellite service on a co-primary basis.
The increased spectrum will also allow for affordable broadband in rural Canada, which is in line with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's Liberal government’s commitment to improving internet access for rural Canada.
The decision comes ahead of Canada's long-awaited 3500Mhz spectrum auction in June, with more than 20 companies eligible to bid. These include Bell, Telus, Rogers Communications, and Cogeco Communications.
Moreover, it is a timely response to the GSMA call-to-action for governments regarding 6 GHz licensing for a scalable and efficient 5G network deployment.
