Honorable François-Philippe Champagne, minister of innovation, science, and industry, announced the launch of the consultation on a policy and licensing framework for spectrum in the 3800 MHz band to support 5G and promote competition in wireless services. Licensing the 3800 MHz band will allow for the deployment of new technologies, which will lead to the creation of good jobs and new products and services for Canadians.
“Whether working from home or making frequent use of telemedicine, Canadians now rely on wireless services daily. With our commitment to making the right spectrum available, we are driving down prices and improving wireless services, resulting in more opportunities for Canadians from coast to coast to coast, whether they live in cities or in rural and remote areas,” said the minister.
The consultation specifically seeks input on issues such as the network build-out requirements that should be imposed on license holders, measures within the auction framework to support wireless competition, and additional provisions to support Canada’s Connectivity Strategy.
“Our government wants to ensure that all Canadians have access to fast, affordable and reliable Internet, including those in rural and remote communities. Making more spectrum available is an important step towards that goal, and we will continue to work with industry to ensure Canadians have access to the highest quality services,” commented Honorable Gudie Hutchings, minister of rural economic development.
This consultation follows the decision to repurpose the 3800 MHz band to support 5G services, which was announced in May 2021, and is the next major step in the lead-up to the 3800 MHz spectrum auction planned for early 2023.
