Repurpose spectrum used for plane connectivity for mobile: Rogers

Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED) should change the spectrum bands allocated to air-to-ground services in order to free up more spectrum for mobile use, according to Rogers Communications Inc. ISED is consulting on spectrum in the 849-851 MHz and 894-896 MHz bands, currently used for communications with airplanes, and posted comments submitted as part of the consultation on its website Friday. The licenses were issued in 2009 and will expire next year. “Rogers believes, long term, that there is more value to Canadians for the 849-851 and 894-896 MHz spectrum if it is repurposed,” it said. “ISED should start working with the to address this potential benefit for public safety users, commercial mobile consumers, and Canadian citizens.” Rogers said that the “voice services these systems were initially intended to provide are now being made available via satellite systems, which can offer far more capacity in addition to data services with greater throughput and speed.” For now, the licences should be renewed for a short, three-year licence term, since the spectrum can’t be reallocated immediately, it added. But the companies currently using that spectrum to provide connectivity in airplanes asked ISED for a 10-year renewal. SkySurf Canada Communications Inc. said it, its sub-licensee Gogo Inc. and Air Canada have “invested substantially” in air-to-ground in Canada. Gogo and Air Canada began offering in-flight WiFi service in 2016. Gogo uses air-to-ground service in most of its North American commercial aircraft customers, it said. “Gogo’s aviation customers are unlikely to ‘rip and replace’ ATG equipment in lieu of other technologies, particularly in light of its better suitability for shorter flights and Gogo’s significant investment in upgrading its ATG system to deliver higher speeds,” it said. “ATG systems will remain a technologically adept and low-cost in-flight broadband system for years to come, providing a key source of in-flight mobile broadband for millions of passengers flying within Canada and between Canada and the U.S.” Skysurf said a shorter licence period or uncertainty around renewals would seriously affect the investments companies have made into in-flight connectivity. “We expect that ATG networks will continue to be the mainstay for in-flight connectivity over land for the foreseeable future. Satellite solutions remain costly relative to ATG,” it said in its submission.

Repurpose spectrum used for plane connectivity for mobile: Rogers

Brief | September 21, 2018

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Repurpose spectrum used for plane connectivity for mobile: Rogers

Brief | September 21, 2018

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