Consultation on a licensing framework for residual spectrum licences in the 700 MHz and AWS-3 bands /

There was no opposition from the respondents regarding the proposals to apply a deployment requirement level of 20% of the population of the Tier 4 licence areas in the North for both the 700 MHz and AWS-3 bands. [...] In response to the concerns raised that an equipment ecosystem has not yet been developed, Industry Canada continues to be of the view that since the successful auction of the AWS-3 band conducted by the FCC in the United States, the significant investments made by the U. S carriers to acquire this spectrum, along with the deployment requirements imposed by the FCC, may expedite the development of [...] In the selection of an auction format and related rules, consideration is given to the characteristics of the spectrum being auctioned; for example, the quantity and size of the blocks, as well as the similarities and complementarities that may exist among the blocks. [...] Ice Wireless suggested that a first come, first served (FCFS) approach to licensing the 700 MHz spectrum in the North would be most appropriate, given the difficult conditions for deploying in the North and the fact that the licence was not taken up in the past auction. [...] In the recent 700 MHz auction (held in 2014), the determination of the opening bid prices took into account the results of past Canadian auctions and reflected the relative value of the licences in the different service areas.