July 2025
Current fees and links to the instruments that set out the fees associated with these modernization initiatives can be consulted on the Spectrum and telecommunications fees webpage.
1. Commercial mobile services
In March 2025, Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED) published the decision resulting from the consultation undertaken in Canada Gazette notice SPB-005-24, Consultation on a Fee Framework and Amendments to Conditions of Licence for Certain Spectrum Licences Used to Provide Commercial Mobile Services Below 10 GHz. This decision includes a new three-rate fee framework for in-scope spectrum licences below 10 GHz as well as the details concerning new conditions of licence for these licences.
2. Millimetre wave (26, 28 and 38 GHz bands)
In May 2024, ISED announced the decisions resulting from the consultation undertaken in Canada Gazette notice SPB-002-23, Consultation on the Licence Renewal Process for the 24 GHz and 38 GHz Bands and Preliminary Consultation on Changes to the 24.25-26.5 GHz Band. The decisions include the new licensing process for existing 24 GHz spectrum licences in the 24.25-24.45 GHz and 25.05-25.25 GHz frequency bands and existing 38 GHz spectrum licences in 38.7-39.1 GHz and 39.4-39.8 GHz, as well as additional considerations regarding the mmWave auction as it relates to the Consultation on a Policy and Licensing Framework for Spectrum in the 26, 28 and 38 GHz Bands.
In March 2025, ISED released an addendum to SPB-003-22, Consultation on a Non-Competitive Local Licensing Framework, Including Spectrum in the 3900-3980 MHz Band and Portions of the 26, 28 and 38 GHz Bands and SPB-001-23, Decision on a Non-Competitive Local Licensing Framework, Including Spectrum in the 3900-3980 MHz Band and Portions of the 26, 28 and 38 GHz Bands. The Addendum applies the non-competitive local licensing framework to the 27.5-28.35 GHz band.
Additionally, in March 2025, through the release of the Consultation on the 26 GHz and 38 GHz bands, ISED published additional considerations regarding the consultation processes undertaken in Canada Gazette Notice SPB-001-22, Consultation on a Policy and Licensing Framework for Spectrum in the 26, 28 and 38 GHz Bands.
3. Equipment certification and registration
In July 2023, through the release of this document, ISED announced decisions resulting from the consultation process undertaken in Canada Gazette Notice SMSE-022-22, Consultation on Telecommunications and Radio Equipment Service Fees of the Certification and Engineering Bureau. The consultation addressed the fee framework related to the certification of radio equipment and the registration of telecommunications equipment.
4. Earth stations and space stations
In May 2022, through the release of this document, ISED announced decisions resulting from the consultation process undertaken in Canada Gazette Notice SMSE-009-21, Consultation on Updates to the Licensing and Fee Framework for Earth Stations and Space Stations in Canada. The consultation addressed the licensing and fee regime for all space stations and all earth stations, except for those earth stations specifically exempt under the Radiocommunication Act.
5. Fixed point-to-point systems
In April 2021, the Radiocommunication Regulations were amended to introduce the consumption-based fee model for fixed point-to-point systems and temporary licensing for all radio licences. These provisions came into force on April 1, 2021. The final version of the Radiocommunication Regulations were published in the Canada Gazette, Part II.
These amendments to the Radiocommunication Regulations were made pursuant to the July 2019 Decision on the Licence Fee Framework for Fixed Point-to-Point Systems, in which it was noted that this decision is the first step of a multi-stage process to modernize fees for different services and licence types.
6. Map of radiocommunication areas
For the purpose of calculating link fees for fixed point-to-point systems, urban, rural and remote areas are defined in the Radiocommunication Regulations and published on the Map of Radiocommunication Areas on Canada's Open Data Portal. The same map is shown on this web page for your convenience. From the Map of Radiocommunication Areas on Canada's Open Data Portal, under Data and Resources, you will find related downloadable data files, for unofficial use in your mapping software.