Ottawa unveiled a new licensing policy intended to make it easier for small internet service providers and rural, remote and Indigenous communities to access 5G spectrum licences.
Industry Minister François-Philippe Champagne said the framework will provide a broad range of users, including businesses and industries, with the opportunity to acquire spectrum licences in localized areas across the country.
The framework designates 80 megahertz of spectrum for shared use through non-competitive local licensing. That means qualifying users can purchase one-year licences for a nominal fee without having to go through an auction, whereas major telecom providers traditionally pay billions of dollars for 20-year licence periods….