Canada SRSP-517 Issue 3: ISED Consults on 2500–2690 MHz BRS
Canada: ISED Opens Public Consultation on SRSP-517 Issue 3 for Broadband Radio Service in the 2500–2690 MHz Band
Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED) has opened a public consultation on the draft Standard Radio System Plan SRSP-517, Issue 3 – Technical Requirements for Broadband Radio Service (BRS) in the Band 2500–2690 MHz. The consultation was published on September 25, 2026, and comments will be accepted until December 4, 2026.
SRSP-517 sets out the minimum technical requirements for the efficient use of the 2500–2690 MHz band by Broadband Radio Service systems. Once finalized, Issue 3 will replace SRSP-517 Issue 2, published in July 2023. ISED opened the consultation on the same day as its companion consultation on RSS-199 Issue 5, the equipment certification standard for the same band.
Regulatory Background: Why ISED Is Revising SRSP-517
The 2500–2690 MHz band is one of Canada's core mid-band resources for LTE and 5G NR mobile broadband. ISED regulates it through two complementary instruments:
Instrument | Purpose | Current version | Under consultation |
SRSP-517 | Technical requirements for deploying BRS systems: band plan, power, coordination between licensees, international coordination | Issue 2 (July 2023) | Issue 3 |
RSS-199 | Certification requirements for BRS equipment | Issue 4 (July 2023) | Issue 5 |
Since 2011, Canada has used the ITU band plan for this band: paired FDD blocks in 2500–2570 MHz and 2620–2690 MHz, and an unpaired TDD segment in 2570–2620 MHz with two 5 MHz restricted bands. The United States, by contrast, uses an unpaired, TDD-only arrangement.
As Canadian and U.S. operators expanded 5G along the border, this mismatch created growing cross-border interference, especially in Canada's FDD uplink spectrum (2500–2570 MHz). In January 2026, ISED launched consultation SPB-002-26 on moving to an unpaired band plan. In September 2026, it published Decision SPB-006-26, which:
revises the 2500 MHz band to a new unpaired TDD band plan of 38 blocks of 5 MHz (A1 to U2) across 2500–2690 MHz, which can be aggregated into wider channels;
commits ISED to update RSS-199 and SRSP-517 through technical consultations with stakeholders, including the Radio Advisory Board of Canada (RABC);
states that both the current and the new band plans will apply once the updated RSS-199 and SRSP-517 are published, with new-plan equipment operating on a no-interference, no-protection (NINP) basis until regional transition dates are set;
signals that transition dates will be no earlier than 2033, to be set in a future consultation;
lifts the current deployment requirements for 2500 MHz licensees pending a future decision.
SRSP-517 Issue 3 is the deployment-side rulebook that puts this decision into practice.
What Changes in SRSP-517 Issue 3
According to the RABC consultation notice, the draft SRSP-517 Issue 3 contains yellow highlights and editorial notes marking the changes from Issue 2, which ISED will resolve in the final publication.
Based on Decision SPB-006-26 and the companion RSS-199 Issue 5 draft, Issue 3 is expected to:
Incorporate the new unpaired TDD band plan of 38 × 5 MHz blocks (A1–U2) covering the full 2500–2690 MHz range, alongside the existing paired/unpaired plan.
Define how the two band plans coexist during the interim period, reflecting the NINP status of systems deployed under the new plan relative to the current plan.
Update technical deployment parameters such as power limits, unwanted emission limits and coordination provisions between licensees, to support TDD operation across the band and closer alignment with U.S. rules.
Make editorial updates for clarity and consistency with the revised RSS-199.
Current vs. new band plan at a glance
Feature | Current plan (ITU-based) | New unpaired plan (SPB-006-26) |
Structure | 7 paired blocks of 10+10 MHz + 2 unpaired blocks of 25 MHz | 38 unpaired blocks of 5 MHz (A1–U2) |
Duplexing | FDD (paired) and TDD (centre gap) | TDD only |
3GPP alignment | Band 7 / n7 (FDD), Band 38 / n38 (TDD) | Band 41 / n41 ecosystem |
Restricted bands | 2570–2575 MHz and 2615–2620 MHz | Absorbed into the 5 MHz block structure |
Status after Issue 3 / Issue 5 publication | Remains applicable | Applicable on a NINP basis until transition dates |
Certification Impact Summary
SRSP-517 governs how licensed systems are deployed, not how equipment is certified. However, it works hand in hand with RSS-199, and the two documents are being updated together.
Area | Impact |
Equipment certification | BRS equipment must continue to be certified under RSS-199. The companion draft RSS-199 Issue 5 adds the TDD-only band plan option. |
Certification route | Technical Acceptance Certificate (TAC) from ISED's Certification and Engineering Bureau, or a certificate from a recognized Certification Body (CB). |
Band 41 / n41 products | Equipment designed for the new 5 MHz block structure will need test coverage that reflects its declared channel bandwidths and full 2500–2690 MHz operating range. |
Existing certified equipment | Products certified for the current plan (Band 7 / Band 38) remain usable under the current band plan, which stays applicable until transition dates are decided. |
RSS-199 transition | According to the RSS-199 Issue 5 draft, a six-month transition period will follow its final publication, during which Issue 4 or Issue 5 applications are accepted. |
Deployment | New-plan systems may be installed once the updated RSS-199 and SRSP-517 are published, but will operate NINP relative to current-plan systems until regional transition dates. |
Band edge | Extending the plan down to 2496 MHz (full n41 alignment) is not part of this update; ISED says it may consult on it in the future. |
What This Means for Manufacturers
TDD equipment vendors (Band 41 / n41). This update opens the Canadian 2500–2690 MHz market to TDD equipment across the full band, rather than only the 2570–2620 MHz centre gap. ISED itself acknowledged that manufacturers may need at least two years to develop and certify Band 41 equipment for Canada. The publication of SRSP-517 Issue 3 and RSS-199 Issue 5 is the starting point for that certification pipeline.
FDD equipment vendors (Band 7). The paired plan remains applicable for now, so there is no immediate market exclusion. However, the long-term direction is clear: Canada is moving toward TDD-only use, with transition dates no earlier than 2033. Product roadmaps for the Canadian market should plan for declining FDD demand in this band.
Band 38 TDD equipment vendors. Existing unpaired TDD deployments continue under the current plan, but the move to 5 MHz blocks across the full band and future frequency re-assignments may change where and how these systems operate. Watch the coexistence and transition provisions in Issue 3 closely.
Points that apply to all BRS manufacturers:
Read SRSP-517 and RSS-199 together. RSS-199 sets the equipment test limits; SRSP-517 sets the deployment framework and detailed band plan that operators will design to.
Align documentation with the new block structure. Test plans and reports should clearly identify the band plan, block or block group, and channel bandwidths supported.
Engage operator customers early. Canadian licensees are negotiating an industry-led, region-by-region transition plan, and their equipment requirements will follow the final SRSP-517 parameters.
Operators and system integrators should review the draft for coexistence, coordination and NINP provisions, as these will shape network planning between the publication of the new rules and the regional transition dates.
Timeline and Required Actions
Date / Milestone | Event | Required action |
January 2026 | ISED consultation SPB-002-26 on revising the 2500–2690 MHz band plan | (closed) |
September 2026 | ISED publishes Decision SPB-006-26: new unpaired TDD plan of 38 × 5 MHz blocks | Review the decision and its impact on your product roadmap |
September 25, 2026 | ISED opens consultations on SRSP-517 Issue 3 and RSS-199 Issue 5 | Download the drafts from the RABC site |
October – November 2026 | Consultation period | Prepare clause-by-clause comments; coordinate with test labs, certification bodies and operator customers |
December 4, 2026 | Comment deadline for SRSP-517 Issue 3 and RSS-199 Issue 5 | Submit comments via the RABC form or by email to ISED |
To be confirmed | Final publication of SRSP-517 Issue 3 and RSS-199 Issue 5 | Both band plans become applicable; new-plan deployments may begin on a NINP basis |
RSS-199 publication + 6 months | End of RSS-199 transition period (per draft) | Only RSS-199 Issue 5 applications accepted |
Future consultation | ISED to consult on regional transition dates, licensing and licence renewal | Monitor and participate |
No earlier than 2033 | First regional transition dates to the TDD-only plan | Ensure Band 41 / n41 products are certified and available |
Recommended Action Checklist
Download and review the draft SRSP-517 Issue 3, focusing on the highlighted changes.
Review the companion RSS-199 Issue 5 draft at the same time.
Map your 2500–2690 MHz portfolio by equipment type (base station, AAS/non-AAS, fixed, subscriber) and duplexing mode (FDD, TDD Band 38, TDD Band 41).
Assess the new TDD band plan for opportunities to support 5 MHz block configurations across the full band.
Submit comments by December 4, 2026 if any provision affects your design, testing or deployment plans.
Plan certification timing for Band 41 / n41 products, taking into account ISED's estimate that development and certification may take at least two years.
How to Submit Comments on SRSP-517 Issue 3
Comments must be received no later than December 4, 2026, and can be submitted:
Online through the WTO contact form on the RABC consultation page, which allows comments by clause, paragraph, figure or table; or
By email to ISED at consultationradiostandards-consultationnormesradio@ised-isde.gc.ca.
Conclusion
SRSP-517 Issue 3 is the technical step that turns ISED's September 2026 band plan decision into deployable rules. By introducing a TDD-only plan of 5 MHz blocks across the full 2500–2690 MHz band, Canada is aligning more closely with the U.S. and the global Band 41 / n41 ecosystem, while keeping the current paired plan in place until a phased transition begins no earlier than 2033. Manufacturers and operators should use the consultation period to review both drafts, submit feedback and build a certification roadmap for the Canadian 2.5 GHz market.
