RSS-247 Issue 4 (July 2025) brings real changes to how Wi-Fi can be deployed in Canada. This post summarizes what you need to do, or stop doing, as a result. It is the closing post of this series and is written as a practical reference for engineers who design, deploy, or audit Wi-Fi networks in Canada.
1. Review Your Outdoor Use of Channels 36, 40, 44 and 48
The 5150–5250 MHz band (channels 36, 40, 44 and 48) is now clearly restricted to indoor use only for standard licence-exempt Wi-Fi. If you currently have outdoor APs operating on these channels, you have two options:
- Move them to other channels that are permitted outdoors (channels 52 and above, with DFS).
- Apply for an HPOD spectrum licence (R1) if outdoor use at these channels is operationally required. This is a formal ISED process, limited to businesses and government organizations, and requires equipment certified for HPOD use.
This is the most impactful change for existing deployments. If you manage outdoor Wi-Fi infrastructure in Canada, audit your channel plan now.
2. Do Not Rush to Deploy the New Channels
RSS-247 Issue 4 opens new spectrum that was previously unavailable:
- Channels 120, 124 and 128 (5600–5650 MHz), formerly blocked due to weather radar, now allowed with DFS.
- Channels 169, 173 and 177 (5850–5895 MHz), from the newly opened 5850–5895 MHz band.
These channels are now legally available, but client device support is limited. Deploying them in production today risks creating coverage gaps for devices that do not include them in their channel scan. The recommendation is to wait until client support is widespread before adding these to an active network design.
For lab testing and greenfield deployments with fully modern client devices, they are worth exploring.
3. Understand the Elevation Mask for Outdoor Deployments in 5850–5895 MHz
If you deploy outdoor APs in the newly opened 5850–5895 MHz band (channels 169, 173, 177 or the 80 MHz channel 171), the ISED elevation mask is mandatory: EIRP must not exceed 125 mW (21 dBm) at any angle greater than 30° above the horizon.
This requirement exists to protect satellites. It is not a standard parameter in most Wi-Fi planning tools, and not all APs expose it as a configurable setting. Before deploying these channels outdoors, verify that your equipment vendor supports and documents compliance with this mask.
4. Update Your Design Templates and Documentation
If you use standard channel plan templates, design guidelines, or audit checklists, update them to reflect the new rules:
- Remove channels 36-48 from outdoor channel lists (unless HPOD licensed).
- Add channels 120, 124 and 128 to the list of available DFS channels (with a note on client support).
- Add channels 169, 173 and 177 to the available channel list (with a note on client support and elevation mask for outdoor).
- Add the HPOD licensing path as a reference for projects that require outdoor use of channels 36-48.
Summary
| Topic | Action |
|---|---|
| Outdoor use of channels 36, 40, 44 and 48 (5150–5250 MHz) | Audit your outdoor channel plan. Move outdoor APs to channels 52 and above (with DFS), or apply for an HPOD spectrum licence (R1) with HPOD-certified equipment. |
| New channels 120, 124, 128 (5600–5650 MHz) and 169, 173, 177 (5850–5895 MHz) | Do not rush to deploy. Client support is limited; wait until it is widespread before adding them to an active design. Worth exploring in labs and greenfield deployments with modern clients. |
| Elevation mask for outdoor deployments in 5850–5895 MHz | EIRP must not exceed 125 mW (21 dBm) above 30° elevation. Verify your vendor supports and documents compliance before deploying outdoors. |
| Design templates and documentation | Remove channels 36-48 from outdoor channel lists (unless HPOD licensed); add 120, 124, 128 as DFS channels and 169, 173, 177 as available channels (noting client support and the elevation mask); add the HPOD licensing path as a reference. |
The Rest of the Series
This is the last post in the series. Here are links to the other ones: