Satellite and Earth Station Licence Fees

Summary#

The government set new user fees for radio licences that let satellites (space stations) and ground stations (earth stations) use radio frequencies in Canada. These are two fee orders from Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada: Notice No. SMSE-001-23 — Fee order for space stations (effective April 1, 2023) and Notice No. SMSE-002-23 — Fee order for earth stations (effective October 1, 2023). The orders give the annual and prorated rates licence-holders will pay.

What it does#

• For space stations (satellites)

  • Sets a base annual fee of $124.84 per MHz of authorized spectrum once a satellite is deployed.
  • For non‑geostationary systems (NGSO) with phased rollouts, charges $62.42/MHz from the first satellite until the full-deployment deadline, then $124.84/MHz afterward.
  • Flat fees of $300 per year for licences used in the amateur radio service and for developmental (research/experiment) licences.
  • A minimum annual fee of $300 per assigned frequency band when the MHz-based calculation would be lower.
  • Prorating rules: fees for part of a licensing year are billed at 1/12th of the annual fee per calendar month (any part of a month counts as a full month); if a licence expires in 30 days or less, 1/12th applies.

• For earth stations (ground stations)

  • Sets annual fees based on frequency bands (amount charged per MHz):
    • ≤ 1 GHz: $2,000/MHz

    • 1 GHz and ≤ 3.4 GHz: $100/MHz

    • 3.4 GHz and ≤ 7.075 GHz: $20/MHz

    • 7.075 GHz and ≤ 17.3 GHz: $10/MHz

    • 17.3 GHz and ≤ 51.4 GHz: $5/MHz

    • 51.4 GHz: $1/MHz

  • Generic fixed, transportable and earth stations in motion: $5/MHz.
  • Mobile earth stations: ≤ 3.0 GHz is $1,500/MHz; > 3.0 GHz is $5/MHz.
  • Flat fees of $160 per year for amateur telemetry/control, radio astronomy sites, and developmental licences.
  • Minimum annual fee of $160 per assigned frequency band when the MHz-based calculation would be lower.
  • Same prorating method as for space stations (1/12th per calendar month).

• Other common points

  • The fees replace some older fee notices and are subject to periodic adjustment under the Service Fees Act.
  • Fees are payable in advance up to the end of the fiscal year (or licence expiry).

Who's affected#

• Satellite operators and companies planning to deploy satellites in Canadian-assigned spectrum.
• Ground station owners and operators, including:
  • Fixed earth station operators.
  • Mobile and transportable earth station users.
  • Earth stations in motion (ESIMs).
• Amateur radio operators and radio‑astronomy sites that use space/earth station licences.
• Researchers and developers using no‑protection/no‑interference developmental licences.
• Smaller projects or hobbyists may be affected by the minimum fees and flat rates.

If you hold, plan to apply for, or pay for a spectrum licence to communicate with satellites in Canada, you are likely affected.

Why it matters#

• These rules set the price of using radio spectrum for satellites and ground stations. That affects operating costs, budgets and business plans for satellite services, ground networks, and research projects.
• The band-by-band rates mean cost differences depending on which frequencies a user needs — some bands are much more expensive (for example, $2,000/MHz under 1 GHz) while higher-frequency bands can be far cheaper.
• The phased fee for NGSO systems gives a lower charge during initial constellation rollouts, which could help early deployment planning.
• Minimum and flat fees matter for small operators and experimenters: even tiny bandwidth assignments can trigger a $160 or $300 annual bill.
• The fees are set now and have clear effective dates (April 1, 2023 for space stations; October 1, 2023 for earth stations), so anyone budgeting for licences should account for them.