Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED) has announced that its core wireless product certification platform, the Spectra system, will undergo the major Code Drop 62 update from 8:00 a.m. EST on July 10 to 11:59 p.m. EST on July 14, 2026, with a full 5-day system shutdown.

This unexpected outage of the IC Spectra database will inevitably cause delays in Canadian certification issuance. BTL will maintain close communication with our Canadian issuing CB partners, and urge them to prioritize fast certificate release immediately after the system maintenance is completed. Please feel free to contact us if you have any questions.

The following are the 4 Q&A items released by ISED:

Q1: Will the REL and other database functions (company search, lab search) be accessible during this time?

A: During the shutdown period, all database functions will be unavailable, including company search and REL & TAR search tools. Searching for recognized CBs and Labs will remain available, as this is not dependent on Spectra.

Q2: For applications submitted into SpectraWeb and shown as “granted” (i.e., ISED internal review completed) with a deferred REL listing, will these devices be listed as expected?

A: Applications approved and “granted” in Spectra (without a deferred listing date) prior to the shutdown will be listed on the REL before the shutdown. 

     Listings will be available again once the REL is back online.

     For “granted” applications with a deferred listing date during the shutdown period, listings will appear on the REL once Spectra is back online. 

     They will not appear on the expected date due to the outage.

     For “granted” applications with a deferred listing date after the shutdown period, listings will appear on the expected date.

Q3: For applications submitted in SpectraWeb prior to the shutdown where ISED internal review has not been assigned or is in progress, will these be reviewed during the shutdown?

A: This is a complete Spectra shutdown. Both SpectraWeb and ISED’s internal Spectra interface for review and approval will be unavailable. Applications that cannot be completed before the shutdown will be placed on hold and will resume once Spectra is back online.

Q4: For applications submitted prior to the shutdown that are still under review, will they be listed on the REL if review is completed during the outage?

A: Applications completed and deemed compliant before the shutdown will be listed on the REL prior to the outage. However, since the REL will be unavailable during the shutdown, listings will only be visible again once the system is restored. Applications not completed before the shutdown will remain on hold and will be processed after services resume, with REL listing occurring once the review is completed.