French Telecom Watchdog Pushes For MVNO Deals Regulation

PARIS -(Dow Jones)- The French telecommunications watchdog Friday said it wants to enforce regulation on mobile carriers to provide "reasonable" partnerships for third parties accessing their networks.

The contracts, called Mobile Virtual Network Operators, or MVNO, allow companies who don't own their own network to sell mobile services using the infrastructure of mobile carriers.

In France, France Telecom SA's (FTE) mobile unit has already signed such a partnership with the Carphone Warehouse PLC (CPW.LN). SFR, the cellular subsidiary of Vivendi Universal SA (V), has also stroke a deal with Debitel, which is controlled by Permira LLC (PR.YY).

But the watchdog, Autorite de Regulation des Telecommunications, says the deals need regulatory intervention to be satisfying.

Company Web site: http://www.francetelecom.com

-By Benoit Faucon, Dow Jones Newswires; +33 1 40 17 17 40, benoit.faucon@dowjones.com

(END) Dow Jones Newswires "

Posted to the site on 17th December 2004