French Telecom Regulator Seeks Mobile Tariffs Cuts In 07

PARIS -(Dow Jones)- French telecommunications regulator ARCEP said Tuesday it would propose further wholesale tariff cuts by the three French mobile phone operators in 2007, following cuts of 24% in 2006 amd 16.3% in 2005.

The regulator said it would propose cuts of 21% for mobile operators Orange France, a division of France Telecom and SFR, which is part of media conglomerate Vivendi. Wholesale price cuts for the third operator, Bouygues Telecom, should reach 18%, ARCEP said.

The French watchdog said this last series of cuts would help reach its goal, stated in 2004, of a 50% wholesale tariff cut over three years.

The draft decision, which has been sent to European Union and French authorities, will now be open for public consultation and ARCEP will reach a final decision by the end of September.

Regulator web site: http://www.arcep.fr

-By Pierre Briancon, Dow Jones Newswires; +331 4017 1740; pierre.briancon@dowjones.com

(END) Dow Jones Newswires "

Posted to the site on 25th July 2006