French Regulator: Up to Government to Decide on 4th Mobile License

PARIS -(Dow Jones)- The future of the process to allocate a fourth French mobile-phone license is in the hands of the government, the president of French telecommunications regulator Arcep said Wednesday.

"It's very clear that the ball is in the court of the public authorities," Paul Champsaur said during an appearance before a committee of French deputies.

Arcep in a statement earlier Wednesday rejected an application by Internet service provider Iliad for a third-generation mobile-phone license, saying it didn't comply with the necessary financial conditions.

-By Jethro Mullen, Dow Jones Newswires; +33 1 4017 1738; jethro.mullen@dowjones.com

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

Posted to the site on 10th October 2007