French Regulator Consults on 3G Spectrum Allocation
In a statement dated 30 April 2008, the French Government took note that the application procedure launched on 8 March 2007 in order to assign the remaining frequencies in the 2.1 GHz band was unsuccessful. In a letter dated 19 May 2008, it invited the telecoms regulator, ARCEP to hold a public consultation, which is required prior to the launch of a new procedure, with the goal of having results available by 30 September 2008.
ARCEP has therefore announced that it is launching a public consultation today, which aims to collect the opinions and analyses of players on the issues and the different ways of assigning the remaining frequencies in the 2.1 GHz band. The assignment of these frequencies is an important issue, especially for a new entrant candidate, which will be able to gain access to low frequencies in the 900 MHz band if it is authorized in the 2.1 GHz band, whereas only a little amount of low frequencies will be available in the next years.
Earlier this year, broadband provider Iliad confirmed that it remains interested in France's fourth third-generation mobile phone license. The fourth license is "our ambition" and could be coveted by other companies, Chief Executive Maxime Lombardini said in a debate on BFM Radio. The right "legal path" still has to be found for awarding the license, he added.
Last October, Iliad's initial application for the fourth license was rejected by Arcep for failing to meet the necessary financial criteria.
The regulator says that three types of procedure are possible:
- A procedure which reserves all frequencies to a new entrant based on conditions similar to those of the third application procedure
- A procedure in several lots, some of which being reserved first to new entrants and others being available to both new entrants and existing operators
- A procedure in several lots available to all operators
The consultation will close on 18th July.
On the web: ARCEP
Posted to the site on 13th June 2008
