French telecoms regulator Arcep has set a deadline of 31 December 2022 for the award of spectrum in the 1.5GHz band (1427MHz-1517MHz) for 5G use.
The watchdog said that the band is currently used for point-to-point links for the collection of public and professional mobile networks and by the Ministries of the Interior and Defence.
The goal set at European level is to make it available for mobile networks by 2023. In view of the evolution of mobile networks to 5G, three bands are considered in metropolitan France: the 3.5 GHz and 26 GHz bands, identified as pioneer bands for the provision of 5G, and the so-called L band (1.5GHz).