French telecoms regulator Arcep has launched a public consultation on the terms and conditions for its forthcoming auction of frequencies in the 900MHz, 1800MHz and 2100MHz bands.
The updated obligations follow on from a January 2018 agreement signed by the authority and domestic mobile operators aiming to ensure that all ‘while spaces’ (areas with no mobile services) are covered by high speed wireless networks. Arcep is planning to reallocate spectrum in the three bands for a period of ten years; the authorisations in the 900MHz and 1800MHz bands awarded to Orange, SFR and Bouygues Telecom in 2006 and 2009 expire in 2021 and 2024, while their 2100MHz concessions are valid until 2021 and 2022. Further, Arcep said it could redistribute the spectrum in the 900MHz and 1800MHz bands to ensure all operators have equal holdings, as the three incumbents currently hold two times more spectrum than newest market entrant Free Mobile. Arcep is aiming to publish the results of the consultation in mid-May, with plans to launch the award procedure in June.