Paris, 19 December 2014
ARCEP has issued a licence to use 5 MHz duplex in the 1800 MHz frequency band to the company Free Mobile.
Free Mobile had requested it be allocated 5 MHz duplex in this band. Examining this request was done in the framework defined by the guidelines that ARCEP published on 12 March 2013 on introducing technological neutrality into the 1800 MHz band, which had historically been used by 2G systems. The aim of these guidelines was to ensure a balanced allocation, between the country's four 4G mobile operators, of the spectrum of the 1800 MHz band through frequencies restitution by Orange, SFR and Bouygues Telecom at the benefit of Free Mobile, the newest entrant in the market. In the end, Free Mobile will be allocated 15 MHz duplex in this band.
The decision allocates Free Mobile 5 MHz duplex:
- From 1 January 2015 in the whole of Metropolitan France, except in the three cities listed below;
- From 1 April 2015 in Marseille;
- From 1 July 2015 in Nice and Paris.
These spectrum resources, which are allocated as technologically neutral, will complement the operator's existing frequencies.
