ARCEP issues licences to the successful candidates in the allocation procedure for 2.6 GHz band spectrum.

Paris, 11 October 2011

Through Decision No. 2011-1080 of 22 September 2011, ARCEP selected the applications of the companies Bouygues Telecom, Free Mobile, Orange France and SFR as part of an allocation procedure for 2.6 GHz band frequencies.

Today, ARCEP brings this procedure to a close by issuing these four companies with licences to use frequencies in the 2.6 GHz band to establish and operate a mobile radio network open to the public in Metropolitan France, under the terms and conditions stipulated in the call for applications.

These licences pertain to the quantity of spectrum obtained by each of the winning candidates respectively at the outcome of the procedure, namely a duplex frequency block of 20 MHz for Free Mobile and Orange France, and a duplex frequency block of 15 MHz for Bouygues Telecom and SFR.

ARCEP determined the operators' positioning within the 2.6 GHz band based on the preferences expressed by each, in accordance with the rules governing the call for applications. The resulting layout of the 2.6 GHz frequency band is as follows:

Stipulations concerning the hosting of MVNOs are included in the terms of the licences issued to Bouygues Telecom, Free Mobile and Orange France, all of which made a commitment in this area for the frequencies they were awarded.

The next stage in the issuing of 4G licences will consist of the allocation procedure for the 800 MHz band, resulting from the digital dividend, for which the deadline for applications is 15th December 2011.