ARCEP launches a public consultation on the assignment of 3G licences in the 2.1 GHz band in Metropolitan France

Paris, 13 June 2008

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 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 will be able to launch the new application procedure once the fees have been set by the Government, after the parliamentary debate required by Article 22 of the law of 3 January 2008 for the development of competition to the benefit of consumers.

So, ARCEP 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.

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

Players are invited to submit their comparative analysis of these three types of procedure and their comments on the possible details of implementation of each of them, with respect to the general interest goals assigned to the regulation by law, and in particular of the objective of stimulating competition to consumers’ benefit.

Persons wishing to contribute must send their comments to ARCEP before 18 July 2008.