Communiqué de presse

ART starts allocating frequencies to support growth in mobile telephony in France

Paris, 23 April 1998

The French Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (ART) has just launched a call for comments on its plan to allocate additional frequencies to three mobile telephone operators, France Télécom and SFR, which currently use frequencies in the GSM 900 band, and Bouygues Télécom,

  • ART's plan

ART proposes allocating GSM 1800 frequencies to France Télécom and to SFR in seven major urban areas: Paris, Nice-Antibes-Cannes, Lille, Strasbourg, Lyon, Marseille and Toulouse.

France Télécom and SFR could begin to operate commercially with these additional frequencies on 1st January 1999 in Paris, on 1st October 1999 in Nice-Antibes-Cannes, and from 1st July 2000 in the other five urban centres.

ART also proposes progressively allocating GSM 900 frequencies to Bouygues Télécom

  • The proposed licence amendments will be submitted to the minister for industry

The licences currently held by the three mobile operators will need to be amended to take into account these additional frequency allocations. ART will draft the proposed amendments and submit them to the minister for indust

  • The proposed solution will enable consumers to use new dual-band terminals

As terminals capable of functioning in both GSM 900 and 1800 bands are introduced on the market, the three mobile operators will be able to seize upon the oppportunity to set up dual-band networks. This will enable them to get the most out of both bands, for coverage of dense and rural areas.

  • Practical Information

Contributions must reach ART no later than 25 May 1998.

The

Press Contact:
Jean-François HERNANDEZ
tel : 33 1 40 47 70 33 - fax : 33 1 40 47 71 98
email : Jean-Francois.Hernandez@art-telecom.fr
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