Frequencies – French Overseas Markets

On 5 March 2024 Arcep launched five public consultations on five respective draft decisions on the following procedures for assigning frequencies:

• A draft decision regarding the 900 MHz, 1800 MHz and 2.1 GHz bands in Guiana;
• A draft decision regarding the 1800 MHz and 2.1 GHz bands in Guadeloupe and in Martinique;
• A draft decision regarding the 900 MHz, 1800 MHz and 2.1 GHz bands in Saint Barthélemy and in Saint Martin;
• A draft decision regarding the 1800 MHz and 2.1 GHz bands in Réunion;
• A draft decision regarding the 900 MHz, 1800 MHz and 2.1 GHz bands in Mayotte.

Stakeholders have until 9 April 2024 to submit their contributions.

Some of the frequency licences held by overseas operators in the 900 MHz, 1800 MHz and 2.1 GHz bands will expire on 30 April 2025. The draft decisions being published for consultation pertain to the assignment of these frequencies.

The planned assignment conditions and procedures align with the guidelines set forth by the Government in a letter written by Marie Guévenoux, Minister for Overseas France, and Marina Ferrari, Secretary of State for the Digital Affairs, dated 4 March 2024. These guidelines seek to promote regional digital development and to ensure fair and effective competition in Guiana, in Guadeloupe, in Martinique, in Saint Barthélemy, in Saint Martin, in Réunion and in Mayotte. In particular, these assignment conditions and procedures include a series of provisions designed to improve mobile coverage and connectivity in these territories, which were established in close collaboration with local authorities.

Contributions to public consultations will enable Arcep to finalise these assignment procedures. The Authority will then submit its final text to the Government, with a view to conducting the award procedures in the second half of 2024.

The media kit attached to this press release contains a summary of the main assignment and procedural stipulations.

Associated documents:

• Media Kit: Procedure and conditions for assigning frequencies in the 1800 MHz and 2.1 GHz bands in Guiana, in Guadeloupe, in Martinique, in Saint Barthélemy, in Saint Martin, in Réunion and in Mayotte, and in the 900 MHz band in Guiana, in Saint Barthélemy, in Saint Martin and in Mayotte: publication of the draft decisions for consultation

• Public consultation on the draft annex to the Decision proposing the procedures for assigning frequencies in the 900 MHz, 1800 MHz and 2.1 GHz bands in Guiana
• Public consultation on the draft annex to the Decision proposing the procedures for assigning frequencies in the 1800 MHz and 2.1 GHz bands in Guadeloupe and in Martinique
• Public consultation on the draft annex to the Decision proposing the procedures for assigning frequencies in the 900 MHz, 1800 MHz and 2.1 GHz bands in Saint Barthélemy and in Saint Martin
• Public consultation on the draft annex to the Decision proposing the procedures for assigning frequencies in the 1800 MHz and 2.1 GHz bands in Réunion
• Public consultation on the draft annex to the Decision proposing the procedures for assigning frequencies in the 900 MHz, 1800 MHz and 2.1 GHz bands in Mayotte
• Stakeholders’ contributions to the public consultation that ran from 30 March 2023 to 1 June 2023 on the assignment of new frequencies for mobile networks in the 1800 MHz and 2.1 GHz bands in Guadeloupe, in Martinique, in Guiana, in Saint Barthélemy, in Saint Martin, in Réunion and in Mayotte, and in the 900 MHz band in Guiana, in Saint Barthélemy, in Saint Martin and in Mayotte