Communiqué de presse - Mobile Networks

Frequencies – French Overseas Markets

Assignment of frequencies in the 700 and 900 MHz bands in Martinique and in Guadeloupe: results of the principal auctions for 5 MHz blocks in the 700 MHz and 900 MHz bands and final results of the assignment procedures for the 700 MHz, 900 MHz and 3.4 – 3.8 GHz bands in Martinique and in Guadeloupe


The principal auctions for the assignment of MHz blocks of spectrum in the 700 MHz and 900 MHz bands in Martinique and Guadeloupe were held on 10 December 2024, in accordance with the rules set forth in Arcep Decision No. 2024-0637.

The final results of the assignment procedure for the 700 MHz, 900 MHz and 3.4 – 3.8 GHz bands in Martinique and in Guadeloupe are as follows:

The following tables recap the 700 MHz, 900 MHz and 3.4 – 3.8 GHz band frequencies in Martinique and in Guadeloupe obtained by each of the winning candidates through the assignment procedure, as well as the amounts that those winning candidates will be required to pay as a result of these procedures.

Arcep will be awarding the winning candidates licences to use frequencies in the 700 MHz, 900 MHz and 3.4 – 3.8 GHz bands in Martinique and in Guadeloupe in the coming weeks. 700 MHz and 3.4 – 3.8 GHz band frequencies will be assigned upon completion of the procedure[1]. 900 MHz band frequencies in Martinique and in Guadeloupe will be assigned as of 1 May 2025.

Reminder of the stages of the procedures in Martinique and in Guadeloupe

As a reminder: having completed the examination of the applications for blocks of 50 MHz in the 3.4 – 3.8 GHz frequency band in Martinique and in Guadeloupe, in exchange for a set of commitments, the principal auctions for assigning all of the remaining 3.4 – 3.8 GHz band frequencies (by 10 MHz blocks) in these two territories, made it possible to determine the blocks of frequencies obtained by each of the winning candidates, provided these procedures are brought to completion. Positioning auctions for the assigned 3.4 – 3.8 GHz band spectrum then served to determine each of the winning candidates’ position in that band.

Having completed the examination of the applications, the principal auctions for the assignment of 700 MHz and 900 MHz band frequency packages in Martinique and in Guadeloupe made it possible to determine the quantity of frequencies obtained by each of the winning candidates in the 703 – 723 MHz and 758 – 778 MHz sub-bands in Martinique and in Guadeloupe, in the 885 – 915 MHz and 930 – 960 MHz sub-bands in Martinique and in the 890 – 915 MHz and 935 – 960 MHz sub-bands in Guadeloupe, provided these procedures are brought to completion. Positioning auctions for the assigned 700 MHz and 900 MHz band spectrum contained in the frequency packages then served to determine each of the winning candidates’ position in these sub-bands.

Results of the principal auction for the 5 MHz blocks in the 700 MHz and 900 MHz bands in Martinique and in Guadeloupe

At the outcome of the principal auction for 5 MHz blocks of spectrum in the 700 MHz and 900 MHz bands in Martinique and in Guadeloupe, the results in Martinique are as follows:

At the outcome of the principal auction for 5 MHz blocks in the 700 MHz and 900 MHz bands in Martinique and in Guadeloupe, the results in Guadeloupe are as follows:

Payment of licensing fees in Martinique and in Guadeloupe

As a reminder, the winning candidates will be required to pay:

  • the amount bid during the principal auction and positioning auction, to be paid in four equal instalments over four years, the first of which will be paid upon being awarded their frequency licence, and the remaining three on the anniversary of that date;
  • the amount proportional to the amount of spectrum awarded for the current year, expressed in MHz, payable before 31 January or, for a new assignment, the date on which the frequencies are released. This amount per MHz assigned has been set as follows:
    • In Martinique, this amount per MHz assigned is set at 1,525.00 euros for the 700 MHz and 900 MHz bands, and at 381.25 euros for the 3.4 – 3.8 GHz band;
    • In Guadeloupe, this amount per MHz assigned is set at 1,335.00 euros for the 700 MHz and 900 MHz bands, and at 333.75 euros for the 3.4 – 3.8 GHz band.

In addition to these amounts, operators will pay a variable annual fee, equal to one percent (1%) of the revenue earned from the use of these frequencies, with the exception of the revenue earned on the operation of a second generation (2G) mobile network.

Associated documents:

 


[1] In accordance with Arcep Decision No. 2024-0637, having obtained a quantity of 700 MHz band spectrum that would put it over the 30 MHz duplex cap between the start date of the licence to use 700 MHz band frequencies and 1 May 2025, Outremer Telecom will only be authorised to use 8.2 MHz in the 700 MHz band between the start date of the licence to use 700 MHz band frequencies and 1 May 2025.