Frequencies in the Overseas Territories

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The “positioning” auctions for 700 MHz band frequencies in Guiana, in Saint Barthélemy and in Saint-Martin, and for 3.4 – 3.8 GHz band frequencies in Saint Barthélemy and in Saint-Martin took place on 27 June 2023.

The frequency award procedures launched in 2023 in Guiana concerned the 700 MHz and 3.4 – 3.8 GHz bands: the final results of the award procedures are as follows:

The final results of the award procedures in Guiana concerned the 700 MHz and 3.4 – 3.8 GHz bands

The following table recaps the 700 MHz and 3.4 – 3.8 GHz band spectrum that Arcep will be awarding to each winning candidate in Guiana, along with the amounts due from each at the outcome of this frequency assignment procedure:

Summary table of frequencies in the 700 MHz and 3.4-3.8 GHz bands that Arcep will allocate to each winner in French Guiana

The frequency award procedure launched in 2023 concerned the 700 MHz and 3.4 – 3.8 GHz bands in Saint-Barthélemy and Saint-Martin, and a block of 4.8 MHz (paired) in the 900 MHz band and a block of 5 MHz (paired) in the 2.1 GHz band in Saint-Barthélemy. The final results of the assignment are as follows:

Diagram of the 700 MHz band and the 3.4 - 3.8 GHz band in Saint-Barthélemy and Saint-Martin - Diagram of the 900 MHz band and the 2.1 GHz band in Saint-Barthélemy

The following table recaps the spectrum that Arcep will be awarding to each winning candidate in the 700 MHz and 3.4 – 3.8 GHz bands in Saint-Barthélemy and Saint-Martin, and in the 900 MHz and 2.1 GHz bands in Saint-Barthélemy at the outcome of the frequency assignment procedures conducted in 2023, along with the amounts due from each winning candidate resulting from these frequency award procedures:

Summary table of frequencies in the 700 MHz and 3.4 3.8 GHz bands in Saint Barthélemy and Saint Martin and in the 900 MHz and 2.1 GHz bands in Saint Barthélemy obtained by each prizewinner under the procedures conducted in 2023

In the coming weeks, Arcep will award licences to use spectrum in the 700 MHz and 3.4 – 3.8 GHz bands in Guiana, in Saint-Barthélemy and in Saint-Martin and in the 900 MHz and 2.1 GHz bands in Saint-Barthélemy.

Reminder of the previous stages of the procedures in Guiana

Having completed the examination of the applications for the assignment of blocks of 5 MHz (paired) of spectrum in the 700 MHz in Guiana in exchange for commitments[1], the principal auction for assigning all of the remaining available frequencies in the 700 MHz band (by blocks of 5 MHz (paired)), which was held on 18 April 2023[2], made it possible to determine the quantity of spectrum obtained by each of the winning candidates, provided the procedure for awarding spectrum in the 700 MHz band in Guiana is brought to completion, and the commitments made by the winning candidates in exchange for blocks of 5 MHz (paired) are translated into obligations in their frequency licences.

The principal auction whose purpose was to assign the four blocks of frequencies in the 3.4 – 3.8 GHz band available in predetermined positions (Block 1 of 50 MHz, Blocks 2 and 3 of 60 MHz each and Block 4 of 70 MHz), which was held on 1 June 2023^{^[3]}, made it possible to determine the blocks of frequencies obtained by each of the winning candidates, provided the procedure for awarding spectrum in the 3.4 – 3.8 GHz band in Guiana is brought to completion.

Results of the positioning auction in Guiana

At the outcome of the positioning auction for the assignment of 700 MHz band frequencies, the results in Guiana are as follows:

Licence fee payment in Guiana

As a reminder, the winning candidates will pay:

The combined amount bid during the principal auction and the 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 in Guiana, is set as follows: 572.50 euros for the 700 MHz band and 143.13 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 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.

Reminder of the previous stages of the procedures in Saint-Barthélemy and in Saint-Martin

Having completed the examination of the applications for the assignment of blocks of 50 MHz in the 3.4 – 3.8 GHz band in Saint-Barthélemy and in Saint-Martin in exchange for commitments [4], the principal auctions for assigning all of the remaining available frequencies in the 3.4 – 3.8 GHz band (by blocks of 10 MHz) and in the 700 MHz band in these two territories, which were held, respectively, on 18 April 2023[5] and 1 June 2023[6], made it possible to determine the quantity of spectrum obtained by each of the winning candidates, provided the procedure for awarding spectrum in the 700 MHz and 3.4 – 3.8 GHz bands in Saint-Barthélemy and in Saint-Martin are brought to completion, and the commitments made by the winning candidates in exchange for blocks of 50 MHz are translated into obligations in their frequency licences.

Upon examination of the candidates’ applications, only the firms Free Caraïbe and Orange Caraïbe were qualified to participate in the assignment procedure for the block of 4.8 MHz (paired) in the 900 MHz band and the block of 5 MHz (paired) in the 2.1 GHz band in Saint-Barthélemy[7].

Upon completion of the principal auctions for the assignment of the 700 MHz band in Saint-Barthélemy, the cap on requests for low-band spectrum compatible with neighbouring territories’ frequency plans, stipulated in II.6.1 of Document II in the Annex to Arcep Decision No. 2022-0723, made it possible to determine – in light of the quantity of low-band spectrum held by the two candidates – and provided the procedure for awarding 700 MHz band spectrum in Saint-Barthélemy is brought to completion, the winning candidate for the block of 4.8 MHz (paired) in the 900 MHz band in Saint-Barthélemy, provided the procedure for awarding the 900 MHz band in Saint-Barthélemy is brought to completion[8]. The principal auction for assigning the block of 5 MHz in the 2.1 GHz band in Saint-Barthélemy, which was held on 15 May 2023[9], made it possible to determine the winning candidate for this block of frequencies, provided the procedure for awarding 2.1 GHz band spectrum in Saint-Barthélemy is brought to completion

Results of the positioning auction in Saint-Barthélemy and in Saint-Martin

At the outcome of the positioning auction for the assignment of 700 MHz and 3.4 – 3.8 GHz band frequencies, the results in Saint-Barthélemy are as follows:

Allocation of 700 MHz frequencies to Saint Barthelemy

Allocation of frequencies in the 3.4 - 3.8 GHz band to Saint Barthelemy

At the outcome of the positioning auction for the assignment of 700 MHz and 3.4 – 3.8 GHz band frequencies, the results in Saint-Martin are as follows:

Allocation of 700 MHz frequencies to Saint Martin

Allocation of frequencies in the 3.4 - 3.8 GHz band to Saint Martin

Licence fee payment in Saint-Barthélemy and in Saint-Martin

As a reminder, the winning candidates will pay:

The combined amount bid during the principal auction and the 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 in Saint-Barthélemy and in Saint-Martin is set as follows:

- In Saint‑Barthélemy, this amount per MHz assigned is set at 65.00 euros for the 700 MHz, 900 MHz and 2.1 GHz bands, and at 16.25 euros for the 3.4 – 3.8 GHz band;
- A Saint‑Martin, this amount per MHz assigned is set at 125.00 euros for the 700 MHz band and at 31.25 euros for the 3.4 – 3.8 GHz band.