Communiqué de presse - Overseas area

Frequencies in the Overseas territories

Arcep awards licences to use frequencies 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

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Arcep published the official results of the frequency assignment procedures for the 700 MHz and 3.4 – 3.8 GHz bands in Guiana, in Saint-Barthélemy and in Saint-Martin and for the 900 MHz and 2.1 GHz bands in Saint-Barthélemy on 6 July 2023[1]. On 25 July 2023, Arcep awarded operators the licences to use these frequencies.

In Guiana, the firms Digicel AFG, Free Caraïbe, Orange Caraïbe and Outremer Telecom, are authorised to use frequencies in the 700 MHz and 3.4 – 3.8 GHz bands, according to the following arrangements.

Arrangement of the 700 MHz band in Guiana
Arrangement of the 3.4 – 3.8 GHz band in Guiana

In Saint-Barthélemy and in Saint-Martin, the firms Dauphin Telecom, Free Caraïbe and Orange Caraïbe are authorised to use frequencies in the 700 MHz and 3.4 – 3.8 GHz bands, and the firm Digicel AFG is authorised to use frequencies 3.4 – 3.8 GHz band, according to the following arrangements:

Arrangement of the 700 MHz band in Saint-Barthélemy and in Saint-Martin
Arrangement of the 3.4 – 3.8 GHz band in Saint-Barthélemy and in Saint-Martin

In Saint-Barthélemy, the firm Free Caraïbe is authorised to use frequencies in the 900 MHz band and the firm Orange Caraïbe is authorised to use frequencies in the 2.1 GHz band according to the following arrangements:

Arrangement of the 900 MHz band and of the 2.1 GHz band in Saint-Barthélemy resulting from previously awarded licences and following the outcome of this procedure

The award of these licences marks the completion of these assignment procedures. Arcep has authorised operators to use frequencies in the 700 MHz and 3.4 – 3.8 GHz bands in Guiana, in Saint-Barthélemy and in Saint-Martin as well as frequencies in the 900 MHz and 2.1 GHz bands in Saint-Barthélemy starting on 25 July 2023.

Recap of the previous stage of the procedures in Guiana, in Saint-Barthélemy and in Saint-Martin

In March 2023, Arcep authorised the firms Digicel AFG, Free Caraïbe, Orange Caraïbe and Outremer Telecom to participate in the assignment procedures for 700 MHz and 3.4 – 3.8 GHz band frequencies in Guiana, and the firms Dauphin Telecom, Digicel AFG, Free Caraïbe and Orange Caraïbe to participate in the assignment procedures for 700 MHz and 3.4 – 3.8 GHz band frequencies in Saint-Barthélemy and in Saint-Martin, and the firms Free Caraïbe and Orange Caraïbe to participate in the assignment procedures for 900 MHz and 2.1 GHz band frequencies in Saint-Barthélemy. The Government had launched these procedures in September 2022.

The frequency assignment procedures proceeded as follows:

  • Assignment procedure for 700 MHz band frequencies in Guiana

Examination of the tender dossiers made it possible to determine that each candidate could be awarded a block of 5 MHz (paired) in exchange for commitments, at the outcome of the procedure. The main auctions, which took place on 18 April 2023, made it possible to determine the assignment of the remaining available frequencies in the 700 MHz band (10 MHz paired) to the winning candidates, at the outcome of the procedure. The positioning auctions, which were held on 27 June 2023, made it possible to determine the position of the winning candidates’ frequencies in the band.

  • Assignment procedure for 3.4 – 3.8 GHz band frequencies in Guiana

The principal auction which was held on 1 June 2023 and whose purpose was to assign the four blocks of spectrum 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), made it possible to determine the blocks of frequencies obtained by each of the winning candidates.

  • Assignment procedure for 700 MHz band frequencies in Saint-Barthélemy and in Saint-Martin

The principal auctions, which were held on 18 April 2023, made it possible to determine the assignment of the available frequencies in the 700 MHz band (20 MHz paired) to the winning candidates, at the outcome of the procedure. The positioning auctions, which were held on 27 June 2023, made it possible to determine the position of the winning candidates’ frequencies in the band.

  • Assignment procedure for 3.4 – 3.8 GHz band frequencies in Saint-Barthélemy and in Saint-Martin

Examination of the tender dossiers made it possible to determine that each candidate could be awarded a block of 50 MHz in exchange for commitments, at the outcome of the procedure. The principal auctions, which were held on 1 June 2023, made it possible to determine the assignment of the remaining available frequencies in the 3.4 – 3.8 GHz band(180 MHz) to the winning candidates, at the outcome of the procedure. The positioning auctions, which were held on 27 June 2023, made it possible to determine the position of the winning candidates’ frequencies in the band.

  • Assignment procedure for 900 MHz band frequencies in Saint-Barthélemy

Upon completion of the principal auction for the assignment of the 700 MHz band in Saint-Barthélemy, in light of 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, and the quantity of low-band spectrum already held by the two candidates, Arcep was able to determine the winning candidate for the block of 4.8 MHz (paired) in the 900 MHz band in Saint-Barthélemy.

  • Assignment procedure for 2.1 GHz band frequencies in Saint-Barthélemy

The principal auction for assigning the block of 5 MHz in the 2.1 GHz band in Saint-Barthélemy, which was held on 15 2023, made it possible to determine the winning candidate for that block of frequencies.

Associated documents

 

[1]Press release of 6 July 2023