The “positioning” auctions for 700 MHz band frequencies in Réunion and in Mayotte, and for 3.4 – 3.8 GHz band frequencies in Réunion took place on 15 February 2022:
- in the 3.4 – 3.8 GHz band in Réunion, the frequency positions of each winning candidate were able to be determined;
- in the 700 MHz bands in Réunion and in Mayotte, the position of certain winning candidates could not be determined, as two combinations both obtained the highest bid.
In accordance with the award procedures set out in Arcep Decisions No. 2021-0590 for Réunion and No. 2021-0591 for Mayotte, a random draw was held on 15 March 2022 to determine a winner between these two combinations.
The final results of the awards procedures for the 700 MHz and 3.4 – 3.8 GHz bands in Réunion are as follows:
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 Réunion, along with the amounts due from each at the outcome of this frequency assignment procedure:
The final results of the awards procedures for the 700 MHz band and 900 MHz bands in Mayotte are as follows:
The following table recaps the 700 MHz and 900 MHz band spectrum that Arcep will be awarding to each of the winning candidates, and the amount due from each at the outcome of this frequency assignment procedure:
In the coming weeks, Arcep will award licences to use spectrum in the 700 MHz and 3.4 – 3.8 GHz bands in Réunion and 700 MHz and 900 MHz bands in Mayotte to the winning candidates.
Reminder of the previous stages of the procedures in Réunion and Mayotte
The examination of the tender dossiers received as part of the procedure to award frequencies in the 3.4 – 3.8 GHz band in Réunion[1], and the process of constituting 5 MHz and 10 MHz blocks in the 900 MHz band in Mayotte[2], made it possible to determine the quantity of spectrum in these bands obtained by each of the winning candidates, provided the procedures for awarding spectrum in the 3.4 – 3.8 GHz band in Réunion and in the 900 MHz band in Mayotte are completed.
Following the examination of the tender dossiers for obtaining blocks of 5 MHz (paired) spectrum in the 700 MHz band in Réunion and in Mayotte in exchange for a set of commitments[3], the principal auctions for awarding all of the remaining 700 MHz band spectrum (by blocks of 5 MHz paired) in these two territories, which were held on 15 December 2021[4]. This made it possible to determine the amount of spectrum obtained by each of the winning candidates, provided the procedures for awarding spectrum in the 700 MHz band in Réunion and in Mayotte are completed, and the commitments the winning candidates made in exchange for 5 MHz blocks of paired spectrum are translated into obligations in their frequency licences.
Results of the positioning auction
At the outcome of the positioning auction for the assignment of 700 MHz and 3.4 – 3.8 GHz band frequencies, and the random draw that was held to decide a winner between the 700 MHz band[5] combinations that received the highest bids, the results in Réunion are as follows:
At the outcome of the positioning auction for the assignment of 700 MHz band frequencies, and the random draw that was held to decide a winner between the combinations that received the highest bids, the results in Mayotte are as follows:
The positions for the assignment of frequencies in the 900 MHz band in Mayotte, determined after Arcep consulted with the concerned stakeholders, will be as follows, starting 45 days after the award of the frequency licences and adoption of the amending decisions for operators concerned by the rearrangement of the 900 MHz band:
Licence fee payment
As a reminder, the winning bidders 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 is set as follows:
- In Réunion this amount per MHz assigned is set at 2,287.50 euros for the 700 MHz band and at 571.88 euros for the 3.4 – 3.8 GHz band;
- In Mayotte this amount per MHz assigned is set at 572.50 euros for the 700 MHz and 900 MHz bands.
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.
Associated documents
- Page dedicated to the procedure
- Arcep decision n° 2022-0588 dated 17 March 2022 relating to the report on and the outcome of the procedures for granting authorisations to use frequencies in the 700 MHz and 3.4 - 3.8 GHz bands in Reunion to establish and operate a mobile radio network open to the public
- Arcep decision n° 2022-0589 dated 17 March 2022 relating to the report and the result of the procedures for granting authorisations to use frequencies in the 700 MHz and 900 MHz bands in Mayotte to establish and operate a mobile radio network open to the public
Notes:
[1] Because the maximum number of blocks requested by the candidates in the 3.4 – 3.8 GHz band was equal to the number of available blocks, a principal auction stage for the assignment of the 3.4 – 3.8 GHz band was not necessary. (Press release)
[2]Press release of 7 December 2021
[3]Press release of 18 November 2021
[4]Press release of 15 December 2021
[5] In Mayotte and Réunion, in each of the combinations, the position of Telco OI is in position 3 and the position of SRR is in position 4, which makes it possible to determine these two positions in the two territories. Positions 1 and 2 were not able to be determined in either of these territories, however.