The final results of the frequency award procedures for the 700 MHz and 3.4 – 3.8 GHz bands in Réunion and in the 700 MHz and 900 MHz bands in Mayotte were published by Arcep on 18 March 2022. On 24 May 2022, Arcep awarded the licences to use these frequencies to the operators.
In Réunion, operators Orange, SRR, Telco OI and Zeop Mobile, are authorised to use frequencies in the 700 MHz and 3.4 – 3.8 GHz bands, according to the following arrangements:
In Mayotte, operators Orange and SRR are authorised to use frequencies in the 700 MHz band, and operators Maoré Mobile and Telco OI are authorised to use frequencies in the 700 MHz and 900 MHz* bands, according to the following arrangements:
* During the award procedures for the 900 MHz band in Mayotte, operators Orange and SRR did not obtain any additional frequencies, but the frequencies belonging to Orange were rearranged.
The award of these licences marks the completion of this assignment procedures. The operators are authorised by Arcep to use frequencies in the 700 MHz band in Réunion and in Mayotte and in the 3.4 – 3.8 GHz band in Réunion starting on 24 May 2022. Operators will only be able to begin using the rearranged frequencies in the 900 MHz band in Mayotte on 8 July 2022, which will give the operators affected by the rearrangement time to coordinate to prevent harmful interference between the different mobile networks.
Recap of the previous stages of the procedures in Réunion and in Mayotte
In March 2022 / November 2021 ??, Arcep accepted the applications of Orange, SRR, Telco OI and Zeop Mobile to take part in the award procedures for 700 MHz and 3.4 – 3.8 GHz band frequencies in Réunion, and of operators Maoré Mobile, Orange, SRR and Telco OI to take part in the award procedures 700 MHz and 900 MHz band frequencies in Mayotte. These procedures had been launched by the Government in August 2021.
The frequency award procedures proceeded as follows:
- Frequency award procedures for the 700 MHz band in Réunion and in Mayotte
The examination of the tender dossiers received from the candidates made it possible to determine that each candidate would be awarded a block of 5 MHz of paired frequencies in exchange for a set of commitments. The main auctions, which took place on 15 December 2021, made it possible to determine the assignment of the remaining frequencies available in the 700 MHz band (10 MHz paired in each territory) to the winning candidates. The “positioning” auctions, which were held on 15 February 2022, made it possible to determine the position of the frequencies in the band of some of the winning candidates, but not all. A random draw was therefore held on 15 March 2022 to determine the remaining positions.
- Frequency award procedure for the 3.4 – 3.8 GHz band in Réunion
Because the maximum total number of blocks desired by the candidates in the 3.4 – 3.8 GHz band was equal to the number of available blocks, the principal auction phase to award the 3.4 – 3.8 GHz band proved unnecessary. The examination of the applications thus made it possible to determine the quantity of spectrum assigned to each winning candidate at the outcome of the procedure. The “positioning” auctions, which were held on 15 February 2022, made it possible to determine each winning candidates’ position in the 3.4 – 3.8 GHz band.
- Frequency award procedure for the 900 MHz band in Mayotte
The examination of the tender dossiers received from the candidates made it possible to determine that, at the outcome of the procedure, one winning candidate would be assigned 1.6 MHz of paired spectrum as part of the process of constituting blocks of 5 MHz (paired). The ranking procedure for the constitution of blocks of 10 MHz duplex (paired), which took place on 7 December 2021, made it possible to determine, at the outcome of the procedure, the assignment of the remaining block 1 MHz (paired) to the winning candidate. Operators’ positioning in the 900 MHz band at the outcome of the procedure was determined after Arcep’s consultation with the concerned players, and will take effect on 8 July 2022.
Associated documents
- Press kit on the procedure and operators’ obligations
- Web page dedicated to the procedure
- authorisation to use frequencies in the 700 MHz and 900 MHz bands in Mayotte awarded to Maoré Mobile
- authorisation to use frequencies in the 700 MHz and 3.4 – 3.8 GHz bands in Réunion awarded to Orange
- authorisation to use frequencies in the 700 MHz band and amending the licence in the 900 MHz band in Mayotte awarded to Orange
- authorisation to use frequencies in the 700 MHz and 3.4 – 3.8 GHz bands in Réunion awarded to SRR
- authorisation to use frequencies in the 700 MHz band in Mayotte awarded to SRR
- authorisation to use frequencies in the 700 MHz and 3.4 – 3.8 GHz bands in Réunion awarded to Telco OI
- authorisation to use frequencies in the 700 MHz and 900 MHz bands in Mayotte awarded to Telco OI
- authorisation to use frequencies in the 700 MHz and 3.4 – 3.8 GHz bands in Réunion awarded to Zeop Mobile