Information on Licences

Paris, 29 January 1998

As the fixed telephone service opens up to competition, the French Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (ART) issues details regarding licences.

1- Network operator licences(L.33-1 and alternative infrastructure licences)

Seven licences have already been issued to operate alternative infrastructure. If they wish, the licence holders will be able to have these licences transformed into L.33-1 et L.34-1 licences, enabling them to provide a public telephone service.

One operating licence application has been processed but the licence has not yet been issued. One application is being processed.

I - Licences already issued

- EuroTunnel Développement : ALT1 issued on 21 November 1996

- Télécom Développement : ALT2 issued on 28 November 1996

- Colt : ALT3 issued on 12 December 1996

- MFS : ALT4 issued on 12 December 1996

- BT France : ALT5 issued on 6 October 1997

- Hermes Europe Railtel : ALT7 issued on 22 October 1997

- Cegetel SA : ALT8 issued on 14 October 1997

II - Licence applications that have been processed by ART and submitted to the minister for decision

- Telcité

III - one licence application is being processed by ART (L.33-1)

- Satnet

2- Licences to provide a public telephone service (L.34-1)

Six applications are being processed.

Licence applications being processed by ART

- AXS Télécom France

- Primus France

- Teleglobe SAS

- WorldXchange

- Prosodie

- Golden Line Technology

3- Public network operator and public telephone service provider licences (L.33-1 + L.34-1, " LEX - experimental or pilot trial licences ")

12 licences have already been issued (including eight for pilot trials); three applications have been processed by ART and submitted for decision; 16 applications are being processed.

Experimental licences or " LEX ", granted under the Act of 10 April 1996, are issued for five years, provide for limited geographic coverage and limit the number of users to 20,000.

I - Licences already issued

- Aéroport de Paris : LEX1 issued on 31 July 1996

- Téléport de Marseille-Provence : LEX2 issued on 7 October 1997

- CGRP (Cegetel group) : LEX3 issued on 27 December 1996

- Auxipar SA : LEX4 issued on 10 January 1997

- Kapt'Aquitaine : LEX5 issued on 31 December 1996

- Belgacom Téléport : LEX6 issued on 7 February 1997

- Cegetel Entreprises : LEX7 issued on 9 May 1997

- SEM Protel : LEX8 issued on 26 May 1997

- Omnicom : L.33-1 and L.34-1 issued on 18 December 1997

- Télécom Développement : L.33-1 and L.34-1 issued on 18 December 1997

- Netco (now 9 Télécom Réseau) : L.33-1 and L.34-1 issued on 18 December 1997

- Siris : L.33-1 and L.34-1 issued on 18 December 1997

II - Licence applications processed by ART and submitted to the minister for decision

- Esprit Télécom France

- Colt (modification of ALT3 licence)

- Infotel

III - Licence applications being processed by ART

- A-Télécom

- AXS Télécom

- Belgacom

- Belgacom Teleport (modification of experimental licence LEX6)

- Cegetel entreprises (modification of experimental licences LEX7 and ALT8)

- Esprit Télécom

- France Télécom

- Kap't

- Mediaréseaux

- MFS-WorldCom

- RSL Com

- Suez Lyonnaise des Eaux

- Tele 2

- Telecom Services International (TSI)

- Unisource CS

- Viatel