Mobile telephone operators accept additional coverage requirements

Paris, 6 November 1997

Under article L. 35-3 of the Posts and Telecommunications Code, mobile telephone operators that agree to provide national coverage, from 1st January 2001, may be exempt from part of the universal service contribution (the fee levied in addition to the interconnection charge which compensates the current unbalanced telephone pricing structure).

France Télécom Mobiles, Société Française du Radiotéléphone and Bouygues Télécom have agreed to the following terms:

- to reinvest the sums gained from this exemption in extending their network,

- to allow roaming between their terrestrial network and at least one of their satellite systems, once these systems are operating,