Arcep reveals applicants for 5G frequencies in overseas territories

French telecoms regulator Arcep has revealed the potential participants in its allocation procedure in the 700MHz and 3.4GHz-3.8GHz bands in French Guiana, Saint Barthelemy and Saint-Martin, and in the 900MHz and 2.1GHz bands in Saint Barthelemy.

A total of four companies have submitted an application for 5G-suitable frequencies in the 700MHz and 3.4GHz-3.8GHz bands in Saint-Barthelemy and Saint-Martin, namely: Dauphin Telecom, Digicel, Free Mobile and Orange Caraibe. The four candidates have each requested the allocation of one of the four 50MHz blocks in the 3.4GHz-3.8GHz band, which will be granted in return for subscribing to the commitments provided for by the procedure. Further, two companies have submitted an application for the allocation of frequencies in the 900MHz band and 2100MHz bands in Saint-Barthelemy, namely Free Mobile and Orange Caraibe.

Arcep will now examine the applications before publishing the list of candidates admitted to participate in the auctions for 700MHz and 3.4GHz-3.8GHz spectrum in Saint-Martin and Saint-Barthelemy, and the 900MHz and 2.1GHz bands in Saint-Barthelemy, as well as the results of the allocation phase for 50MHz blocks in the 3.4GHz-3.8GHz band in each of the territories of Saint-Martin and Saint-Barthelemy. The auction will take place in the following weeks so that the authorisations can be issued no later than July 2023.

Regarding French Guiana, four operators have applied for 700MHz and 3.4GHz-3.8GHz spectrum, those being Digicel, Free Caraibe, Orange Caraibe and Outremer Telecom (SFR). The four candidates have each requested one of the four 2×5MHz blocks in the 700MHz band which will be allocated in return for agreeing to fulfil commitments set out by the procedure. The spectrum in the 3.4GHz-3.8GHz band and the frequencies still available after the allocation phase of the 2×5MHz blocks in the 700MHz band will be subject to an auction which will take place in the following weeks, so that the authorisations can be issued by July 2023 at the latest.