by Michael Newlands
A just-completed award process shows the value that French mobile operators put on 3G spectrum has increased slightly since telecoms regulator Arcep sold three licenses in 2003. Read more...
by Michael Newlands
Despite attempts by the incumbent operators to block the award, France’s fourth 3G license has now been awarded to the only participant in the beauty contest. Read more...
by Michael Newlands
France’s main holder of 3.5 GHz spectrum, Bolloré Telecom, will start to build a near-nationwide WiMAX network next year, despite having fallen well behind schedule. The company says the service may then “evolve” to LTE. Read more...
by Dugie Standeford
Telecommunications provider Iliad has submitted the only application for France’s fourth 3G licence. Despite its number-two ranking in the fixed-line arena, success in a booming mobile market is doubtful, analysts say. Read more...
by Scott Billquist
The current head of the French frequency agency is to be a candidate for ITU's top job in spectrum management. Read more...
by Michael Newlands
The announcement of a proposed merger of the UK mobile operations of France Telecom’s Orange and Deutsche Telekom’s T-Mobile strengthens the arguments of the incumbent French operators who are appealing to the EU over the imminent issue of a further 3G license. Read more...
by Michael Newlands
France Telecom is challenging the terms of a proposed new 3G license, accusing the French Government of providing “state aid” to whoever wins the tender. Read more...
by Dugie Standeford
France’s Agence Nationale des fréquences has investigated spectrum pricing for public bodies but the results so far are inconclusive. The ball is now in the government’s court. Read more...
by Scott Billquist
A two-year ‘sprint’ to define the IMT-Advanced family of technologies begins in February. The US wants quick adoption of new WiMAX and CDMA variants but France and Germany say these should be treated as new interfaces. Read more...
by Jonathan Watson
French Prime Minister François Fillon has confirmed that the 790-862 MHz band will be allocated to electronic communications following analogue switch-off. In practice this is expected to mean using the band for mobile broadband. Read more...