The French state is hoping to raise a minimum of E2.5bn from its auction of 4G licences, digital economy minister Eric Besson has been quoted telling Le Figaro.
Besson reportedly said that the bidding process would kick off in June, with bids due in…
The French state is hoping to raise a minimum of E2.5bn from its auction of 4G licences, digital economy minister Eric Besson has been quoted telling Le Figaro.
Besson reportedly said that the bidding process would kick off in June, with bids due in September. Officials would decide the winners of the 2.6GHz band in October and of the 800MHz in November.
This new E2.5bn figure is higher than the original E2bn target, adjusted upwards based on the results of auctions in the Germany, Sweden and the US. The start date is slightly later than the original end of May date announced on 4 May.
He is cited saying that the frequencies would be divided into blocks, to level the playing field for smaller operators such as Bouygues Telecom and Iliad. Single entities will be able to buy a maximum of 15 MHz.
Four 800MHz lots would be sold, for prices starting at E1.8bn; while prices for spectrum in the 2.6GHz band would start at E700m.
France currently has four mobile operators: France Telecom, SFR, Bouygues Telecom and Iliad.
