The French digital economy minister Eric Besson confirmed the auction of 4G frequencies would be launched by the end of May, according to media reports.
The government reportedly plans to cap the amount a single entity can acquire to 15 MHz with a view…
The French digital economy minister Eric Besson confirmed the auction of 4G frequencies would be launched by the end of May, according to media reports.
The government reportedly plans to cap the amount a single entity can acquire to 15 MHz with a view to protecting competition.
Alternative operators had lobbied the government claiming that without limits, wealthy France Telecom would grab the bulk of frequencies, which would give the incumbent an advantage for smartphones and tablet computers.
In April, the founder of ISP Free, Xavier Niel, wrote to the minister arguing that with five or six times fewer frequencies than Orange, SFR and Bouygues Telecom, Free could be left without the necessary resources to compete with its rivals.
In March, Martin Bouygues, which owns Bouygues Telecom, criticised the government’s plan to sell the frequencies to the highest bidders, saying that Orange, as the richest operator, would win the auction.
The authorities seek to raise at least E2bn from the auction.
