The French government has accepted to change its position on one of the rules set out within the 5G spectrum auction plan currently under consultation, according to information gathered by Les Echos. In the planned two-part tender process, operators will be able to apply for an initial chunk of spectrum at a fixed price and will then participate in an auction for the rest. Bouygues Telecom had called for changes to the auction rules. In particular, the operator opposed a fixed allocation of 40 MHz of spectrum for each the four participants in the first phase of the tender, arguing that this should be increased to 60 MHz.
A source close to the matter told Les Echos that the 40 MHz allocation had been removed from the auction plan. The government is now considering either 50 MHz or 60 MHz of spectrum instead, in a change more favourable to players like Bouygues and Free Mobile.
