French telecommunications regulator Arcep has awarded Free Mobile a 3G mobile network licence. Free Mobile, a subsidiary of broadband group Iliad, was the only candidate for the 5 MHz licence in the 2.1GHz band in a procedure launched on 1 August. Free Mobile is paying EUR 240 million for the licence. The company has made commitments to host MVNOs and to launch services within two years, covering at least 90 percent of the population with its 3G network within eight years. Arcep said it would award the frequency licence to Free Mobile in January. Free Mobile's application was accepted in consideration of all applicable criteria, the regulator stated. Arcep expects the arrival of the new player to have a favrouable impact on the mobile phone market and the development of communications services in France. Free Mobile plans to offer consumers clear and innovative services at competitive prices particularly designed to help facilitate access to the mobile internet. The remaining 10 MHz of spectrum of the 2.1 GHz band will be the subject of a new call for applications open to all players in the first half of next year. Arcep also said it was preparing the allocation procedures for 800 MHz and 2.6 GHz-band spectrum to enable the deployment of new generation and very high-speed mobile networks.
