French operator Bouygues Telecom has asked the country's highest administrative court, the Council of State, to rule on a piece of legislation requiring mobile operators to bear the costs of resolving any interference from the 4G bands on digital terrestrial broadcasting. The clause was included in a piece of legislation to transpose the EU telecoms package. However, Bouygues estimates the cost could be as much as EUR 500 million to EUR 1.7 billion, with interference affecting up to 20 percent of households, Le Figaro reports. Bouygues said that operators will be unable to participate in the 4G auction due to uncertainty about the possible costs associated with winning frequency rights. The Ministry of Industry downplayed the risk, saying other countries already using the bands have found interference to be limited and the costs much lower for resolving the issue. In addition, the government has priced the one lot of spectrum posing the greatest risk at a lower price. The Council of State is expected to rule by 15 July, while the first applications to participate in the auction are due by mid-September.
