French broadband provider Iliad (Free) is reportedly willing to pay USD272 million for one of the 5MHz blocks of frequency on offer to run the country’s fourth and final 3G mobile network. Iliad Co-founder and President, Xavier Niel, said that given the original asking price for the full 15MHz of spectrum on offer was EUR619 million, it is ‘fair and logical’ to offer roughly a third for a 1 x 5 MHz allocation. ‘We are willing to pay. Free has the means because the company has a solid financial structure and is one of the least indebted operators in Europe,’ he added. The govt of France has announced earlier that it would split the fourth licence into three equal lots and reserve one block for a new market entrant.

Wireless Mobile Telecom Wireless News