France to sell of remaining 3G frequencies

www.WirelessFederation.com/news: The two remaining frequencies left to be allocated for the fourth 3G wireless license will be sold by France at a price of EUR120 million (USD168 million). The same amount was paid by Iliad recently for Free Mobile’s 3G operating license. However, price will actually be determined by the regulator Arcep, and not the government.

There are three operating blocks in the fourth 3G license, out of which, one is for a new market entrant (Iliad), and the other two are open for any of the incumbent cellcos   Orange France, SFR and Bouygues Telecom.
Arcep will take the decision on the 3G spectrum in H1 2010 which would be followed by 4G auctions.