Orange and SFR encouraged to cede part of the spectrum to rival operator Free Mobile
France’s telecom regulator Arcep authorized mobile operators Orange and SFR to reuse their 1800 MHz spectrum bands for the provision of LTE services beginning next year. The regulator said that both operators should cede a small portion of the spectrum to smaller operator Free Mobile.
In May 2013, the regulator allowed mobile operator Bouygues Telecom to refarm its spectrum in the 1800 MHz band for LTE. At that time, Bouygues Telecom was required to give up a portion of its spectrum, which was allocated to Free Mobile on Jan. 1, 2015.
According to the conditions set by the regulator, Orange and SFR will be able to start using the 1800 MHz band for LTE in May 2016.
With this regulatory decision, Arcep expects Orange, SFR and Bouygues Telecom to hold 20 megahertz of spectrum in the 1800 MHz band by May 2016, while Free Mobile will have 15 megahertz of spectrum. Free Mobile currently holds only 5 megahertz in the 1800 MHz band, behind rivals Orange (23.8 megahertz), SFR (23.8 megahertz) and Bouygues Telecom (21.6 megahertz).
Arcep also said that both Orange and SFR retain the option of requesting that restrictions attached to the 1800 MHz band be lifted earlier than planned if they want to begin using it to deliver LTE services before May 25, 2016. The telecom operators currently use the 1800 MHz band to support legacy services.
Telekom Slovenije’s LTE network reaches 86% of the population
In other EMEA news, Telekom Slovenije announced its LTE network currently provides coverage to more than 86% of the country’s population. The telco expects the network to reach 92% of the population by the end of the year.
The operator also said that data transfer in the LTE segment represents over 40% of all data transfer in its networks, adding that it is technically ready to launch voice-over-LTE services in Slovenia.
Also in Slovenia, the country’s privatization regulator SDH officially closed the sale process for the government’s 72.75% stake in Telekom Slovenije, after the sole bidder, European equity firm Cinven, said it was no longer interested in the acquisition.
