The call for nominations for the fourth 3G license is now over and, not surprisingly, the Iliad Group is the only one to have filed a case.

Today that has ended the call for nominations for the fourth 3G license, which should bring out a new mobile operator on the French market. And though several names have circulated throughout the few months what shall the procedure lasted only group Iliad (Free) has finally filed a case with the Arcep.

The scenario for 2007 is therefore welcome here, because Free was already the only candidate. But if his record does not reflect the financial conditions of that time, the context has changed since. In 2007, the offer was for a block of 15 MHz for which the new entrant would pay 619 million euros in the first year following the award of the license or the same conditions as in 2002 when 3G No did not exist yet.

The refusal of this scenario in 2007 prompted the government to modify the schema. After public consultation conducted by the Arcep, the French telecommunications regulator, a new approach was proposed: the entrance fee was increased to 240 million euros … but for a block of 5 MHz reserved for new entrants, the two portions of 5 MHz may be an offer from the incumbent.

If several candidates seemed more interested in this new proposal, they all withdrew gradually. At issue: the growing uncertainty regarding the deployment of new 3G network operator.

A forest of obstacles in perspective

Because since 2008, it is true that organized revolt against the base stations, including the supposed negative effects on health have led to a proliferation of appeals calling for their withdrawal, and while the issue of new regulations lowering exposure limits is sought by the associations.

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