3G - French overseas territories

Arcep issues 3G spectrum for overseas departments

The French telecoms regulator Arcep has awarded 3G spectrum licences for the French overseas departments and territories. Societe Francaise de Radiotelephone (or SFR as it is commonly known), Orange and Outremer Telecom have each been awarded spectrum in the 2100MHz band in La Reunion, while Orange and Outermer Telecom have been awarded spectrum for the French Antilles and Guyana. 3G services are expected to be introduced by the end of this year, and licensees are obliged to provide 70% population coverage by 2013. In a related development, the French telecoms watchdog has issued new GSM concessions to UTS Caraibes’ units Guadeloupe Telephone Mobile, Guyane Telephone Mobile and Martinique Telephone Mobile. UTS Caraibes, the incumbent operator in the Dutch Antilles, is already operating on the islands of St Martin and St Barts.