Following the publication of the Order of 3 August 2021, launching the procedures for assigning frequencies in the 700 MHz and 3.4 – 3.8 GHz bands in Réunion and in the 700 MHz and 900 MHz bands in Mayotte, Arcep invited all interested parties to submit a tender package by 12 pm (Paris time) on 12 October 2021.
1. Frequency assignment procedures in Réunion
Four companies submitted an application for the assignment of frequencies in the 700 MHz and 3.4 – 3.8 GHz bands in Réunion before the deadline of 12 pm (Paris time) on 12 October 2021:
- Orange SA;
- Société Réunionnaise du Radiotéléphone (SRR);
- Telco OI;
- Zeop Mobile.
All four candidates have stipulated their desire to obtain one of the four blocks of 5 MHz (paired) spectrum in the 700 MHz band that will be assigned in exchange for the commitments set forth in the procedure.
Entities that did not submit a bid package will not be able to participate in the assignment procedure for 700 MHz band frequencies – neither the assignment of 5 MHz (paired) spectrum, nor the assignment of the frequencies that remain available after that first stage – or in the assignment procedure for 3.4 – 3.8 GHz band frequencies.
Arcep will now examine the candidates’ tender packages. It will ensure that they comply with the procedure’s eligibility and qualification criteria, then draw up the list of qualified candidates for the first stage of the process, dedicated to awarding the blocks of 5 MHz (paired) spectrum in the 700 MHz band. Once this examination is complete, Arcep will publish the list of the candidates that are eligible to participate in the 700 MHz band spectrum auctions, along with the results of the assignment stage for the 5 MHz (paired) blocks of 700 MHz band spectrum.
The frequencies that remain available after this first stage dedicated to assigning 5 MHz (paired) blocks of 700 MHz band spectrum, will then be awarded through a financial bid auction that will take place in the coming weeks, so that the licences can be awarded in March 2022 at the latest.
Because the maximum number of blocks requested by the candidates in the 3.4 – 3.8 GHz band does not exceed the number of available blocks, a principal auction stage for the assignment of the 3.4 – 3.8 GHz band will not be necessary.
2. Frequency assignment procedures in Mayotte
Four companies submitted an application for the assignment of frequencies in the 700 MHz band in Mayotte before the deadline of 12 pm (Paris time) on 12 October 2021:
- Maore Mobile;
- Orange SA;
- Société Réunionnaise du Radiotéléphone (SRR);
- Telco OI.
Two companies submitted an application for the assignment of frequencies in the 900 MHz band in Mayotte before the deadline of 12 pm (Paris time) on 12 October 2021:
- Maore Mobile;
- Telco OI.
All four candidates have stipulated their desire to obtain one of the four blocks of 5 MHz (paired) spectrum in the 700 MHz band that will be assigned in exchange for the commitments set forth in the procedure.
Entities that did not submit a bid package will not be able to participate in the assignment procedure for 700 MHz band frequencies – neither the assignment of 5 MHz (paired) spectrum, nor the assignment of the frequencies that remain available after that first stage – or in the assignment procedure for 900 MHz band frequencies.
Arcep will now examine the candidates’ tender packages. It will ensure that they comply with the procedure’s eligibility and qualification criteria, then draw up the list of qualified candidates for the first stage of the process, dedicated to awarding the blocks of 5 MHz (paired) spectrum in the 700 MHz band. Once this examination is complete, Arcep will publish the list of the candidates that are eligible to participate in the 700 MHz band spectrum auctions, and in the process to determine the quantity of 900 MHz band frequencies each one will be assigned.
The frequencies that remain available after this first stage, dedicated to assigning 5 MHz (paired) blocks of 700 MHz band spectrum, and once the process for constituting 5 MHz blocks in the 900 MHz band is complete will, if applicable, be awarded through a selection procedure based on financial criteria that will take place in the coming weeks, so that the licences can be awarded in March 2022 at the latest.