Arcep, the French regulator, yesterday officially granted LTE licences covering six French territories – Guadeloupe, Guyana, Martinique, Saint Barthélemy-Saint Martin, Réunion and Mayotte.
Arcep said: “These decisions bring to a close the frequency allocation procedures in France’s overseas departments and territories that were launched by the government order of 29 January 2016.”
Most of the operators will be able to start immediately, but the licence for Réunion in the Indian Ocean will become valid next week, on 1 December. Arcep first announced the winners in October.
Orange won licences in all territories. Digicel, the Irish-owned, Jamaica-based operator, won licences for Guiana, Guadelope, Martinique and St Barthélemy-St Martin. The overseas territories are legally part of France and the European Union.
The full list of new licensees is:
in Guadeloupe, Guyana and Martinique: Digicel, Free Mobile, Orange Caraïbe and Outremer Telecom;
in Saint Barthélemy and Saint Martin: Dauphin Telecom, Digicel, Free Mobile and Orange Caraïbe;
in Réunion: Orange, SRR, Telco OI and ZEOP Mobile;
and in Mayotte: BJT Partners, Orange, SRR and Telco OI.
