Regulator assigns 5G frequencies in French Guiana, Saint-Berthélemy, Saint-Martin

France's telecom regulator Arcep announced the results of the principal auctions for the assignment of frequencies in the 3.4-3.8GHz band in French Guiana, Saint-Barthélemy and Saint-Martin for 5G services. 

In French Guiana, Outremer Telecom (SFR) acquired 70MHz of spectrum in the 3.73-3.80GHz band for 710,0000 euros (US$760,000). Orange Caraïbe and Digicel purchased 60MHz each for 10,000 euros and Free Caraïbe was awarded 50MHz but did not pay anything. 

In Saint-Barthélemy and Saint-Martin, Dauphin Telecom, Digicel and SFR acquired 50MHz each in the 3.4-3.8GHz band, while Free Caraïbe purchased 30MHz. The companies also were awarded 50MHz each during the assignment stage for blocks in exchange for commitments. 

As a result, Dauphin Telecom, Digicel and SFT were awarded a total of 100MHz each in the 3.4-3.8GHz band, while Free Caraïbe received 80MHz for the territories in the French Caribbean.

Regulator Arcep said that a single-round, second highest bid “positioning” auction will be held in the coming weeks to determine each of the winning candidates' positions in the 3.4-3.8GHz band in Saint Barthélemy and Saint-Martin.

In a recent 700MHz spectrum auction, Digicel and Orange acquired 10MHz blocks in French Guiana, while Free Caraïbe and SFR walked away with a 5MHz block in the same band. Dauphin Telecom and Free Caraïbe each acquired 5MHz in Saint Barthélemy and another 5MHz for Saint-Martin, while Orange purchased 10MHz in those markets.

Photo: French Guiana (Credit: AFP)