France Readies 700-MHz Auction

Posted July 9, 2015

France is about to hold a spectrum auction for 700-MHz mobile spectrum, expecting to raise 2.5 billion euros ($2.78 billion) sellings rights to use six blocks of 2x5MHz spectrum, Reuters reports.

According to auction rules, no single company can acquire more than three blocks of spectrum, in total.

Also, no mobile operator will be allowed to amass a total amount of lower-band spectrum greater than 2x30MHz across the 700MHz, 800MHz and 900MHz bands combined. So current spectrum holdings will affect bid strategy.

Gary Kim

Gary Kim is a communications industry analyst of 30 years, ranked second globally among power influencers in mobile and among the top 10 telecom thought leaders. He currently works as a telecom/Internet conference content developer and speaker. He recently founded the Spectrum Futures conference for the Pacific Telecommunications Council, and acts as a conference advisor for PTC. He is a member of Mensa, the international organization for people with IQs in the top 2 percent.