But this time Arcep wants to mark the time

Then that Orange, SFR and Bouygues Telecom sharpen their knives against the future fourth mobile operator, the Telecoms Regulator prepares to ask them to look at their door. According to our information, the authority of regulation of electronic communications and posts (Arcep) has indeed intend to remain the two operators to complete their third generation mobile networks (3 G) in France, under penalty of a fine record. Or Orange or SFR are today fulfilling their obligations to cover 3 G of the French population. As provided for in the law of modernization of economy (LME) since 2007, Arcep might, if operators fail, to impose a penalty that could reach 600 to 700 million euros by operator. A still greater amount than the fine paid by the trio in December 2005 after sentencing agreement, namely EUR 534 million! With this sword of Damocles above their heads, Orange and SFR will probably prefer to install antennas rather than pay such a fine. It is the hope of the regulator.

The two operators have obtained their licence for third generation mobile telephony - the famous UMTS licence - in 2001. Two years later, Arcep was to grant them a period of 28 months in their coverage obligations, phones and equipment is not yet ready in 2003. In August 2009, the mobile network 3 G of SFR covered 80 of the population whereas it should cover 99.3, according to the license obligations. On the 3 G of Orange network, covering 83 of the population of French at the end of September while he should cover 98. The network coverage of Bouygues Telecom, which obtained its UMTS licence a year and a half after Orange and SFR, will be verified later.

The regulator under pressure

In 2007, the third operator did not meet its obligations and was also entitled to a stay. But this time, Arcep wants to mark the time. Because the regulator is under pressure from the policies of any edge. Members of Parliament, senators and mayors are now very attentive to what their citizens can have access to a mobile telephone network throughout. The digital planning is a growing concern of the French and their elected representatives. Ask to leave a digital divide to settle in the country, claim of many elected officials of the campaigns. Short, everything grows Arcep to harshly punish the two holdouts, Orange and SFR. As the two operators reduce their investments. While Orange had spent 1.1 billion in its mobile infrastructure in France in 2006, this amount has been reduced to EUR 704 million in 2008. Ditto for SFR: Vivendi subsidiary invested EUR 270 million in its network in the first half of 2008 and only EUR 184 million for the same period of 2009.

However, the two operators defend putting the bad will in recent months. SFR said that the delay is due to the difficulty of reusing frequencies 2 G to 3 G, technology intended to improve the coverage of the territory. Orange, he highlights the difficulty to install antennas to explain the delay. "Today, must be between 18 and 24 months for an antenna", explains in Orange. And to hear the operators, the recent report of the French Agency of environment and safety (Afsset) work that recommends reducing exposures of the public"to the airwaves on behalf of the precautionary principle, does not arrange things. That suggests that the fourth mobile operator which will see soon the day will be difficult to deploy its network, there is only one step