French telecommunications regulator Arcep has warned mobile operators Orange France and SFR that they did not meet their 3G network coverage commitments and would be closely monitored in future under a new time frame.

 According to the regulator's 3G network coverage report, Orange France covers 87 percent of the population in 3G, SFR 81 percent and Bouygues Telecom 80 percent. Average speeds ranged from 2 to 3 Mbps. Orange and SFR's 3G networks were previously required to cover 98 and 99.3 percent of the population, respectively. Now Orange has been required to meet a population coverage of 91 percent by the end of 2010 and of 98 percent by the end of 2011. SFR must cover 84 percent of the population by 30 June 2010, 88 percent by the end of 2010, 98 percent by the end of 2011 and 99.3 percent by the end of 2013. Bouygues was required to cover 75 percent of the population by the end of 2010, a level it has already reached. The fourth mobile network holder, Free Mobile, will have to cover 27 percent of the population in 2012, 75 percent in 2015 and 90 percent in 2018.

Arcep states that operators have the means for their 3G networks to achieve the same coverage as their 2G networks. They can use existing 2G masts and will be able to extend 3G coverage by reusing 900 MHz frequencies currently used by 2G. Operators can also share 3G masts to accelerate their deployments and are set to meet an agreement to this end, including the integration of Free Mobile. Orange has confirmed to Arcep that it will achieve equivalent coverage for its 3G/3G+ network to its 2G coverage (currently 99.6%) by the end of 2013. Bouygues said it aims for its 3G network to cover 99 percent of the population by 2015, the same coverage as its 2G network. Overall, 98 percent of the French population will have 3G/3G+ coverage by 2011.

source:telecompaper