Arcep, France’s communications regulator, has indicated that 5G services could roll out in France as early as 2018 following publication of responses to its recent public consultation.
The authority plans to begin frequency allocations in the 3.5 GHz and 2.6 GHz bands this year “to meet the urgent needs expressed for fixed superfast internet access and professional mobile radio services.”
Arcep also wants to prepare immediately for the launch of 5G mobile networks in the 3.4–3.8 GHz band, making the majority of that spectrum available to market participants.
According to the consultation outcomes, Arcep intends to upgrade professional mobile radio (PMR) systems in the 2.5–2.6 GHz range to superfast capabilities, and to use a portion of the 3.5 GHz band to upgrade wireless local loop (WLL) networks to superfast services.
The stakeholders who responded to the consultation include major industry names such as the GSMA, Ericsson, Huawei, Nokia and Orange. Orange has partnered with several vendors to trial 5G technology in France and noted at the time of its collaboration with Huawei that preparing the network evolution from 4G to 5G is a priority. Research firm Analysys Mason has also observed that Orange holds a significant market share in France and maintains relatively low customer churn.
Arcep has stated it will contact every licensee in the 3.4–3.8 GHz band without delay and has identified Grenoble, Le Havre, Lille, Lyon, Nantes and Saint-Étienne as potential sites for initial 5G trials. “Arcep wants to allow any players that so request to be able to conduct 5G trials rapidly,” the regulator wrote.
The consultation summary outlines the regulator’s approach to spectrum allocation, trial facilitation and network upgrades, emphasizing a balance between enabling early 5G experimentation and meeting immediate needs for high-speed fixed and professional mobile services. By prioritizing allocations in the 3.5 GHz and 2.6 GHz bands and reserving a significant portion of the 3.4–3.8 GHz range for future 5G use, Arcep aims to provide industry participants with the regulatory certainty and spectrum access necessary to accelerate deployments.
Upgrading PMR networks in the 2.5–2.6 GHz range to support superfast services will allow critical professional services to benefit from higher data rates and lower latency, while reallocating part of the 3.5 GHz band for WLL upgrades can expand access to high-speed fixed wireless connections in areas where wired infrastructure is limited or costly to deploy.
By designating a set of cities for early trials, Arcep seeks to foster a coordinated testing environment where operators and equipment vendors can evaluate 5G use cases, interoperability and network performance under real-world conditions. These trials are expected to inform wider commercial launches, regulatory adjustments and best practices for rolling out 5G services across France.
Arcep’s approach underscores the regulator’s goal of facilitating rapid innovation while ensuring efficient and fair spectrum use. Enabling both immediate upgrades to existing systems and early 5G experimentation should help French operators prepare for broader commercial deployments, address local connectivity needs and support professional and fixed superfast internet services in the near term.