Bouygues Telecom is targeting national 5G coverage “by the end of 2021” in all large and medium-sized French cities, promising flow rates “up to 3 to 4 times faster” than 4G through the use of the 2.1 GHz and 3.5 GHz frequency bands. Announced Monday, the 5G mobile network will be present in twenty French “big cities” including Lyon, Nice, Montpellier, Reims, Dijon and even Nancy. While other municipalities ask a moratorium on this technology.
Like its rivals SFR and Orange, the operator has communicated its 5G tariff offers for the general public and businesses, including a offer “without obligation” to make the service accessible “to the greatest number”. Only Free has not yet unveiled its coverage plan and its 5G offers, citing a launch in “the coming weeks”.
After pouring more than 2.8 billion euros to the State to seize “blocks” auctioned in early October, operators can enjoy their 5G frequencies since November 18. However, they remain subject to administrative procedures related to technical authorizations to be submitted to the National Frequency Agency (ANFR) and to requests for information from town halls.
However, several green or left-wing mayors of large cities, notably in Lille or Grenoble, have declared themselves to be in favor of a moratorium until the publication planned for spring 2021 of a report from the National Health Security Agency (ANSES).
We are attentive to what the municipalities ask the operators. Before really deploying, there are debates that are taking place in certain municipalities. We are respectful of that, “Benoît Torloting, deputy general manager of Bouygues Telecom, told AFP.
In “Paris for example, technically we are ready to cover the whole city but we have suspended our action awaiting the debate led by the mayor. These cities, like Paris, are covered, but they are not open, “he explains.” The mayor of Paris now estimates that it will take 3 or 4 months to complete this debate. In other cities it may be faster. As soon as a municipality gives us the green light, we can in just a few days open the city in 5G“, he added again.
If 5G promises to offer, in the long term, a speed up to ten times faster, operators are counting above all on its launch to manage increased traffic and avoid saturation of their mobile networks.
With AFP.
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