PARIS—The tender to sell France’s remaining two Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS) licenses opened on 1 January, with bids due by 16 May.
The government’s first attempt to sell four UMTS licenses last year resulted in a lack of interest and the awarding of only two licenses. French incumbents Orange and SFR currently have third-generation (3G) licenses. The government at the end of last year reduced the original fee of e4.95 billion to e619 million to attract interest.
The final two license awards should be made by the end of September.
