PARIS-The French government said it will issue this month calls for tender for four Universal Mobile Telecommunications System phone licenses, Reuters reported. The third-generation licenses will be granted through a “beauty contest.”
Three of the licenses are expected to be awarded to the country’s incumbent wireless operators, France Telecom, Cegetel-backed SFR and Bouygues Telecom.
Spain’s Telefonica said it plans to bid for the fourth license and is currently bidding in the U.K. UMTS auction. Telefonica said it also is interested in 3G licenses in Germany and Italy and recently formed a consortium with BBVA, La Caixa, Banco Zaragozano and Abengoa to focus on European UMTS licensing.
