France’s telecom regulator has asked Free Mobile to prove that its 3G network meets its coverage obligation.
In a statement on Monday, Arcep said it requires the mobile operator to provide a map showing its 3G network coverage. The regulator will carry out field tests over a period of several weeks in order to check the information supplied by Free, it said.
Free Mobile, which is owned by broadband provider Iliad, became France’s newest mobile network operator when it launched services three years ago. Initially, it provided coverage mainly through a roaming agreement with Orange, but it has been working on the buildout of its own network.
The spectrum licence it acquired in 2010 requires Free to cover at least 75% of the population of metropolitan France with its own 3G network by 12 January 2015; that is, Monday.
"Arcep will verify the accuracy of the coverage map supplied by Free Mobile," the regulator said, adding that it has carried out the same checks on all operators with coverage requirements in the past.
"Once these verifications are complete, Arcep will be able to assess whether Free Mobile is meeting its coverage obligation," it said.
