All four of France’s mobile operators have pledged to eradicate notspots by 2020.
Les Echos reported late on Thursday that the CEOs of Orange, Numericable-SFR, Bouygues, and Free gathered at the request of Economy Minister Emmanuel Macron to sign a document committing them to covering all inhabited parts of the country.
The agreement incorporates existing targets, such as providing mobile coverage by the end of 2016 to some 160 communities that still have none at all, and delivering 3G coverage to 3,600 locations with no mobile broadband access by mid-2017. A new target established on Thursday though will see 800 campsites, stadia and tourist attractions covered by 2020.
Eliminating notspots is expected to cost €40 million per year and will be shouldered by the operators. As France’s largest telco, Orange will take on the largest share – one third – of the costs.
Regulator Arcep has been granted the power to sanction any operator that does not comply with the agreement.
A similar deal has been struck in the U.K. between the country’s mobile operators and regulator Ofcom.
EE, O2, Vodafone and 3UK have agreed to cover 90% of the U.K.’s landmass by the end of 2017. The operators agreed to the measures in order to avoid being forced to establish national roaming agreements with one another.
