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The government launched Monday, July 15 the process of assigning frequencies 5G to telecom operators. The 5th generation mobile phone network promises us faster speeds than those of 4G.
So as not to miss the turn of the 5G , the French government is ready to be less greedy than for the 4G, including the allocation of 5G frequencies between operators. Arcep, which is the regulator of telecom, must specify in the coming days the operating mode for the acquisition of frequencies. They will be auctioned in the fall and will be awarded for 15 years early next year. But this time, the state does not want to push up prices. It prefers that operators pay less money for the purchase of frequencies, and that instead they invest more in the coverage of the territory.
The government wants to fill the white areas and avoid a new digital divide, as was the case with 4G, which has benefited big cities at the expense of the countryside. A quarter of the equipped sites will have to be in the countryside by 2025. The government is thus ready to lower its revenues for a better coverage of the rural areas. The purchase of 4G frequencies had returned the state 3.6 billion euros, those of the 5G could yield half as much or a little more.
The commercial launch of 5G is planned for 2020
Arcep intends to set rules to avoid the rat race. The regulator wants to impose on operators a minimum quota and a maximum spectrum limit for each of them. A range that could be between 40 and 100 MHz. And there will be something for everyone. None of the contenders will be harmed and all will have a slice of the cake, which curb appetites and avoid overbidding disproportionate.
The government wants to be ambitious and announces that the territory should be covered in 5G by 2025. France wants to follow suit its neighbors such as Italy, Estonia, Finland or Monaco. The latter has just launched its 5G network, the principality is the first in the world to have a national network. While the territory is not large, but all Monegasques have access. It will be unthinkable, tomorrow, not to be equipped. Moreover, the United States, the United Kingdom or Qatar are developing 5G at a great pace.
High cost
Long awaited by individuals and businesses, the 5G promises a real revolution. Manufacturers are certainly the most eager to see it happen, including the automotive sector, transportation, energy, telemedicine, agriculture or security and virtual reality. The increase in technology performance related to 5G, consumers will have access to new applications. Thanks to its increased flow rate, it offers a connection speed identical to that of the fiber. For example users will be able to load a video of 1 gigabyte in just 10 seconds.
But innovation has a cost and the bill is likely to be salty for the consumer. To benefit from the 5G on his smartphone, he will have to buy a mobile compatible with the fifth generation network and pay at least 800 euros, not to mention the price of the monthly subscription which will also climb. In the United States it has risen by 20 dollars, or 18 euros, even more expensive in Switzerland where the subscription has increased from 70 to 170 euros. The 5G will not be within the reach of all scholarships.
And then, less measurable but just as real, the 5G raises many concerns. What impact on health? A question that tears the most refractory especially as the next relay antennas have been changed. They will follow the mobile and not water them to avoid cuts, but their coverage perimeter is relatively low, so it will take more if we want to respond to digital deserts.