Paris (AFP)

"France is a little behind" on the future generation of 5G mobile networks, in comparison to its European neighbors, told AFP the CEO of the operator Orange Stéphane Richard, even if he believes that a marketing is "feasible" before the end of the year.

Initially scheduled for April but postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic, the start of the main auction for the allocation of 5G frequencies, which should bring in several billion euros to the State, will begin on September 29.

"France has fallen a little behind, since there are already several large European countries having allocated their frequencies which have launched the deployment of the network and even already the offers. The first country in which we launched 5G is Romania, a year ago already, "said Richard in an interview with AFP.

"There is nothing dramatic but I think it was really time to do it. That's why we campaigned for the maintenance of the schedule. I think it would have been detrimental to postpone them. again, "he added, while its competitor Bouygues Télécom had campaigned to shift them to 2020-2021.

- "French exception" -

What would make it possible to market the first offers in most major cities from the end of 2020?

"Launching a 5G offer, with a sufficient range of terminals and a minimum of country coverage, is doable before the end of the year. Obviously, if we had launched (the auctions) six months earlier, the coverage would be more important, "said the boss of Orange.

By offering a considerable increase in speeds, the future 5G network should allow the development of new consumer and industrial uses.

But it comes up against the hostility of part of public opinion and several local politicians or NGOs, who invoke risks to health or the environment.

"I hear it and obviously I cannot ignore it. I observe that the debate is stronger in France than anywhere else in Europe. There is a French exception on this", underlined Mr. Richard.

"There is a side, a little disturbing, to see that this is a debate stronger than anywhere else, whereas in the current state of knowledge, absolutely nothing supports the thesis according to which 5G would pose a problem for the health, "he said, while a report from the National Health Security Agency (ANSES) on the subject is scheduled for early 2021.

- Huawei, "case by case" management in Europe -

Regarding its environmental impact, "5G is not a problem but a technology that will help the ecological transition", he said.

"Is 5G less energy efficient than 4G? For us, the answer is clearly no. On the contrary, it is a technology that will allow us to absorb much more data traffic. is infinitely more effective ", added the boss of Orange, calling for" to bring back a little objectivity in this debate ".

"The government considers that 5G is an essential element of competitiveness for the French economy. It has not escaped anyone that we are in an economic crisis, with a massive depression and a real risk also on the industrial fabric, so now is not the time to turn our backs on progress, on a technology that will be deployed everywhere else, ”he said.

If Orange, which has opted in France for OEMs Nokia and Ericsson, is not affected by the very strong restrictions imposed on Huawei, the shakes of the trade war between the United States and China may arise in other countries European where the operator has "parts" of networks with the Chinese equipment manufacturer.

“Many countries are embarrassed by this Huawei issue. The general trend that we see in Europe is the closure of networks to Huawei, gradual perhaps but that's what we see more or less everywhere, "said Richard.

"We manage all this on a case-by-case basis. In Spain, we have renewed Huawei on almost half of our radio network, without problems, he added. On the other hand, tell you what we will do in a few months in Belgium, Poland, or Romania, I don't know yet. "

© 2020 AFP