Illustration of the future 5G network.
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AFP
A decision that may raise some questions ... The operator Free did not have the authorization of the French authorities to "deploy Huawei equipment" as part of the future 5G network, announced Thursday Thomas Reynaud, CEO of its parent company Iliad.
“We have not been authorized to deploy Huawei equipment, unlike Bouygues and SFR.
We regret this difference in treatment, ”he said on the sidelines of the presentation of Iliad's half-year results.
"This break in equality poses a problem"
“Either some equipment is considered dangerous and no one can use it, or it is not considered dangerous and it can be used by all four operators.
This break in equality poses a problem, ”he added to the press.
Only three telecom equipment manufacturers, the Europeans Nokia and Ericsson and Huawei, are able to supply the equipment for the future 5G mobile telecommunications system.
But the Chinese group is in the crosshairs of the United States, which suspects it of potential espionage for the benefit of Beijing and pressure the allied countries to give up using its equipment.
Security reasons
The French authorities have not explicitly banned Huawei hardware for the deployment of 5G, but the National Agency for IT Security severely restricted operating permits at the beginning of July for security reasons.
Bouygues Telecom, one of the two French operators with SFR who have built half their mobile network with the Chinese equipment manufacturer, explained at the end of August that it should withdraw 3,000 Huawei antennas by 2028 in very dense areas in population.
"For the moment, we will be relying on Nokia, a 100% European solution," announced Thomas Reynaud.
Arcep, the French telecoms regulator, has set the auction for the allocation of new 5G frequencies for next September.
"A question of sovereignty"
“It is important that France does not fall behind.
It is the last G7 country to allocate frequencies.
The debate is important, I hope that it made it possible to clarify a certain number of points ”, declared Thomas Reynaud, faced with the multiple warnings in health and environmental matters.
“Clearly 5G is not an ideology but an important technology to modernize our economy.
It is an element of sovereignty. There is a real stake, ”he added.
Could the first commercial offers be available in France before the end of the year?
“It all depends on the availability of frequencies.
We have been preparing, like the three operators, for eighteen months.
Deploying new technology always takes time.
4G frequencies were allocated in France at the end of 2010 and it took a decade to have national coverage, ”noted Thomas Reynaud.
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