Free chooses Nokia for 5G network infrastructure in France

At the start of next winter, the allocation of 5G frequencies for French mobile operatorswill take place with Arcep, the Regulatory Authority for Electronic Communications and Posts. Frequencies ranging from 3.4 to 3.8 GHz will be sold at fixed prices and prices awarded by auction. The implementation of the 5G network is therefore getting closer and could make its first deployments as early as 2020. Until then, operators must still enter into agreements to set up the new infrastructure network.

As for the Iliad group, which owns French and Italian operators including Free, things are becoming clearer. In order to“choose European technology and independencestrategic”,we could read in the group's press release, Iliad has chosen to work with the Finnish Nokia.

Free will deploy its 5G network in France with Nokia

With more than 20 million subscribers in France, including 13.4 million mobile subscribers, Iliad is one of the main players in electronic communication in France thanks to Free. Although the group has also deployed its activities in Italy, figures from Agence Option Finance (AOF) indicate that 97% of Iliad's turnover is achieved in France.

The partnership between Free and Nokia opens the door to agreements between operators and equipment manufacturers, in order to set up the appropriate infrastructure network for the 5G network. The choice to operate with Nokia is not surprising: Iliad has worked with the partner since 2010. But the agreement leaves Huawei aside, also offering to operate for 5G infrastructures around the world.

Nokia, big favorite of the 5G network in France

Besides Huawei, other contendersthe implementation of 5G infrastructures are in the running in France. These include Samsung, ZTE, but also the other European Ericsson, whose headquarters are in Sweden.

Despite all these contenders, French operators seem to put Nokia as the big favorite for this future demand for infrastructure. It must be said that alongside Free, the Finn is also a partner of Orange and SFR, with whom multiple experiments have already seen the light of day in France.

Still under the European banner, Bouygues Telecom could work with Ericsson, if we are to rely on the fact that the two partners carried out 5G experiments in the city of Lyon last January.