French telecoms regulator the Authority of Regulation for Electronic Communications and Posts (Autorite de Regulation des Communications Electroniques et des Postes, Arcep) has offered interested parties the opportunity to stage tests using the 2570MHz-2620MHz (2.6GHz) and 3400MHz-3600MHz (3.5GHz) bands, ahead of the spectrum’s planned distribution – which will occur within the next two years. Arcep says the frequencies are suitable for wireless in the local loop (WiLL, 3.5GHz) and time division LTE (TD-LTE, 2.6GHz) usage, but can also be used to support the burgeoning Internet of Things (IoT) sector.
The watchdog notes that two companies – corporate broadband provider Xilan, and hardware firm Splitted-Desktop Systems – have been granted permission to trial the 2.6GHz band so far this month. Both firms have been given five months to test the spectrum.