French operators file documents for 700MHz

France’s four leading mobile operators – Bouygues Telecom, Free Mobile, Orange and SFR – have filed documents in the preliminary stage of applying to use 700MHz spectrum for mobile broadband services, according to telecom regulator ARCEP.

The regulator expects to begin auctioning the available frequencies at in November, with allocations to be made by the end of this year.

The spectrum is being freed up by changes in the frequencies used to broadcast digital TV over the air in France.