Telephony. Towards the end of the white areas in France – West France

Soon the small finite “E” for “Edge” of the smartphone top, and the endless waiting to load data? The mobile operators found Thursday an agreement to provide by mid-2017 3G to 2,200 cities that are not currently covered, Bercy announced after a meeting with operators.

In a statement, the Economy Minister, Emmanuel Macron, announced a “agreement between mobile operators for the coverage of rural areas’ , after which they will also be required 2G cover by the end of 2016 the towns will have no mobile phone service.

Law Macron

This agreement between Bouygues, Orange, SFR, Numericable and Free s’ part of the implementation of the Macron bill recently passed by the Senate and has yet to enter the joint committee.

“The four national mobile operators will now be required to cover all town centers of municipalities which have, to date, no mobile phone service (2G) by the end of 2016 “ says Bercy.

” Beyond the already identified 160 municipalities, a census will be conducted in the coming months to update the list of municipalities concerned. “

” Operators will also provide mobile Internet access service (3G) to the 2 200 municipalities not covered today before mid-2017 “ adds Bercy.

Improving rural life

The Department states that “to ensure the implementation of these measures” , the ‘Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (ARCEP) “have a power of sanction for non-compliance with the objectives by the operators” .

To reduce the “white areas” , a window must also be set up within the digital agency to identify 800 priority sites, away from downtown boroughs, which are currently not covered.

Bercy also asked operators joint proposals to facilitate dissemination, all customers who wish, of equipment to bring a blanket inside the housing or improve reception.

“We want everyone to call with a mobile wherever it resides” , said Emmanuel Macron in the statement. “With the signing of this agreement, a significant milestone that will enable to translate into action the goals set in March by the prime minister. “

In March, Manuel Valls presented fifty measures to improve life in the countryside. He was then committed to removing before the end of 2016 “white areas” , without access to these 2G and 3G networks, even compel the operators by law.