France Opens Dedicated 5G Spectrum for 5G Private Network

France is taking a decisive step toward large-scale industrial 5G by formally opening dedicated spectrum for 5G private network deployments. The national telecom regulator, Arcep, has confirmed the launch of a new spectrum award specifically designed for industrial and professional use cases.

Until now, access to the 3.8 GHz band was largely restricted to experimental licences. This is now changing. The 3.8–4.2 GHz range will be made available on a long-term basis for 5G private networks, with spectrum blocks of up to 100 MHz per licence. These allocations target applications such as smart factories, ports, energy sites, transport hubs, and other mission-critical industrial environments requiring deterministic performance and local control.

Applicants will be able to request ten-year licences covering mainland France. The licences will be subject to annual spectrum fees, defined by government decree, providing operators and industrial players with the regulatory stability needed to invest in long-term infrastructure. This move follows a public consultation conducted earlier this year, during which Arcep gathered input from industrial stakeholders, telecom vendors, and vertical market players to finalize the licensing framework.

The decision builds on strong market demand observed over the past two years. In July, Arcep expanded the scope of experimental authorisations by extending access from the initial 3.8–4.0 GHz band to the full 3.8–4.2 GHz range. At that time, the regulator indicated that approximately 175 trial licences for private mobile radio (PMR) and private 5G networks had already been issued since March 2022—clear evidence of accelerating interest in private 5G across French industry.

With this permanent spectrum framework now in place, France positions itself among the leading European countries enabling industrial 5G at scale, moving from pilots to production-grade deployments.

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