French industry regulator Arcep will conduct a review into a national roaming agreement between Iliad and Orange.

Iliad operates low cost player Free Mobile and has used Orange’s nationwide network since 2012 while it builds its own network, due for completion by the end of 2017.

Reuters reports Arcep’s head Sebastien Soriano telling local radio that the regulator will “look closely at these contracts to assess if indeed they went too far and, if it is the case, how we can prepare for their progressive ending”.

Rival mobile operators have hit out at Iliad in the past for relying too heavily on Orange’s network, and delaying the deployment of its own mobile radio antennas.

Soriano did not confirm whether Arcep could request an early end to the roaming deal, but said the regulator will look to “find a timetable that allows Free to shift to its own network progressively”.

Iliad, led by ambitious owner Xavier Niel, has failed in takeover bids in the past for T-Mobile US and France’s much-sought operator Bouygues Telecom.

Bouygues this week rebuffed a €10 billion takeover bid from rival SFR-Numericable.

According to reports, Iliad has talked to SFR-Numericable about buying assets if the former succeeds in its bid for Bouygues Telecom, which would help to appease industry concerns over competition.