ARCEP, the French telecoms regulator, called for applications for its planned 800MHz and 2.6GHz spectrum auctions, with a deadline of 15 December 2011 for the latter, and 15 September 2011 for the former. The authority will begin its auction for the higher frequency bands later this year, with the 800MHz process taking place early in 2012. It said that “the deployment of fourth-generation cellular networks will enable the entire population to gain ultra high-speed access to the mobile Internet.”