Smart cities, autonomous transport, video surveillance, telemedicine… and obviously telephony, the applications of 5G, which fascinate as much as they frighten, are numerous.
In France, while the auctions to distribute the frequency blocks to telecom operators are imminent, it will be necessary to wait this winter to have the first mobile offers.
Packages which however already exist with most of our neighbors.
How can we explain that we have not yet switched to ultra-high speed?
Explanations.
The majority of European countries have already launched commercial offers
First, let's rewind to December 5, 2017, when a 5G roadmap is signed at European level.
The deadline is then clear: the technology must be deployed in all member states before the end of 2020.
If the Finns get started in June 2018, just before the Americans and Koreans, we will have to wait until 2019 for things to accelerate, all around us.
British, Austrians, Rumanians, Germans, Irish open the floodgates, even before China, operational in the fall.
This delay experienced by Europe, Gilles Brégant, Director General of the National Frequency Agency (ANFR), explains it by the fact that it was necessary to discuss in order to "come to an understanding between Europeans".
The installation of these new antennas must be preceded by very detailed studies, to ensure that they do not interfere with other waves.
A continental subject which, by definition, knows no borders.
However, as the end of the deadline approaches, France, like Denmark and Portugal, is still not ready, as shown in the map above.
The eradication of white areas first, then 5G
Several reasons explain this discrepancy, which may seem surprising even though "we have been working on the subject since the beginning of the 2010s", remembers Gilles Brégant, a telecom engineer by training.
If the Covid-19 epidemic has obviously delayed all discussions by five months, the real reason is to be found on the side of the “New mobile deal” (new mobile compromise), a name with Rooseveltian accents which in fact designates the priority given to the State - under François Hollande - to eradicate the white areas.
From Maurienne, to the Corsican massifs, via the Cantal mountains, the French should be able to capture.
A “New deal” which was also an opportunity to review the leases shared by the various tenants of the French waves.
A welcome “big cleaning”, therefore, on the eve of the launch of French 5G.
"The authorities preferred to broaden the scheme, before continuing to deepen" summarizes the Director General.
"France is not early ... but not late"
In his eyes, moreover, France is not late, and it is our neighbors who are ahead.
And maybe even too much.
While many antennas are already operational in the European sky, few compatible telephones are available on the market and many operators only offer restricted speed.
In addition, some have set their sights on Huawei antennas, in advance in recent years.
"Those who left with this manufacturer realize that this is not necessarily the target scheme" notes Gilles Brégant, in an almost diplomatic tone.
And for good reason: many countries have backpedaled in the face of the many concerns surrounding the equipment provided by the Chinese giant.
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Where are we in concrete terms in France?
Despite the absence of a commercial offer, nearly 500 branches are already set up in many cities.
They are used for many tests in the Paris region, but also in the metropolises of Marseille, Lyon, Lille, Bordeaux or even Montpellier, Rouen or Nantes.
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The conductor of the French waves insists: “We are on time.
Failing to be early, we will be on time ”.
