French telecoms regulator Arcep has outlined the interested bidders ahead of up an upcoming 5G spectrum launch in the Caribbean.

The upcoming spectrum allocation centers around three French overseas territories; French Guiana, Saint Barthelemy, and Saint-Martin.

The regulator will auction off spectrum in the 700MHz and 3.4GHz-3.8GHz bands in French Guiana, Saint Barthelemy, and Saint-Martin, and in the 900MHz and 2.1GHz bands in Saint Barthelemy, reports Comms Update.

Four operators have expressed interest in the 700MHz and 3.4GHz-3.8GHz bands in Saint-Barthelemy and Saint-Martin, with Dauphin Telecom, Digicel, Free Mobile, and Orange Caraibe being named by Arcep as the interested operators.

The four operators have each requested the allocation of one of the four 50MHz blocks in the 3.4GHz-3.8GHz band.

Meanwhile, Free Mobile and Orange Caraibe have submitted applications to secure frequencies in the 900MHz band and 2100MHz bands in Saint-Barthelemy.

Arcep is set to examine all these applications before publishing a list of candidates to participate in the auctions, with the auction set to take place in the coming weeks.

In French Guiana, Digicel, Free Caraibe, Orange Caraibe, and Outremer Telecom (SFR) have all applied for 700MHz and 3.4GHz-3.8GHz spectrum on offer.

Each operator has applied for one of the four 2x5MHz blocks in the 700MHz band, with the auction to be concluded in the coming weeks.