French agency sends fourth 3G licence view-source

PARIS, June 15 (Reuters) - France's shareholding agency (CPT) has submitted its opinion on a proposal to charge 206 million euros ($286 million) for a fourth mobile telecoms licence, a government source said on Monday.

"The opinion has been sent to the government", said the source, adding that an announcement would be made only after an evaluation.

The CPT, which advises the government on the valuation of its assets, has to give its opinion on the 206 million euro price tag announced by the government in February.

This amount corresponds to a 5 megahertz lot reserved for a new player, or one third of the total available.

Luc Chatel, industry minister and government spokesman, said in mid-May that the auction would be launched by the end of the summer. Two other equal lots will also be proposed to existing operators.

Orange (FTE.PA), SFR (VIV.PA) and Bouygues Telecom (BOUY.PA), which had paid 619 million euros in 2001 and 2002 for their 3G frequencies, are not keen on the arrival of a fourth player.

Iliad (ILD.PA), the sole candidate for a first auction in 2007, which did not succeed, and parent of internet access provider Free, is once more seen as the frontrunner.

Iliad chief financial officer Thomas Reynaud told Reuters at the end of May that the company was determined to bid for a fourth 3G licence on its own, in spite of having offers to enter partnerships [ID:nLK331153]. ($1=.7203 Euro) (Reporting by Cyril Altmeyer; writing by Sophie Taylor; editing by Simon Jessop)