3 G in the Metro will probably have to wait

3 G in the Metro will probably have to wait. Indeed, the negotiations remain stalled. 3 Mobile operators already present in the underground of the RATP network did not want to revise upward their royalty from the "2.5 G" (Edge) to a real mobile Internet. The operator, railway, would change everything to take into account the increase in traffic, as did its counterpart in Hong Kong, where it is already working on the 4egénération of mobile telephony.

The RATP is pioneer of the mobile in Europe and even the United States. In 2000 she decided to open its tunnels, its wharves, stations and its corridors to all operators. She rents them his own antennas and cables to connect to the outside. They bring their active equipment. Deployment, complex in this cramped and forced environment, lasted for six years with more than 300 base stations. "For 2 G, the important thing was to achieve a technological prowess." "There was no commercial component in this contract very partnership", shows Marie-Catherine Lecoufle, RATP.

But the situation has changed, and to the Board, it regrets that the telecom operators do not want to recognize it. "Ten years ago, only half of the population had a mobile. "Today, the rate of equipment is 120 in Ile-de-France," said Marie - Catherine Lecoufle. The RATP complains of having no information on the part of Orange, SFR and Bouygues Telecom on the actual traffic, but it has conducted a study two years ago for the measure. Building, pointed the head: "we have 5 million travellers per day, including one-third are 2 telephone actions - SMS, call... - for each trip." Cannot not ask in our offices as a roof or a water tower to the bottom of the Beauce! ", she exclaims.

Free Mobile in ambush

Disappointed by the lack of willingness of telecoms operators to increase their royalty, the RATP teams are considering more an alternative solution. Why not, for example, sign separately with a single mobile operator - this could be Free Mobile, who came to knock on the door of the RATP him also. The signer would pay a high price and would charge a 3 G service in turn to his rivals. But it is not certain that there is a candidate, because building a network is expensive. 3 Operators and the RATP shared an addition of approximately 40 million euros for the 2 G...

But another solution for the moment seems to hold the rope to the RATP. The Board would create its underground network in Wi - Fi. "After all, we are not the public service of 3 G", cowardly Marie-Catherine Lecoufle. The RATP, which seeks an economic model with the mobile Internet, Wi - Fi is a response. The investment would be less important than in 2000, probably 5 times lower internal estimates. Insofar as it SURFs especially when it is immobile, it will be enough to equip the oars and the docks. And the equipment is less heavy.

In addition, the RATP may offer this service for free and benefit from advertising revenues, by transit communications by its Internet portal. Advertising Board Metrobus, its current provider, has already made it a proposal. The RATP can finally have all the marketing information lacking him today. And then resell the connectivity to mobile operators. Is aware that trade of "operator operator", as its subsidiary Naxos the practice already. The RATP already sells its Wi - Fi network in railway stations as the defence. "If it is, there is no 3 G in the subway before ten years!", concludes Marie-Catherine Lecoufle.