ABSTRACT
The first six months of French liberalisation were fraught with difficulties. Would-be new entrants faced a series of obstacles, delays and complications in obtaining their licences. The situation has improved markedly since the middle of 1998. New licences are now being issued within time periods consistent with the European Licensing Directive.2 The problems of interconnection, however, are just now beginning. The Autorité de régulation des télécommunications (ART) has just published its first annual report (ART 1997). The report, which can be ordered on the ART’s web site,3 summarises action taken by the ART and the French government since 1 January 1997, and outlines priorities for the future.
