PARIS (WiMAX Day). The Société Haut Débit (SHD) in France, a joint venture owned by GSM operator SFR and fixed-line operator Neuf Cegetel, has launched the first ten sites for WiMAX in the centre of France.

SHD was awarded licences for 3.5 GHz spectrum at auction in July of this year. The licences are for the two wealthiest regions of France, “Ile de France” (Paris and its surroundings) and “Provence Alpes Côte d’Azur” (South-East of France, including Marseille, St Tropez, Cannes and Nice). SHD is using equipment from Alcatel.

SHD will deploy a total of 443 sites within 6 years, with 306 sites in the Ile de France region and 137 sites in Provence Alpes Côte d’Azur.