Arcom approves developments to Radio France’s FM diffusion network

On 7 May 2026, the Government referred a proposal to overhaul Radio France’s FM network to Arcom. This plan, designed to meet budgetary control objectives by enabling the organisation to reduce its broadcasting costs, has been made possible by the widespread roll-out of DAB+ across France, which is now accessible to over 80 per cent of the population. It also aims to strengthen news coverage and local content within Radio France’s FM service that is shown.

Last May, Arcom also abrogated Mouv’s FM licences ; the station will cease its diffusion on 31 August 2026 and will become a service available exclusively via digital platforms (DAB+ and the internet). It has also launched a call for applications to allocate to private radio stations the 30 frequencies vacated by Mouv’ in France’s major cities. The deadline for submitting applications has been set for 8 July 2026, and Arcom will select the successful candidates in the autumn.

At its plenary meeting on 8 July 2026, Arcom examined the part of the network overhaul plan relating to the partial swap of frequencies between France Musique and France Info. This move will increase France Info’s FM coverage of the population , whilst that of France Musique will decrease. It is based on almost exclusively internal organising of Radio France’s frequency portfolio and will result in the return of around 300 additional FM frequencies.

Pursuant to Article 26 of the Act of 30 September 1986 and following a zone-by-zone review of the plan, Arcom has decided to approve this swap, which complies with the public broadcaster’s terms of reference, it being noted that the France Musique service is also available via DAB+, the coverage of which will continue to expand.

The technical operations to change frequencies and switch off certain transmitters will take place on 21 July 2026.

Following on from these operations, in September 2026 Arcom will commence the preparatory work for the reallocation of the returned resources, taking into account the technical constraints specific to each frequency concerned.

The Government’s submission of a case before the court also concerns demands for the priority reservation of FM frequencies primarily for the benefit of the ICInetwork , which will be examined at a later date.