All France articles
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Strategy & ChangeFrom danger zone to digital powerhouse: Kearney maps Europe’s path to telecom recovery
Analysis: Europe’s telecoms sector has built extensively but failed to monetise, risking stagnation without urgent structural intervention. Kearney’s comprehensive diagnostic guides on how regionalisation, network resilience, strategic private finance partnerships, and other remedies can revitalise the sector’s finances and the continent’s digital economy.
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Network & InfraSensing opportunity (and risk): will ISAC drive or drain next-gen network RoI?
Analysis: Telcos are exploring how a combination of growing military spend and the emergence of new integrated sensing and communication (ISAC) capabilities could generate new revenue growth opportunities, particularly around applications such as drone detection. But will operators be able to balance demand for high-performance solutions from the armed forces with their own commercial economics?
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Financial & PerformanceIliad in bullish mood despite SFR talks dragging on
Q1 FY26: CEO hails a “good” first quarter for the group, in contrast to takeover target SFR. Expansion of AION Gigafactory consortium also highlighted…
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M&ASFR takeover talks enter extra time as Altice extends deadline
French telco trio Bouygues Telecom, Iliad, and Orange have been handed another three weeks to agree on a deal that satisfies Altice demands, with uncertainty lingering about the likelihood of an agreement…
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PeoplewatchOrange Peoplewatch: Belgian C-suite shake-up rolls on with new CIO
Latest 20+ senior and strategic leadership changes at Orange, including another appointment as part of a C-suite overhaul in Belgium, the recruitment of fresh domestic network leadership, and the Group’s former France boss moving to oversee a national fibre challenger…
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M&ASFR takeover: Bouygues says talks remain in ‘active mode’ amid reports of delay
€20bn-plus preliminary agreement for SFR break-up said to be unlikely by deadline of 15 May. Four-to-three MNO consolidation play set to see much of the acquired network and IT asset base junked…
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Analyst BriefingOrangewatch: Q1 figures, a revised SFR bid, and progress on taking back MásOrange
Analyst Briefing: Orange claims “very good” first quarter results, makes a fresh offer for distressed rival SFR, and signs a takeover deal for fibreco Scorefit…
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M&AOrange moves to bulk up fibre estate with Scorefit buy
Operator agrees to acquire French fibre operator from BNP Paribas, supported by €1.3bn worth of financing agreements with banks. If approved, deal will see Orange expand its fibre asset pool to support commercial expansion and ongoing domestic copper switch-off…
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PeoplewatchEx-Orange France boss joins fibre challenger Altitude
French investment group recruits Fabienne Dulac to help guide it through anticipated phase of national fibre player consolidation …
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Financial & PerformanceFrance’s SFR in holding pattern as sale talks continue
Altice France stays coy on possible purchase price as parameters of the deal remain under discussion.
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M&AOrange’s Heydemann is confident on new SFR takeover bid
CEO of French incumbent is hoping for a positive response to its second bid for assets from distressed rival SFR, alongside Bouygues and Iliad. As well as dangling a higher, €20bn+ offer in front of seller Altice, she notes a change to the deal’s structure would help the French trio mitigate some execution risk. She also remains confident of the case for consolidation.
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Analyst BriefingFrancewatch: All eyes on SFR
Analyst Briefing: France’s three leading telcos have made a new offer for rival SFR, Patrick Drahi has drawn up an XpFibre shortlist, and Orange has unveiled its Trust the Future strategy…
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M&AOrange gets Spanish green light to absorb MásOrange
Spanish government said to follow EC in allowing Orange to absorb local joint venture, ahead of June target for completion. Move sees French operator clear another barrier to consolidation of Spanish telco major and realisation of accompanying ambitions for growth.
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M&AFrench trio increases bid for SFR, starts exclusive talks
New offer gives SFR a total enterprise value of €20bn, with Bouygues still in the driving seat, Orange and Iliad onboard.
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M&ASFR takeover: Pressure mounts as talks enter ‘stoppage time’
France: reports say Bouygues Telecom, Iliad, and Orange could make a new bid for their domestic rival by the end of April.
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M&AOrange nets EU clearance to absorb MásOrange
Regulatory approval of the €4.25bn deal was clearly a perfunctory affair, and will give back Orange full control of its Spanish operations.
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Analyst BriefingOrangewatch MWC recap: AI is all around
Orange’s senior execs were out in force at this year’s Mobile World Congress, with Group CEO Christel Heydemann highlighting the benefits of AI, while also warning of “unknown threats” from the evolving tech. Separately, AI supremo Steve Jarrett spelled out how Orange plans to realise €600m in value from AI by end-FY28…
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M&AOrange enters exclusive talks to divest broadcasting arm
Orange enters exclusive negotiations with transformation-focused investor Verdoso to divest Globecast, advancing the Group’s long-running plans to refocus on its core telecoms business…
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Venturing & InvestmentsFrance’s InfraVia preps €8bn warchest for digital infra
French investment group closes latest European infrastructure fund at €8bn, with plans to transform mid-market businesses into sovereign European “champions”.
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PeoplewatchCellnex UK promotes ops boss into CEO slot
Long-time Ericsson exec Steve Cray, who joined Cellnex in September 2025, becomes chief of UK unit. He fills gap left by Gianluca Landolina’s transfer to lead tower group’s new pan-European verticals business…