This is the hot file of the moment in the French economy: the sale of SFR is stirring the telecommunications sector. According to our information, the other three operators argue behind the scene to share the network, antennas, mobile and cash subscribers and SFR commercial customers. And for the first time, a sector manager speaks publicly about this file, in the person of Jacques Aschenbroich, president of the Orange Board of Directors.
Because if Bouygues and Free actively participate in the acquisition of SFR, Orange should not be overcome. The European telecommunications leader will play a limited role for competition reasons, but is attentive to consolidation. Jacques Aschenbroich even publicly asks for a return to a three operators market.
“There is a kind of dogma, there are four operators. There are three operators in the United States, there are three operators in China, there are four operators in France and probably 120 in Europe. There must be a concentration,” says Jacques Aschenbroich.
And Orange intends to take advantage of this consolidation. “In fact, today there are discussions to see if the other three operators can agree, so there may be an exchange,” said the president of the operator, adding that “he is far from success.”
“The red line would be to lose our leadership”
Even if an agreement was concluded between Orange, Bouygues and free to share SFR in the cut, the competence authority validates the operation, both at the French level and at European level. “A consolidation took place in Britain because the British competence authority has changed the dogma deeply since they left Europe,” explains Jacques Aschenbroich.
According to our information, in this file, Bouygues wishes to recover SFR antennas, while Lorgne free from SFR business subscribers. And both are interested in mobile and box subscribers. But Orange does not intend to look at his competitors.
“There are a number of issues that will have to be discussed because we are the most important actor today, but we are not dominant,” said Orange president. “We will get there? I don’t know. What happens if we get there, the competition authorities would let him go? I don’t know and that is the real problem. There is the opportunity to understand.”
Source: BFM TV
