All France articles – Page 3
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M&AFrom bitter critic to anchor investor: Xavier Niel replaces e& as Vodafone’s largest shareholder
In-depth: Audacious French telecoms tycoon snaps up e&’s stake in a €5bn transaction. Niel expresses confidence in strategic direction and ‘value creation potential’, just two years after expensively venting frustration at ‘mismanagement’…
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Partnerships & AlliancesDT, Orange, VM O2, Vodafone join new European advertising venture
The European Media Marketplace is established with the ambitious aim of providing a counterweight to dominant US tech giants in the digital advertising space.
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Analysis5G at the heart of next-gen military comms — ACMOSS founder
Guest analysis: Telecom Expert Voice and Réseau Radio du Futur (RRF) architect Guillaume Lambert considers 5G critical to addressing new and emerging defence demands — but the market will only open to telcos committed to zero trust, ‘clean’, sovereign networks…
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Partnerships & AlliancesBouygues Telecom firms up Aduna tie up with anti-fraud focus
After originally entering a distribution agreement with Aduna in 2025, Bouygues now plans to scale up enterprise access to ID verification APIs through a more formal partnership.
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PeoplewatchOrange’s Javaid takes over as Group AI supremo
Steve Jarrett is vacating the Chief AI Officer role, although it’s not clear why, with Usman Javaid to fill the spot.
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Partnerships & AlliancesOrange ties with French energy agency on AI networking
Operator kicks off five-year ‘semantic communications’ project with French government agency aimed at improving network efficiency, slashing energy costs, and laying the groundwork for AI-native networks.
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Analyst BriefingFrancewatch: Telco trio forges SFR deal, but much work lies ahead
Analyst Briefing: France’s three leading telcos have signed an agreement to buy SFR; Orange has completed its MásOrange takeover; and a round-up of Orange’s stable Q1. Plus more in subsea infra, data centres, and AI networking…
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NetworkSpanish government green lights Telefónica-led Gigafactory bid
Spanish government gives the go-ahead for public-private venture that will lead European AI Gigafactory project. Private shareholders include Telefónica, ACS, and Santander.
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PeoplewatchFrance Peoplewatch: MásOrange CEO brought into ExCo fold; Utiq selects new chief
Latest senior and strategic people moves in the French telecoms and digital infra sectors, including a new CEO at telco adtech venture Utiq, MásOrange chief Meinrad Spenger joining the Orange Group Executive Committee, and Iliad CEO Thomas Reynaud retaining a seat on the Tele2 board.
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M&AOrange takes big steps forward on French, Spanish M&A
Orange has advanced its European M&A agenda, completing the full acquisition of MásOrange in Spain and moving forward a complex three-way deal to dismantle SFR in France. The competitive dynamics of both markets are being reshaped…
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M&AFrench telco trio finally secures €20.35bn deal to buy rival SFR
Following weeks of complex negotiations, Bouygues Telecom, Iliad, and Orange make a final push over the weekend and wrap up an agreement with SFR owner Altice France.
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NetworkOrange activates Via Tunisia system, continues subsea cable expansion
Operator’s Via Tunisia subsea cable enters ready-for-service mode, as it moves to strengthen connectivity between Europe and Africa. System also supports Orange’s data centre interconnection ambitions…
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M&AEurofiber offloads French data centres amid hunt for scale
European connectivity provider moves to sell French data centre portfolio to ETIX, as it seeks to focus more on open access fibre and integrated digital infra services. ETIX to combine the sites into a “unified campus” in southern France, marking latest step in M&A-fuelled expansion…
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NetworkSoftBank picks France for €75bn mega-bet on European data centres
Japanese investment group unveils multi-billion euro programme to build out French data centre portfolio, amidst aggressive AI infra expansion in Europe and beyond. Investment among wave of digital infra projects that have emerged in and around recent Choose France Summit…
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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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NetworkSensing 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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Finance & StrategyIliad 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…