France
All the latest key telecoms and digital infra insight, news and analysis from France.
Peoplewatch
France Peoplewatch: Orange names new cloud lead; Bouygues’ B2B reorg
Latest strategic people moves in the French telecoms and digital infra sectors, including: Orange naming the CEO of its Unified Cloud Platform; new appointments at Bouygues Telecom following B2B division restructuring; and Eurofiber recruiting a fresh head of French operations…
Venturing & Investments
Orange backs startup Biolevate in pharma AI push
Orange Ventures co‑led a Series A funding round for the health‑tech specialist.
Public Affairs
SFR takeover: unions call for strike action over workforce concerns
Union opposition to the proposed break-up of SFR intensifies, with employee representatives launching legal action and planning strike activity as they seek stronger protections and greater clarity.
Network & Infra
Eutelsat boosts OneWeb capacity with billion-euro Airbus order
Constellation operator adds to OneWeb ambitions with another 229 Airbus satellites, in a bid to strengthen its position as a European sovereign satco.
Partnerships & Alliances
Eutelsat marks out an alternative, software-defined future for ground infra assets
After failed ground infra offload to EQT, satellite operator is to partner with France’s Skynopy to upgrade the network for new, high throughput applications in connectivity and beyond…
Network & Infra
Africa’s fibre boom needs a commercial operating model — not just more network
Open-access analysis: Building fibre across Africa is only the first hurdle; monetising capacity is the commercial test. From prepaid township offers to carrier-neutral wholesale platforms, operators need scalable operating models to turn network investment into services and returns. Draws on market evidence and ZIRA Group’s fibre and wholesale experience…
M&A
Orange expands defence unit with private 5G platform acquisition
Orange looks to tap growing demand for ‘sovereign’ connectivity through the acquisition of Dome, a specialist private 5G platform serving defence and critical operations.
Network & Infra
Vodafone welcomes ‘committed funding’ of new German fibre partner
Patrick Drahi’s Altice has finally exited OXG Glasfaser, selling its 50% stake to Société Générale, underscoring Altice’s debt-reduction drive while reinforcing Vodafone’s long-term commitment to the OXG project.
Financial & Performance
SFR takeover: French telcos hold nerve as deal spooks customers
The proposed SFR break-up is still a year from completion, but commercial consequences are being felt as Altice admits customer retention challenges.
Strategy & Change
Orange Belgium steps up ‘mutualisation’ drive to deepen Group integration
From Dynamic SOC to Livebox, Belgian OpCo increasingly adopts Group commercial playbook, drawing closer to French parent.
Network & Infra
Polish fibre: Orange, APG get green light for major expansion of JV
EC approves partners’ move to combine fibrecos Światłowód Inwestycje and Nexera into a new entity that aims to pass 3.9m households by 2032, and in doing so significantly expand incumbent Orange’s addressable next-gen broadband platform.