French telecom sector sees regulatory shifts and SFR acquisition talks

The French telecommunications sector is undergoing significant structural and regulatory changes. Arcep, the French communications regulator, has authorized Orange, SFR, Bouygues Telecom, and Free Mobile to engage in reciprocal frequency sharing within the 1800 MHz band for 4G services. This decision, effective until March 2031, is specifically aimed at improving service quality at mobile sites identified as particularly saturated.

Separately, negotiations regarding the acquisition of SFR by a consortium consisting of Orange, Bouygues Telecom, and Free/Iliad are set to resume. The deal, valued at 20.35 billion euros, remains subject to approval by the Competition Authority. While the buyers have promised employment solutions for the 8,000 employees within the scope of the takeover, labor unions are demanding more concrete guarantees for the 3,000 staff members who would remain at SFR temporarily to manage network migration before the company's eventual disappearance.