They will then have to pay a tariff to define

This time, very high flow will perhaps take-off. While the Prime Minister will announce Monday the modalities of the deployment of optical fiber in France, Orange and SFR concluded yesterday an agreement surprise co-investir very high flow in moderately dense areas. It is for the moment of a test, in two municipalities, but this experiment is important. First because the two competitors, who have positions diametrically opposed up to now, closer. Then because this agreement could herald in France the future of optical fiber, enabling the French to surf the Internet at 100 megabits per second.

Until now, the blockade was the fact that deploy a fibre optic network in cottage areas is very expensive. Some operators refused to build a common network, thereby restricting the choice of French Internet users, who might have only one potential supplier. Investment and competition were therefore previously not hand in hand.

Point of sharing

Today, specifically, Orange and SFR agree to co-investir in a network, "while ensuring the possibility for each client to select its operator," they write in the letter to the Prime Minister and that "Les echos" are provided. The two operators build infrastructure each up to a meeting point.

This point of sharing, equivalent to a branch of the networks, will be above 100 housing to a minimum and maximum 1,000. From that intersection, a single operator - Orange or SFR - deploy fiber to every home. It will build and operate the only network in the area in question. SFR will lead the experimentation in Bondy and Orange to Palaiseau, Ile-de-France. The investment will be shared, and it is planned to create a common structure, including Orange and SFR will be shareholders. It is a change of size: Orange was until now fiercely opposed to any shared network. Then, other operators may decide to use the infrastructure built to sell very high flow. They will then have to pay a tariff to define. Orange and SFR take care to specify the Government that their agreement "is of course open to all operators who want". It seems difficult that Free refuses to join, but there are still a few points of disagreement.

Marriage of convenience

The agreement signed between Orange and SFR seems a priori compatible with the wishes of the Government. The Prime Minister plans to organise a tender - with subsidies to the key - in certain geographical areas to an operator who will construct the fibre optic network then will open its infrastructure to other operators. The idea of Orange and SFR is able to respond to these calls for tender together in a common structure such that ébauchée in the agreement signed yesterday. The precise terms of course remain to be defined (ownership, governance, rates...). But the agreement has advantages for both parties. France Telecom-Orange out of the deadlock with the Government that lasted for months, and allied himself with a competitor. This will prevent him criticism that would not breach of rain if he had won only tenders, as dominant market. SFR leaders, anxious to save money, knew them very well very broadband could not take off without the power of France Telecom. appointments in five months, duration of the agreement, to whether it can be extended to all the France.