Christel Heydemann, CEO of Orange: "Europe's dependence is significant in multiple technological areas"

The collective acquisition of SFR by a consortium including Bouygues Telecom, Iliad, and Orange is seen as strategic for Orange's future, especially in a fragmented European telecom market. The need for critical size to compete with major digital giants is emphasized, as consolidation from four to three operators is deemed inevitable. The European merger policy is evolving, focusing on maintaining consumer prices while ensuring significant investments in essential telecom infrastructure. Concerns about potential price increases are acknowledged, but past experiences, such as the merger in Spain, suggest that prices can actually decrease post-merger.