Free / Bouygues Agreement: why Niel rubs his hands
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The founder of Free now considers "healthy to have three networks in France" insofar as "it gives us the tools to fight against the two big".
Typically, Xavier Niel reserve appearances analysts. But this year, the presentation, this Monday, March 10, results of Iliad, the parent company of Free, was not ordinary. Came to the press, the founder of the operator appeared at the top of his art. The results of the group are very good.
Two years after its launch in mobile telephony, the success of its strategy is no doubt. Even packages € 2, where no competitor has come to fight lack of profitability, are paying off: "This is our source of growth for years to come," said Maxime Lombardini, CEO of the Iliad .
However, on Monday morning at the headquarters of the operator's throw from the Madeleine in Paris, these flattering figures rise somewhat in the background. During the weekend, an agreement was unveiled: Free redeem mobile network Bouygues Telecom if it manages to get hold of SFR. A major movement in the French telecoms. This merger would sign the return to three mobile operators. A coup for Xavier Niel, who puts his hand on 15,000 antennas and frequencies that lacked a € "maximum" 1.8 billion.
Record for the Iliad during
At the same time the Iliad bat during a record at 222 euros, more than double what it was two years ago, Xavier Niel place strategy. The chess player tells his previous hits. "In November 2012, we tried to buy SFR and we went to the Competition Authority." The latter clearly indicates that it does not allow this operation.
"When Vivendi SFR presented on the market, we said that Bouygues scenario was the most favorable for the consumer market and France." Free thinks indeed be able to change his mind the Authority, as Bouygues Telecom is found too fragile.
Therefore Numericable becomes the enemy to fall. "If Altice [the holding of Patrick Drahi shareholder Numericable Ed.] Buys SFR , that would be awful for the consumer and France. " In his sights, cable technology, "Canada Dry fiber" that France is trying to develop. But especially patriotic argument: " Numericable is a French company owned by a Luxembourg company and behind intermediaries in Jersey or Guernsey hide Patrick Drahi, what we are not sure. "
The hardness of the arguments is the stakes. Xavier Niel form begins to see the grand design he imagined: "We believe it is healthy to have three networks in France" insofar as "it gives us the tools to fight against both Basically, we have one goal: become bigger than them. " The party is not over.