The competition authority can it prevent SFR Bouygues Telecom to buy?
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INTERVIEW We asked a former member of this body, Denis Payre, now head of the political movement "We citizens."
Following the proposed merger with SFR given by Bouygues Telecom, the question of the possibility of returning to the three mobile operators in France. All eyes converge on the Competition Authority which has hitherto been unfavorable to such a scheme. What can she decide? Cofounder Kiala Payre Denis, a former member of the board of the Authority, now entered politics with his movement " We citizens ", book her eyes.
How reflects the Competition Authority on a large subject like a possible return to the three operators?
I knew the competition authority in two ways. As a member of the college, which I quit there a few months to get into politics. But also as a complainant, where I chose to put me back in a case between the Kiala Poste.
I was very impressed by the level of the institution which combines the best of the public and civil society through college party formed to appropriate representatives from the company. On all issues, it provides a well-researched work. Bruno Lasserre and his college based on the recommendations of sectoral authorities. In this case, it will probably listen too much that ARCEP said.
What is the reasoning?
The Competition Authority - as the ARCEP elsewhere - will be wondering what is the most favorable to the consumer and a free and fair competition. The Authority seeks to avoid oligopolies. She was sentenced harshly, but with good reason, the telecom cartel found it a few years ago. She has done a service to citizens by helping to remove barriers to the arrival of Free , it helped to make billions of euros of purchasing power in French and even those who have lost their jobs were able to find in this very dynamic sector.
Government industrial, interventions may be many with Bruno Lasserre ...
Bruno Lasserre and his close team is really not sensitive to pressure whatsoever. Neither the political nor the economic world, even if they have great respect for entrepreneurs. Bruno Lasserre is known not to participate in dinner parties. It is truly independent. When I was a member of the college, he reminded us, on sensitive issues, take no call anyone in this area.
You think having four operators in France is a dogma for the Authority?
Bruno Lasserre is in close contact with Commissioner Almunia in Brussels on many subjects. He certainly knows the great fragmentation of telecoms in Europe, but it certainly will not be the only factor taken into account. This is a very pragmatic. I am of course unable to anticipate what it will do but if it appears that the record of Bouygues Telecom is in the interest of consumers and the community, it does not attach itself to a dogma. He will decide on evidence. And it will ensure that in terms of law, the decision is unassailable.