There may be competition to three mobile operators" (Montebourg) Link to French Article {http://bit.ly/1m9oTkJ}
The Minister of Economy, Productive Recovery and Digital hammered his desire to see the market consolidate but downplaying the risk of rising prices due to the presence of Free, disruptive.
Arnaud Montebourg persists and signs ... but rounded corners. Interviewed Tuesday by the Economic Affairs Committee of the Senate, the Minister of Economy, Productive Recovery and Digital hammered the need, he said, returning to the three mobile operators. However, he tried to reassure the consequences for customers, in response to concerns expressed for example by UFC Que Choisir and relativize the will of government interference.
"Promote the consolidation and return to three operators does not mean agreement. I would say consumer associations there may be competition to three operators. The presence of Free, which is disruptive of the sector will maintain pressure on prices "argued Arnaud Montebourg.
The minister, however, joked late January and claimed the same over the role of "organizing agreements" as are necessary for his eyes. However, he acknowledged that an agreement had been convicted "rightly" in the area between the three operators in the 2000s and that we should not "condemn a particular operator."
Not intrusive in the decisions of operators
The minister, who had stepped into the breach for the supply of Bouygues for redemption SFR against the Numericable, held by Vivendi, has defended the practice of interference in the affairs of telecom operators. "We are not intrusive in their strategic decisions," he said. However, he believes that "we have not absorbed the seismic effects of the arrival of the new operator, Free Mobile e" and that the situation is "not sustainable and even dangerous" when operators are engaged in "a competition unleashed by the price. "Now," the combination of SFR and Numericable does not solve the problem, which remains before us. "
"I publicly encourages operators to seek reconciliation as well combinations they wish to implement. "
The Minister had already stated publicly in mid-May that " Mr. Bouygues is perfectly able to imagine solutions with other SFR. I prompted, he knows, I told him . "The fact that Orange is studying a possible merger with Bouygues Telecom , a large and complex operation, was also seen as dictated by the state shareholder of the incumbent approach.