ORANGE: Possible telecom consolidation in France in 2016-Richard
PARIS, September 7 (Reuters) - The consolidation of French telecom sector is no longer the order of the day but could resurface in 2016 after the sale of new frequencies for 4G, said Orange CEO Stéphane Richard, who further recalls his wish of a single European market.
In an interview with business daily Les Echos, CEO of Orange stressed that the telecom industry consolidation movement had been launched in all major European countries except France.
"Today, consolidation is not on the agenda but it will perhaps reappear next year, after the sale of new frequencies for 4G," said he said.
Bouygues late June rejected the offer of European telecoms group Altice, parent Numericable, SFR, for the acquisition of its subsidiary Bouygues Telecom, considering that it was only able to continue its development.
Selling mobile operators frequency of 700 MHz band currently used for broadcasting, to take place before the end of 2015.
The European telecoms sector is now at the stage of national consolidations, further said Stéphane Richard, stressing that this move could foreshadow a second step involving international consolidations.
"When the prospect of the single market will be clear, operators will come into motion and Orange will aim to play a role in this consolidation," he added.
The French telecom sector is facing increased competition from the arrival of Free, also recalled the CEO of Orange.
"There is perhaps more a war of prices as intensively as when the arrival of Free on the mobile, but we switched to a war of promotions. At Orange, we do not intend to participate in this bidding .