Bouygues, Iliad, and Orange Stand Firm on Altice France Bid Despite Rejection – Key Moves in 2025
- Why Are These Telecom Giants Still Pushing for Altice France?
- The Numbers Behind the Stubborn Bid
- Altice’s Rocky Road to 2025
- Regulatory Hurdles Ahead
- What’s Next in This Telecom Drama?
- Expert Take: Why This Matters Beyond France
- FAQs: Your Burning Questions Answered
Why Are These Telecom Giants Still Pushing for Altice France?
Picture this: three of France’s biggest telecom players—Bouygues, Iliad, and Orange—are refusing to take “non” for an answer. Despite Altice France’s board giving their offer the cold shoulder, the trio insists their proposal remains “the most compelling path forward” for the debt-laden operator.
Industry analysts (including our BTCC team) note this persistence signals two things: 1) Altice’s fiber and mobile assets are simply too valuable to abandon, and 2) the bidders smell blood in the water as Altice’s parent company grapples with €24 billion in debt. “This isn’t just about market share—it’s about controlling France’s digital infrastructure future,” remarked a Paris-based analyst who requested anonymity.
The Numbers Behind the Stubborn Bid
While exact figures remain confidential, sources suggest the offer values Altice France at €10-12 billion. For context:
| Bidder | Current Market Share | Potential Gain from Deal |
|---|---|---|
| Orange | 40% | +5% fiber dominance |
| Iliad (Free) | 18% | Critical 5G spectrum |
| Bouygues | 20% | Strategic retail locations |
What’s fascinating? These rivals are temporarily setting aside cutthroat competition to jointly pursue what Iliad’s CEO calls “a once-in-a-decade opportunity.”
Altice’s Rocky Road to 2025
Let’s rewind: Altice France (SFR) has been on a rollercoaster since Patrick Drahi’s 2021 debt restructuring. The company’s Q2 2025 earnings showed:
- 7% YoY revenue decline in mobile
- 12% growth in fiber subscriptions
- €3.2 billion EBITDA (down from €3.8B in 2024)
“Their fiber business is the crown jewel,” notes a BTCC market strategist. “But the mobile division’s struggles make them vulnerable—perfect timing for predators.”
Regulatory Hurdles Ahead
Even if Altice caves, this deal faces massive scrutiny. Remember 2016 when the EU blocked Orange’s attempt to buy Bouygues? Competition czars will likely demand:
- Divestment of overlapping spectrum
- Wholesale access guarantees for MVNOs
- Rural coverage commitments
Ironically, the joint bid structure might actually improve approval odds by preventing any single operator from becoming too dominant.
What’s Next in This Telecom Drama?
As of October 2025, all eyes are on:
- October 28: Altice’s emergency shareholder meeting
- November 15: EU competition preliminary review deadline
- December: Potential improved offer if rejection stands
One thing’s certain—with French inflation at 3.2% and consumers demanding cheaper plans, this consolidation could redefine connectivity pricing nationwide.
Expert Take: Why This Matters Beyond France
“This isn’t just a French story,” argues telecom veteran Jean-Luc Fournier. “Europe’s entire telecom sector is at an inflection point—either consolidate to fund 6G development or get eaten by American tech giants.” Recent moves like Vodafone-Iliad’s German joint venture support this thesis.
FAQs: Your Burning Questions Answered
Why won’t Bouygues, Iliad, and Orange back down?
Altice’s fiber network covers 22 million French homes—infrastructure too valuable to ignore, especially with the EU’s 2030 digital targets looming.
How would this affect French consumers?
Short-term pain (store closures/job cuts) but potential long-term gain through accelerated 5G rollout and fiber upgrades.
Could another bidder emerge?
Unlikely. Deutsche Telekom and Telecom Italia are too focused on domestic challenges to enter this fray.
