In the tech world, the resale of SFR is what is called a sea serpent. But on this July 2, 2025, things seem ultimately to become real. According to information from BFM, Patrick Drahi, owner of the operator at the Red Carré, would like to find a resale agreement from SFR before the end of the year.
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Its goal, according to one of its creditors: to enhance the company around 23 billion euros (including 15 euros of debts) and yield part of the activity of SFR to other operators. By drawing 4 billion euros, it would still hold 55 % of the operator, while Free and Bouygues Telecom would share different branches.
Another creditor indicates that “SFR has advanced well on its asset distribution schemes to its competitors“, While the Orange number 1, due to the competition, should not be able to participate in this cut despite its wish to do so. A change in September at the head of the competition authority at European level could also make things happen in this area.
It will also be necessary to wait until September that the SFR safeguard plan is validated by the Commercial Court. No meeting between the owners of the operators has yet taken place, but the discussions between many forces of these companies would be very active in recent weeks.
In the discussions, is obviously the distribution of the 20 million mobile subscribers and the 6 million Internet subscribers of SFR and its Red by SFR brand. Also let’s not forget the operator’s antennas.
What consequences for SFR subscribers?
Bouygues Telecom could at first glance release from this division, because 15,000 antennas of the SFR mobile network have already been shared for 10 years with him. This would all the same cost between 200 and 300 million euros to Bouygues Telecom, who would like to take advantage of it to recover the majority of subscribers by the way.
Same thing on the internet side, since with respectively 32 % and 25 % market share, Orange and Free would not have the right to recover a lot of shares in the SFR cake. Free would be in any case especially interested in SFR Business to strengthen its position with companies, sector that Orange and Bouygues Telecom will not let go. There is also the question of physical shops and SFR employees.
If it will take several months for all this to be discussed, validated and signed (current 2027, probably), there is no doubt that a great upheaval is being prepared in the telecoms sector in France.
In any case on the operators’ side, since on the customer side, normally, this should not change much at first. Price and phone numbers should remain the same, and only the name at the top of the invoices could change. For the moment, patience, and no need to leave SFR immediately.
