The Altice France group validated last week the restructuring plan of its debt which is absolutely colossal. In this context, he is now able to sell his SFR subsidiary to recover funds. This strategy has already been used by President Patrick Drahi, who separated from his media, BFM and RMC activities last year.
Although no official approach has yet been initiated for the sale of SFR, the subject already feeds many discussions. Despite a certain loss of speed, SFR can hope for a good price.
As number 2 of telecoms behind Orange, the operator counts nearly 20 million subscribers On mobiles, more than 6 million subscribers on the fixed via the Internet boxes. Estimated value of the operator between 20 and 30 billion euros.
Look elsewhere for a more interesting offer
SFR customers can be reassured: nobody will cut their internet access or the phone or interrupt subscriptions. The customers and the windfall represented by their subscriptions, represent the main value of SFR and are essential to its operation. Customers will be supported by the buyers (s), They will pass under another operator.
You will have to be vigilant if you are at SFR. The slightest modification of your contract after the repurchase, including an increase in the price, will give you the possibility of terminating your subscription free of charge to seek elsewhere a more interesting offer. If there is sale, you will be necessarily informed anyway if you are a customer. It will be necessary Monitor your mailbox Or your personal space on the SFR site to be able to react if necessary.
Orange, Free and Bouygues Telecom in the running
The other three French operators, Orange, Free and Bouygues Télécom, are in the running for the buyout and do not hide it. Indeed, share the market at three Instead of four would allow them to obtain a greater part. Additional financial income to be more profitable and support investments in 5G and fiber networks.
There have been four operators since the arrival of Free on the market in 2012. Since that date, players in the sector have been dreaming of returning to three operators. Their favorite word is: consolidation. Consolidate the market to limit competition. Several times already, there have been attempts to buy back or rapprochement. They all failed. Orange occupies a dominant position, But the Competition Authority and the Telecom regulatory authority have a say, which restricts its room for maneuver to acquire SFR.
Discussions are currently taking place behind the scenes. Bouygues and Free are apparently ready to accept a sale in cutting with activity by activity, business customers, fixed subscribers, mobile customers, the fiber network, antennas, etc.
A foreign redemption
There is a long -term concern: if the market has only three operators, the customer could be a loser. Less competition is the risk of increasing the price of packages. Associations of consumers are on the lookout.
What has characterized the telecoms market in recent years is the price war with plans now in France among the lowest in Europe. The other price to pay when a company is bought by a competitor, it is also social. SFR employees are worried. Post duplicates inevitably lead to job cuts in these cases.
But if the French are interested, nothing excludes that a foreign operator wants to buy SFR. In this case, the government will be very vigilant. This is an element of concern, according to the Minister of Industry, Marc Ferracci, because, he says, the telephone infrastructure is elements of national “sovereignty”.
