Bouygues, SFR Sign Agreement to Deploy Fiber-Optic Network in France

Bouygues and SFR have collaborated to share the expenses of deploying ultra-fast fiber-optic cables in certain regions in France. Both companies provide telecom services in France. The deal will enable Bouygues, a new entrant in telecom services, to avoid developing a fiber-optic network from the scratch.

Earlier, Bouygues had inked a contract with Numericable, a cable operator in France, to lease its cable network. The agreement allowed Bouygues to roll out ultra-fast broadband services in November 2010.

The deal with SFR will allow Bouygues to share the ownership of the fixed broadband network. For SFR, the agreement will decrease the expense of deploying fiber-optic networks in regions where it would have borne all the expenses. The fiber-optic network is likely to cover 3 million houses in 20 cities of France.

A joint statement issued by both the companies stated that the agreement would enable the operators to expand and speed up the installation of the fiber-to-the-home infrastructure to serve their respective clients in the regions.