The historic agreement for the dismantling of SFR by the trio Orange, Bouygues Telecom and Free, for an amount exceeding 20 billion euros, has raised many questions. The main one concerns the fate of the millions of customers of the red square operator. While the operation is still awaiting the crucial green light from competition authoritiesBenoît Torloting, the general director of Bouygues Telecom, spoke on BFM to clarify the situation and try to allay prevailing fears. The challenge is high: organizing a mass transfer while maintaining a continuity of service irreproachable.
How will the migration of SFR customers actually take place?
The head of Bouygues Telecom promised a transition « extremely fluid and transparent » for the approximately 6 million general public subscribers intended to join its network. The stated objective is to make the change almost invisible to the user, relying on a already proven expertise during smaller-scale operations in the past, notably with La Poste Mobile.
What will happen to SFR subscribers transferred to Bouygues? ?
With the disappearance of SFR, the French telecoms landscape will return to three operators. Bouygues, Orange and Free will share subscribers between the end of 2027 and the beginning of 2028.
? Benoit Torloting, CEO of Bouygues Telecom pic.twitter.com/nyKNvMOrYG
— BFM Business (@bfmbusiness) June 17, 2026
According to him, customers will not have no special procedure to be carried out. “ The day before, you are at SFR; the next day, you turn your mobile back on and you are at Bouygues Telecom “, he summarized. This changeover will take place without technical interruption and, notably, without even the need for change SIM card thanks to “ specific technologies “. An essential technical feat to manage an operation of such a scale.
Should we expect an increase in packages?
This is the main fear which accompanies this transition from four to three actors in the French telecoms market. Faced with inflation already observed on mobile plans, Benoît Torloting was categorical on this point: “ there will be no change in their pricing conditionsno change in their offer “. A promise that is intended to be reassuring for millions of consumers.
He ensures that the economic model of the operation is based on cost and network synergiesand not on an increase in prices for the final consumer. According to him, competition will remain intense between the three remaining players, a speech which echoes that of Orange management. This vision, however, contradicts the classical economic theorywhich typically predicts rising prices during such market consolidations.
What is the planned timetable for this major shift?
This major change, a direct consequence of takeover of SFRis not for tomorrow. The process is long and complex, depending above all on the decision of theCompetition Authoritywho has already warned that the green light “ does not go without saying “. The investigation of the file alone could take up to 18 months.
Benoît Torloting estimates that the first client transfers will not begin before “ end of 2027, beginning of 2028 “. Once launched, the complete migration phase subscribers could be spread over a period of 30 months, with an expected end around the first half of 2030. At the same time, the fate of 8,000 SFR employees is also guaranteed until 2029, according to the commitments made by the consortium.
