Bouygues Telecom has finally got its hands on La Poste Mobile, a project that has been coveted for months. It must be said that the operation was not easy: SFR, strategic co-shareholder, did everything to delay the sale, demanding compensation “ up to par » for the loss of its precious network, rented until then to the virtual operator, as reported Le Figaro.
SFR in ambush
Bouygues therefore went with its muscular check: 950 million euros, or a valuation of 44 times the annual operating profit of La Poste Mobile.
For its part, SFR does not come out empty-handed. By waiving its right of pre-emption and abandoning its veto on the transaction, the operator in the red square secures 575 million euros to compensate for the loss of its tenant. And as if that were not enough, the network access contract was “ significantly improved » for the next two years. Suffice to say that everyone benefits, even if the Competition Authority had already approved the transaction this summer.
With La Poste Mobile, Bouygues adds 2.3 million subscribers to its basket, bringing its total to 18.1 million. The 20 million mark is not very far away, enough to tickle its rival SFR which remains on a downward slope. Thanks to this acquisition, Bouygues hopes to tip the scales and consolidate its position, while riding on its own growth dynamic: the operator recruited 170,000 new customers in the third quarter.
But Bouygues did not wait for this acquisition to demonstrate originality on the market. In addition to integrating as many subscribers as possible, it continues to diversify its offers to appeal to families and young urban executives. Latest find? A “Pure Fiber” offer at 24 euros, without TV decoder or landline telephony. All without fuss, for those who prefer Netflix to the good old Box TV. This positioning goes hand in hand with the decline of landline telephony, the use of which has collapsed: only 16% of French people use it daily, a figure that has been in free fall for a decade.
By consolidating its subscriber base and adjusting its offering to more modern uses, Bouygues is betting on a model that meets the expectations of a connected generation. And if all this seems clever on paper, the challenge remains significant: Bouygues is entering a market where margins are tightening under the effect of a Price war that no one seems to be able to stop. Competition pushes operators to stand out ever more, and this acquisition is just another piece on the board.
🟣 To not miss any news on the WorldOfSoftware, , .
