Perhaps the calculation of Bouygues Telecom

The French will soon call using the services of a Dutch operator. According to our information, KPN have signed an agreement with Bouygues Telecom to rent the French mobile telephone network and compete with Virgin Mobile, NRJ and other already present Tele2 on this segment. Interviewed by "Les echos", Bouygues Telecom and KPN are are denied any comment. Become a virtual mobile operator (MVNO) in France and the Batavian is not in its move to test outside its borders. The Netherlands, the Belgium and the Germany in addition, countries in which it has a network in specific, the operator is present in Spain since the beginning of the year, where it uses the mobile network... Orange. KPN is in fact cover Europe from agreements with other operators in the countries where it has no infrastructure. In Spain, KPN launched services under its brand name Simyo, mainly in the form of prepaid cards. It seems probable that it duplicates this model in the Hexagon, country to which he is officially interested since at least a year.

In any case, KPN and Bouygues Telecom are very familiar: last year, the Dutch had even to deny wanting to buy the French following rumours that took intent... KPN would be de facto the first historical operator to become a MVNO in France. Accuracy is important, as KPN has financial means without common measure with those of the other MVNO operating today in France. Last year, the group, which weighs some 20 billion euros on the Amsterdam stock exchange, has made a gross result from operations of EUR 4.9 billion. Not sure however that this was sufficient to break into a market that remains "very difficult" in the view of the pattern of a French MVNO. June 30 mobile operators virtual, far behind the three major mobile operators Orange, SFR and Bouygues Telecom, that totalled 4.67 of market share in France. The first of them, Virgin Mobile, claiming more than 1 million customers, but still loses money after three years of activity. Single cost-effective MVNO: Tele2 Mobile, which recruits some new customers. KPN in France route will therefore follow magnifying glass by operators.

Counter the arrival of Free

For Bouygues Telecom, the decision to host KPN network is more surprising. Firstly because Martin Bouygues, whose group is the owner of 89.5 of the capital of the operator, has reiterated its opposition to the MVNO ten days ago. "The MVNO is a cuckoo, which nest in the other, overload your network, investing and takes zero risk," he said. It is true that Bouygues Telecom was never particularly sought to entice candidates MVNO. So far, only the small Transatel and cable operator Numericable used the mobile operator infrastructure. But, today, Bouygues Telecom leaders do obviously not share the opinion of Martin Bouygues... Anxious to return their heavy investments in the networks, they decided to make the volume.

The agreement with KPN is also designed to cut the grass under the feet of a new entrant that might be dangerous for the number three French: in this case, Free, which is more than ever "fourth license" candidate, despite the stalling of the Government (see below). With KPN in the role of the "super-MVNO", the regulator can less easily say that competition is not sufficient in the mobile France. Perhaps the calculation of Bouygues Telecom.