The operator will act as an Internet Service Provider (ISP) on all Public Initiative Networks (PIN) in France, regardless of which operator deployed the network.
This expands the market for Orange’s fibre offers which are already available for 12 million homes and business premises.
The company says the move demonstrates its commitment to closing the digital divide: wherever fibre optic networks are deployed, customers will be able to choose Orange’s commercial offers to connect to the Internet.
The operator’s fibre-based services are already available to over 500,000 homes and business premises in PIN areas. This will increase to nearly 3 million eligible connections by the end of 2019.
Rural first
Fabienne Dulac, Deputy CEO of Orange Group and CEO of Orange France, said, “With this decision, we are demonstrating our commitment to fibre deployment, as well as our desire to support our customers and the public authorities.
“It also illustrates our enduring commitment to closing the digital divide. Residents and businesses in small towns and rural areas will be the first to benefit from this acceleration plan.
“Thanks to this plan, two million people living in PIN areas where fibre has been deployed by third parties will soon be able to access La Fibre Orange offers by the end of 2019.”