15 OCTOBER 2008 -- France Telecom's Orange (search for Orange) and SFR (search for SFR) have broadened their September 24 cooperation agreement by planning to implement a new engineering approach to the deployment of fibre in the 15th arrondissement of Paris and another area to be determined outside the Paris region. This approach, which is open to other potentially interested operators, is based on the installation of extra fibre-optic cables in buildings being equipped by either Orange or SFR. These extra cables can be used by other operators.
This decision follows the recommendations published by the French telecommunications and post office regulator (ARCEP) and its recent statements encouraging a large-scale trial based on "multifibre" mutualisation.
Orange and SFR have adopted an approach designed to quickly implement "different solutions in the best interests of customers and building managers." The companies add that they "strongly wish" that other operators adapt similar philosphies.
The companies also announced that the first Parisian buildings that they had identified in the 13th and 14th arrondissements in order to test out and fine-tune the conditions for their September 24 agreement have been connected and their first services are already on offer.
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