You are mostly implemented in mature markets

Can you detail the new stage of the deployment of your network of optical fiber to the Subscriber

We move up a gear. We will deploy as soon as 2007 networks in 10 cities, starting with Lille, Lyon, Marseille, Poitiers and Toulouse. We will not cover all of these cities, but only certain districts. The objective is to achieve end of 2008, 150,000 to 200,000 customers on more than one million networked homes. To do this, we will invest EUR 270 million, including about a third in 2007 and the balance in 2008, an investment largely consistent with our current expenses. The deployment of mass remains scheduled for 2009.

At what regulatory conditions you run you

We want a regulation open to investment. First, we hope that the internal wiring of buildings is shared, so that customers can choose the operator that they wish to. We are the first to say also strongly. Then, we ask a symmetric regulation: If our network is open, one of the other operators must be also. Finally, each operator must rent its network on a commercial basis, and not at a regulated rate. Moreover, public authorities seem to agree with it. The Minister François Loos said be a symmetric regulation. And what was said the President of the Arcep Paul Champsaur on the sharing of internal wiring should be me. This is why we decided to launch this pre-deployment.

Several historic operators to separate their fixed network, or the filialisent. What do you think

It is technically difficult for France Telecom, while we are launching in the optical fibre. Today, the regulator requires us already an accounting separation and a high level of quality of service, and he asks us nothing more. I do not see that an additional separation would bring.

On mobile calls abroad, what do you think of the Franco-British proposal to set an average price over a price ceiling as proposed Brussels

It is more reasonable than proposed by the European Commission. But I do not immiscerai me in these discussions between Governments of the Union.

How to change your relationship with the suppliers

Operators, through purchases, have put pressure on OEMs. Some were merged in an attempt to escalate the pressure to the operators. But the arrival of Chinese competitors prevented OEMs to pressure to us.

And your relationship with the suppliers of services, such as Google, Microsoft, Skype...

The arrival in the set of these new players has been allowed by the generalization of a universal network based on Internet, using the fixed as the mobile and connecting all subscribers of the planet. The first to come on the beds of the operators was Skype, which offers its services on the network without paying this network. These new actors eventually capture a significant share of the value. And they know no borders, are subject to no regulation. But we must be also present in this area of services. Even if it is not clear a priori for a telecom operator. Indeed, here, income does not come to an end customer billing, as is the case in our profession of operator. It is a very different model: revenue comes from advertising, which is based on the hearing. Therefore, we should fight to make our portals generate the hearing, and especially to learn the different model is not in our culture. From this point of view, our agreement with Microsoft on Instant Messaging saves us time to acquire this culture.

This agreement means that you have failed to impose your own instant messaging

It is true that the hearing of our instant messaging was low compared to that of Microsoft. We are pragmatic, and we have drawn the consequences. At each step, we evaluate the forces in presence, we adapt and move necessary alliances. The important thing is to be in the game.

Are you going to allow the search engine of Google on your mobile phones, such as Vodafone and Deutsche Telekom have done

We are not discussing with Google.

After the sale of PagesJaunes, what is your strategy for directories

For traditional directories, we have agreements that run over several years to continue to use PagesJaunes. For value-added services, we have nothing to announce to this day.

Where do you want to go to the content

The contents have become essential. Without content, more than client. We have seen in Spain, where, a few weeks, our television on ADSL offer herself private content. Result: we did not have new customers as long as the content were not returned. Therefore it is imperative today, for an operator like us, have access to content. But not to produce this content. In the film, we found that could consume content of French origin without help French production. And rule, support the production, to be co-producer. But we do not intend to go beyond.

What is your strategy for sports rights

Media groups are reassuring: we have not bid sums to acquire such rights. We want to just respond to the needs of our customers: for example, on the mobile, the customer wants to just short excerpts with the goals for example. Therefore we are looking just to acquire corresponding rights to these needs. And we take tender as they are constituted by rights holders.

Are you going to redeem SSII of type Atos or Capgemini

Course not. First, we have, with the acquisitions of Diwan, Neocles and Silicomp, completed our acquisitions program. Above all, the majority of companies like Atos or Cap Gemini are general computer services. However we do not want to go so far. We want to restrict ourselves to the services directly related to the telecoms.

Do you believe the arrival of a fourth operator UMTS in France

This can happen. But I was surprised to see that some are were reported interested by this license. Because the business model seems to me difficult to define, and requires significant financial power. Is not clear today to start from nothing. To change the terms, this does not seem justified and would open intractable disputes. The Minister delegate for industry has also rejected it.

You are mostly implemented in mature markets. What is your strategy in emerging countries

These markets already account for 12 of our activity, with strong organic growth. We look at a number of possibilities, but our investments will be modest. One example is Africa, but also the Viet Nam, where the incumbent operator will be privatised. The process is not yet committed, but this is a good opportunity that we will look very closely.

Do you want to enter the capital of China Telecom

We already have a strong partnership with China Telecom in the research and development, purchasing... China Telecom will seek a partner after the 3 G licensing. The interest for them as for us is that we provide the expertise gained in the development of a 3 G network Orange.