Own the Network, Escape the Middleman Trap

"The economic equation of Free? There is its own technology, but also and above all its investment in unbundling the local loop, a technical operation that allows the operator to control access to the subscriber and largely bypass the dependence on France Telecom's physical network."

"Free has developed a DSLAM (Digital Subscriber Line Access Multiplexer or multiplex for digital subscriber lines). This device allows the traditional copper line that runs to the final subscriber to be integrated into the internet network by processing the information flow through a modem (modulator-demodulator) that converts computer digital data into a modulated signal that can be transmitted through an analog network such as a telephone line and vice versa. The"

"After investing 22 million in unbundling in 2002 and 80 million in 2003, Iliad is counting on the money raised on the stock market to devote between 100 and 120 million more. While the end of the monopoly and the opening of the telecom market which follows create a formidable air movement translated by the emergence of some one hundred and twenty operators of all sizes, Iliad continues to strengthen in this sector. At the end of 2001, the group acquired One. Tel. Placed in receivership following the difficulties of its Australian parent company, this fixed telecommunications operator then had 480,000 registered customers, of which 180,000 were active with 30 million francs in losses for a turnover of 38 million that year."