Brussels, 28/08/2012 (Agence Europe) - On Monday 27 August, the European Investment Bank (EIB) announced that a €200 million loan was to be granted to the Iliad Group to finance the rollout of next generation fixed networks. Iliad Group is the parent company of Free, inventor of “Freebox”, the first multiservice box giving triple-play access (internet-telephone-television).
The loan announced on Monday follows directly on from a first funding contract of €150 million signed in 2010 between the EIB and the Iliad Group. It aims to allow Iliad to take forward its strategy for rolling out its next generation networks on French territory. Sixty-five percent of the funding will be earmarked for the deployment of fibre optic networks based on FTTH (fibre-to-the-home) access technology. It will also enable the Iliad Group to extend the reach and capacity of its ADSL2+ network and promote unbundling. Finally, particular focus will be on less densely populated areas of the country under a co-financing agreement signed in July 2011 with the incumbent operator, designed to reach around 60 towns and villages.
The EIB points out in a press release that “providing ultra-fast internet access to foster growth based on digital innovation is a top priority of the EU's digital agenda”, the goal being to foster growth based on the development of digital innovation. In 2011, EIB investment in this field amounted to some €4 billion in the European Union. (OL/transl.jl)