Brussels, 11/07/2007 (Agence Europe) - On 11 July, the European Commission approved the funding by Sicoval (an association of municipalities on the south-east side of Toulouse) of a very high-speed telecommunications network exclusively serving businesses and public organisations on its territory. The Sicoval aid is intended to promote the establishment of a fibre-optic infrastructure, to be operated by a delegated company, which will provide wholesale offers (fibre optic or bandwidth) to telecoms operators wanting to propose retail offers to businesses and public organisations in Sicoval. The construction and operation of the network has been delegated to the consortium Marais Contracting - Vinci - Alcatel, which was selected by invitation to tender and will receive aid of €2 million. Given that that the existing high-speed provision in the area was very expensive, the Commission concluded that the scheme could be approved under Article 87(3)(c) of the EC Treaty (aid to facilitate the development of certain economic activities) even in a region where some high-speed services are already being provided. (cd)