Free and SFR end their conflict

2023-12-14 11:52:00

Xavier Niel must not shy away from his pleasure. Its operator Free won an important battle once morest SFR. Since 2012, the telecoms troublemaker has been waging a legal guerrilla war once morest its rival’s old practices aimed at subsidizing smartphones. In a decision dated December 6, the Paris Court of Appeal specifies that the two competitors finally passed a deal to end their dispute. « During the procedure and while the pleading hearing was scheduled for November 29, 2023, the companies Free Mobile and SFR came together and reached an agreement putting an end to this dispute.specifies the decision.

In other words: Free has decided to drop all its lawsuits, in exchange for, very likely, a big check. Asked by The Tribune, the two operators refuse to comment. Clearly, we will have to wait for their next quarterly results to know precisely the amount of the financial transaction.

Bouygues ordered to pay 308 million euros

Free’s complaints concerned the “Carré” offers marketed by SFR between June 2011 and September 2012. These offered to acquire a smartphone at a price presented as attractive, but by increasing the price of the mobile plan. Free believed that customers might pay, in fine, their more expensive terminal. Xavier Niel’s operator considered himself, above all, wronged by these offers, deemed anti-competitive and which were, in his eyes, similar to disguised consumer loans.

SFR is not the only operator in Free’s sights. Orange and Bouygues Telecom, which have engaged in similar practices, are just as concerned. Last May, Bouygues Telecom had to pay some 308 million in damages to Xavier Niel’s operator for having marketed offers allowing the price of a smartphone to be staggered in exchange for a package. long term. It is likely, moreover, that this precedent, and the risk of being condemned, convinced SFR to find an arrangement with its rival.