French Communes Lose Mobile Service in Tower Dispute
Ten French communes are facing a digital blackout after a tower company, Valocîme, cut power to ten telecommunications towers. The move comes as part of a long-running dispute with competitors over the ownership and use of these towers.
“We have no choice but to enforce about ten court decisions,” Valocîme stated in a press release. The company maintains that it legally acquired the rights to use the land where these towers stand.
However, existing telecom operators, who own the antennas installed on the towers, resist the change in tenancy. This “telecom war,” as some have dubbed it, has become a major legal and political battleground.
Telecom operators contend that Valocîme usurped their position, while Valocîme insists it’s pursuing its legal rights and has offered to rent the towers to the operators at a 20% discount.
The disruption to service is creating a significant challenge for the French government as it works to achieve the EU’s goal of 100% 5G coverage by 2030. Losing service momentarily total blackout in ten towns is a major setback, highlighting the fragility of digital connectivity, especially in rural areas.
Adding to the complexity of the situation, Valocîme chose not to cut power to towers that previously served as “white zones” – areas without any mobile coverage. This move reflects the government’s priority to eliminate these communication blackspots, having invested heavily in expanding internet access throughout the country.
Legal Battles and Tower Takeovers
Since its establishment seven years ago, Valocîme has acquired 2,700 lease rights from established tower companies. Now, with approximately 400 of those leases having expired, Valocîme proposes acquiring the infrastructure outright.
This aggressive strategy has drawn strong opposition, leading Valocîme to file 250 lawsuits against the existing tower operators. So far, according to Valocîme CEO Frédéric Zimer, 43 court decisions have ruled in Valocîme’s favor.
Zimer remains confident, stating, “Most of the other lawsuits are ongoing and I expect to win as many as 200 by June 2025,” indicating a potential long-lasting legal battle over control of crucial telecommunications infrastructure.
The communes impacted by this blackout are Arandon-Passins, Auneuil, Lalonde les Maures, Montgaillard, Peret, Roquebrune sur Argens, Sajas, Sazeret, Vic Fezensac, and Villeneuve lès Béziers. As Valocîme and the affected operators continue to battle it out in court, residents of these communes are left wondering when their mobile connections will be restored.
