French Competition Authority to Review Iliad, Bouygues, Orange's SFR Deal

10:55 AM EDT, 07/15/2026 (MT Newswires) -- France's competition regulator will examine Iliad, Bouygues (EN.PA) unit Bouygues Telecom, and Orange's (ORA.PA) bid to acquire local telecommunications operator SFR, according to a Wednesday release. The statement comes after the European Commission referred the review of Iliad's bid to buy certain SFR assets to the French authority. The deal is part of the consortium's "three distinct but contractually linked" transactions to acquire certain assets and activities of the Altice France group. Iliad can now start talks with the French regulator, which has been engaged with Orange and Bouygues Telecom since June 30. The authority said it will decide on each transaction and expects the review to last at least 18 months.