Orange, a mobile network operator in France, has signed a new tower deal with ATC France, a part of American Tower Corporation, for the deployment of between 900 and 2,000 new mobile network sites.
Arcep, French telecom regulator, recently ranked Orange France as number one for the ninth year in a row. Orange France has 25,000 mobile radio sites, including 17,000 on fully-owned infrastructure.

ATC France currently manages more than 4,000 rooftop and pylon addresses and hosts nearly 5,500 customer contracts across more than 2,500 sites in operation.

The new contract with ATC France will enable Orange to accelerate deployment of its mobile network and increase the density of its coverage mainly in rural areas and along transport routes over the period 2020-2024.

Orange said it aims to maintain its expertise in the design and construction of network infrastructure. Orange will also gain from the mid-term investment capacity to consolidate its leadership across the entire network.

A 20-year hosting service agreement between the two partners means that Orange will benefit from the excellence of ATC France’s management and marketing services for mobile network infrastructure and will ensure that the quality of its services across the country will be maintained.

Fabienne Dulac, CEO of Orange France, said: “The nationwide deployment of the network, particularly in rural areas, is a priority for Orange.”

ATC France hosts nearly 5,500 operator contracts across the totality of its sites in operation.

Julian Plumstead, CEO Europe at ATC, said: “This agreement will help reinforce our infrastructure in France and will strengthen the ties and the synergies between our two groups over the long term.”