Covage signs the acquisition of the Hauts-de-Seine network.

The district council is transferring the THD Seine network to a Covage subsidiary, which will continue its development in the area.

The elected officials of the Hauts-de-Seine district council today voted in a public session to transfer the THD Seine network to a subsidiary of Covage. The subsidiary undertakes to continue developing the THD Seine network without any consequences for residents, ensuring continuity of service in the initial spirit of the THD Seine project.

On 17 October 2014, the district announced that it was terminating the THD Seine public service contract that had been granted to Sequalum (a member of the Numericable-SFR group) with effect from 1 July 2015, due exclusively to failings by the company. From this date, the district took back control of operating and maintaining the THD Seine network and ensured that public service was maintained on the infrastructure constructed by Sequalum. In parallel, the district launched a call for bids on 17 November 2014 in order to transfer the THD Seine network, opening negotiations with the various candidates.

Following this process, the district selected the Covage bid, and the district assembly today voted to transfer the THD Seine network.

Covage 92, a subsidiary of Covage created to take over and develop the THD Seine network, has undertaken to complete the residential areas left unfinished by Sequalum, developing more if necessary, and to invest in the elements essential for the use of the network by other operators (collection network, active equipment etc.). With promising prospects for the development of competition in high-speed broadband services, the Covage bid received support from the Caisse des Dépôts et Consignations (CDC) public finance body, which will be involved in the project through a stake in Covage 92.

With this transfer, the Hauts-de-Seine district intends to confirm its commitment to the development of digital services in its territory in line with the initial spirit of the THD Seine project:

  • contributing to the supply of high-speed broadband services in the Hauts-de-Seine territory,
  • developing competition in the segment of services for business and public institutions,
  • promoting the growth of “smart cities” with exceptional local fibre-optic coverage, starting with video surveillance systems.

For Patrick Devedjian, deputy and president of the Hauts-de-Seine district council, “Following an open call for bids, we are delighted to be able to provide high-speed broadband services for our citizens and the companies and public sites in our area. As the second most populated district in Ile-de-France, with nearly 1.6 million inhabitants, digital development constitutes one of our major concerns.”

Jean-Michel Soulier, president of Covage, adds: “We are especially proud of being chosen by Hauts-de-Seine, who have put their trust in us to deploy fibre-optic communications through the Covage 92 network. This is a strong message to local authorities, who can now count on a heavyweight player offering a real alternative to the historic operators, offering prospects of future opportunities to connect the whole country to the fibre network as part of the France Très Haut Débit plan.”

About Covage
Covage is an operator of high-speed network infrastructure, specialising since 2006 in the deployment and operation of fibre-optic networks in partnership with local authorities. Covage currently operates 40 networks as public or private initiatives, serving residents, businesses and public services, interconnected via its national transmission network. Over 200 French and international electronic communications operators rely on Covage’s networks to provide services to their own customers.
Working in partnership with local authorities for over ten years, Covage has established a presence in Hauts-de-Seine with its head office in Rueil-Malmaison. Adding the district network to its list of references, Covage confirms its position as a vital player in high-speed communications in Ile-de-France. The operator now covers Seine-et-Marne with two complementary networks, and it is present in Essonne, Yvelines, Seine-Saint-Denis and Val-de-Marne.
Covage is supported in its development by two powerful shareholders: Cube Infrastructure Fund (a fund dedicated to infrastructure, specialising in services for local authorities) and Partners.