By 2014, 50 per cent of households in France will subscribe to a triple-play offer as operators invest in FTTH to stay competitive, according to a report from Pyramid Research, the telecom research arm of the Light Reading Communications Network.

“Pyramid forecasts that 30 per cent of households in France will subscribe to a triple-play offer by the end of 2009, a number we expect to increase to almost 50 per cent by 2014,” says Jan ten Sythoff, EMEA Manager at Pyramid Research and author of the report. “Pyramid expects quad-play adoption to gradually increase to make up 3 per cent of households by 2014,” he adds.

Fixed-mobile convergence will become an increasingly important competitive focus over the next couple of years. “On the fixed side, investments into fibre will be key to maintaining a strong position in the fixed broadband sector; the development of FTTH is a key issue, and ARCEP, the regulator, is promoting cooperation in order to drive FTTH coverage,” Sythoff, says. “On the mobile side, competition will increase with the launch of the fourth network, as well as increasing numbers of MVNOs.”

Pay-TV competition has intensified with the entry of DSL and fibre operators, as content offers and packages are a key differentiator in triple-play bundles. “Orange has also started selling satellite TV as part of its triple-play packages, in order to provide nationwide TV coverage, not possible through its DSL network,” Sythoff explains. “Cable operator Numericable is investing in fibre technology, and we therefore expect cable subscriptions to decline.”

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