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digital divide

connecting
people to communications services Through our commitment to universal service, we are connecting people to communications services that are vital for economic growth and development – both in remote regions of developed countries, and in developing countries. We do this by expanding our broadband, fixed (or landline) telephone, and mobile telephone networks wherever we are. We also fund some specific projects to enable developing countries to access to communications infrastructure.

broadband deployment: a priority

We have deployed one of Europe’s largest broadband Internet networks, with 8,548,000 customers at the end of 2006.

In France, at the end of 2006, 100% of our connection points were equipped and 98% of the population was covered by ADSL (the primary broadband deployment technology) services. Similar efforts are being made in our other national businesses: for example in 2006, our subsidiary Mauritius Telecom brought ADSL to Rodrigues Island in line with its program to democratize broadband Internet.

For areas with no ADSL access we use alternative technologies to get the Internet to as many people as possible, and make life easier for them and their communities. For example:

- on Reunion Island France Telecom has launched an offer based on the “Re-ADSL” technology, designed to enable broadband Internet access for 5,000 otherwise ineligible households,

- in Mali we offer business and residential customers Internet services based on the local radio loop,

- in Senegal CDMA (Code Division Multiple Access) technology provides telephone coverage in rural and suburban areas for residential, professional and telecenter customers. This technology offers a high processing capacity with relatively little infrastructure.

mobile telephony: extension of coverage and new uses

We are working to open up access to mobile telephone services for as many people as possible. For example, we have been working with local authorities and the Ministry for Regional Development in France since 2003, in line with the national agreement on white zones, to extend GSM mobile telephony services to 99% of the French population. Since 2005, this program has been fully financed by the various operators. Today, 98% of the population is covered by the Orange GSM network.

public telephony: suitable solutions for remote areas

Wherever we offer our services, and more specifically when we are a partner of the incumbent national operator in a given country, we facilitate access to public telephony, using a range of innovative solutions:

- in Senegal we are installing community phone booths free of charge in certain villages, which then operate them,

- in Romania in 2006, we opened 10 new telecenters in rural areas enabling customers to access the public telephone network as well as fax and internet services. 37 new telecenters are scheduled to be opened in 2007,

- in Mauritius we are the only national operator with a universal service commitment.

supporting local development

In addition to our normal business activity of expanding communications infrastructure, we are supporting the emergence of local development projects, notably in underprivileged areas.

In Poland, TP had successfully taken part in the “Internet Republic” project, working with the United Nations Development Program to reduce the digital divide in the poorest rural areas of Poland by encouraging the use of Internet and information technologies in education, development and tourism. These areas can have unemployment rates of up to 50%, with limited resources in the education sector. A call for projects was issued and innovative proposals can receive up to 12,500 euros, as well as IT equipment.

in 2007 TP Group is awarded best broadband undertaking