Orange Ordered to Halt Fiber Network Expansion in Mayotte Amid Competition Dispute

The decision follows separate complaints filed by Mayotte THD, a subsidiary of Reunicable, and elected officials in the French overseas territory, according to a report by Telecompaper.

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The dispute centers on Orange’s deployment of fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) infrastructure in five of Mayotte’s 17 municipalities. The company began the rollout in March 2025, prompting objections from local stakeholders over its potential impact on competition in the territory’s broadband market.

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France’s competition authority sided with the complainants, determining that Orange’s network expansion was likely to constitute an abuse of a dominant position, Telecompaper reported. The regulator consequently imposed interim measures restricting the operator’s activities.

The intervention represents a setback for Orange’s broadband expansion plans in Mayotte and underscores the regulatory challenges facing established telecommunications operators seeking to develop infrastructure in markets where competition concerns have emerged.

The case also highlights tensions between expanding access to high-speed internet and maintaining competitive conditions for telecommunications infrastructure providers. Fiber-optic networks are an important component of broadband modernization, but their deployment can raise regulatory questions when operators hold significant market power.

Source: Telecompaper