Press release
The Département of Loire-Atlantique is setting out to bridge the digital divide across its different regions over the coming years. As part of a public service delegation, it has chosen the consortium headed up by Axione, working in partnership with Vauban, to strive towards achieving the goal of fully rolling out the fibre optic network by 2025.
FIBRE44, a company founded by the Axione Group, Vauban Infrastructure Partners and the Banque des Territoires, is therefore getting underway with initial work to deliver a fibre-optic network to all residents in Loire-Atlantique still not covered, who live outside of the major urban areas of Nantes, Saint-Nazaire and the Guérande Peninsula.
The project has a twofold objective of:
- Building and operating 179,000 connections within four years, on top of the fibre-optic connections already live in the Département.
- Before 2027, taking over all of the infrastructure that has been already rolled out (approximately 290,000 connections in total) and overseeing technical and commercial operations over them until 2050.
This work will be completed solely using funding from FIBRE44 owners (Axione, Vauban and Banque des Territoires), and from banking partners (Caisse d’Epargne Bretagne Pays de Loire, Natixis, Société Générale and the CIC), in the form of long-term loans.
At the end of 30-year public service delegation, the Département will own the entire network.
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Fibre optic will enable everyone to identify how they use the internet and to choose suitable services in order to coordinate and enhance their daily lives and their professional work, such as for healthcare, culture, education, discussions and sharing.
Philippe Grosvalet, Président of Loire-Atlantique Département.
Unfortunately, the health crisis has thrown the spotlight on the digital divide experienced by some residents. In order to provide equal access to superfast broadband in both city centres and rural areas for craftspeople, freelancers, business owners, labourers, farmers, private individuals, pensioners and more, the Département is committed to rolling out the fibre-optic network in Loire-Atlantique, with the objective of it covering the entire region by 2025.
The start of the works undertaken by FIBRE44 is therefore another important step in this major project launched by the Département.
Axione is driven by a firm belief that the professional work of digital developers does not end with the roll-out of the network infrastructure. There is also a need to be a rich source of ideas, make innovation a priority and get involved in the creation of a genuine local development dynamic. In order to do this, we hope to help to improve Loire-Atlantique’s appeal by building a network that will establish the required foundations for developing local innovative solutions.
Eric Jammaron, Deputy CEO at Axione
Through the project to roll out fibre optic across the Loire-Atlantique region, we’re helping to stimulate hiring, training and skills development.
Jean-François Sourisseau, FIBRE 44 chairman
Digital technology has become an essential piece of infrastructure for regions. Vauban is specifically working to direct long-term resources so that they are invested in pieces of infrastructure that will act as vehicles for long-term development in regions. The start of the initial works for this second phase in the Département of Loire-Atlantique is a key step in transforming Vauban’s commitments to the region into tangible infrastructure that will benefit everyone.
Gwenola Chambon, Vauban Infrastructure Partners Chief Executive
The Banque des Territoire is teaming up with its long-term partners, Axione and Vauban Infrastructure Partners, in order to invest in rolling out fibre optic in Loire-Atlantique. It is fully committed to bridging the digital divide across the region: Fibre44 has become the 27th public initiative network supported by the Banque des Territoires in France, and the forth in the Pays-de-la-Loire region. It is a key project which will help to not only bring superfast broadband to rural or marginalised urban areas, but also effectively boost employment, integration and, ultimately, the local economy.
Philippe Jusserand, regional director of the Banque des Territoires
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