French telecoms giant Orange is in talks about a possible buyout of rival phone provider Bouygues Telecom.<br />It’s the latest effort at consolidation in the sector, after Bouygues rejected a bid last year by Altice, owner of rival operator SFR.<br />The French government objected to that bid out of fears a deal would reduce competition and jobs.<br />Orange said in a statement Tuesday that it’s in “preliminary discussions” with Bouygues and “is exploring the opportunities available within the French telecoms market.”<br />Orange, the former state phone monopoly, is France’s biggest phone and Internet provider and is now present in more than 30 countries.<br />Bouygues Telecom’s parent company Bouygues Group said it is interested in “any arrangement that would allow it to strengthen its long-term foundation in telecoms.”
