The operator is said to be considering several options around a deal. One potential deal could see Bouygues retain a minority stake in the combined media and telecoms group.
No formal offer or decision has been made and both parties are looking into how regulatory or antitrust barriers can be overcome, according to sources of Bloomberg.
Bouygues “has no plans to withdraw from the telecoms and television sectors and reaffirms its long-term presence in these two industries,” the company said in an e-mailed statement. An Orange spokesman has declined comment.
If combined, Orange and Bouygues Telecom would own 59% of mobile network operator customers. As of September 2015, Orange reported 33.3 million fixed-line connections while Bouygues Telecom had 2.7 million.
In June 2015, Bouygues’ board rejected an offer of €10 billion by Numericable-SFR, stating that a deal would impede competition in the country.
