Half of Iliad Group's Polish Network Business Sold For $415m

For $415 million, French telecom Iliad has finalized the sale of a 50% share in its Polish wholesale business, Polski Swiatlowod Otwarty (PŚO).

With this change, PŚO will be able to improve its fiber network nationwide and connect approximately six million homes. With the deal, PŚO will run the fiber network for broadband provider UPC Poland as a joint venture between InfraVia and Iliad's operator subsidiary Play. The hybrid fiber-coaxial network of the device now supports downlink rates of up to 1Gbps. With FTTH (fiber to the house) technology, this will be updated. Internet connection speeds might exceed 5Gbps when the fiber network infrastructure is updated to the XGS-PON standard.

According to Thomas Reynaud, CEO of Iliad, this deal represents a turning point in the expansion of the Iliad Group's operations in Poland. Due to the open access approach offered by the cooperation with InfraVia, which allows all operators equal access to the nation's largest fiber network and will eventually reach half of all Polish households, the fixed Internet services market in Poland will be given a boost. The projected investment program will make a substantial contribution to the industrial and regional growth of Poland. Play and its subsidiary UPC Polska will be the first companies to offer broadband products through the PŚO network. The PŚO network currently serves households in 14 provinces and nearly 200 municipalities throughout Poland. With operations in France, Italy, and Poland, Iliad Group offers internet and mobile services to 45.9 million active members.