Orange has been selected to run the public-initiative network (known as RIP, 'Reseaux d'Initiative Publique') planned in five French departments of the Bourgogne-Franche-Comte region (Saone-et-Loire, Cote-d'Or, Jura, Nievre, and Yonne). Under a fifteen-year concession, the operator will be responsible for the technical and commercial management of the infrastructure, which will cover up to 388,000 households and businesses in under-served areas.
Joining forces in a local public company (SPL BFC Numerique), the five departments aim to bring FTTH services to 310,000 premises by 2022, with a target to reach 388,000 in the long term.