Orange has partnered with global infrastructure investor Morrison to create a jointly controlled data centre company in France.
As a result, the 50/50 venture will develop the telecom giant’s existing French data centre portfolio, with the goal of reaching 400 MW of capacity- almost 10x its current reach.
According to the company, the move will would support growing demand for AI, cloud computing and data-intensive services.
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Under the planned agreement, Orange will contribute five major data centres across four French campuses in Chevilly-Larue, Aubervilliers, Chartres and Val-de-Reuil, alongside its operational expertise and commercial capabilities.
Meanwhile, Morrison will provide infrastructure investment expertise and equity through its global value-add strategy to support the platform’s growth.
The venture would be backed by a €3 billion investment programme combining Orange’s existing assets, Morrison’s capital contribution and debt financing.
Additionally, Orange Business is expected to become the exclusive distribution partner for the joint venture’s colocation and hosting services, targeting large enterprises, SMEs and public-sector organisations.
Orange Group CEO, Christel Heydemann, said: “We are absolutely convinced that France will need sovereign, trusted digital infrastructure if it is to rise to the challenge of surging demand driven by cloud and artificial intelligence.
“This contemplated joint venture with Morrison, will allow us to unlock the value of our existing assets and strengthening our position in data centres. Together with a partner recognised for its expertise and investment capacity, we will accelerate the deployment of the capacity that the market needs.”
Morrison Chief Investment Officer, William Smales, added: “Europe’s digital future will require significant new investment in trusted infrastructure capable of supporting the growth of cloud services, artificial intelligence and data-intensive applications.
“Together with Orange, we are contemplating the creation of a platform that combines strategic infrastructure assets, operational expertise and long-term capital to meet that challenge. We believe France is exceptionally well positioned to play a leading role in Europe’s digital economy, and this partnership represents an important step towards building the sovereign infrastructure needed to support future growth and competitiveness.”
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