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{{CompanyInfo|

{{CompanyInfo|

| logo            = FranceTelecom.JPG‎

| logo            = FranceTelecom.JPG‎

==Background==

==Background==

France Telecom was established as Direction Générale des Télécommunications in 1889 as part of the French Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications, which it remained as until 1988. After the invention of telegraphy and telephony, the French government monopolized the country's telecommunications services, but in 1987, the [[European Commission]] initiated the liberalization of the telecommunications market in European countries, publishing the ''“Green Paper on the Development of the Common Market for Telecommunications Services and Equipment.”'' On July 2, 1990, the French law no. 90-568 was enacted, which formed France Telecom as a “société anonyme” (French Corporation), a public service provider governed by corporate law in accordance with the French Postal and Telecommunication Code. In 1991, French Telecom became an independent operator under public law, still under control of the government. In 1995, the Direction Général des Postes et Télécommunications (DGPT) issued a public consultation document to open competition in the telecommunications industry. In 1996, the French Parliament enacted the Experimental Licensing Bill and eventually, on December 31, 1996, French Telecom was incorporated, and then privatized in 1997. The following year, the telecommunications industry in France became open to competition.<ref>

France Telecom was established as Direction Générale des Télécommunications in 1889 as part of the French Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications, which it remained as until 1988. After the invention of telegraphy and telephony, the French government monopolized the country's telecommunications services, but in 1987, the [[European Commission]] initiated the liberalization of the telecommunications market in European countries, publishing the ''“Green Paper on the Development of the Common Market for Telecommunications Services and Equipment.”'' On July 2, 1990, the French law no. 90-568 was enacted, which formed France Telecom as a “société anonyme” (French Corporation), a public service provider governed by corporate law in accordance with the French Postal and Telecommunication Code. In 1991, French Telecom became an independent operator under public law, still under the control of the government. In 1995, the Direction Général des Postes et Télécommunications (DGPT) issued a public consultation document to open competition in the telecommunications industry. In 1996, the French Parliament enacted the Experimental Licensing Bill and eventually, on December 31, 1996, French Telecom was incorporated, and then privatized in 1997. The following year, the telecommunications industry in France became open to competition.<ref>

[http://www.oecd.org/dataoecd/36/35/32482712.pdf Regulatory Reform in France, Regulatory Reform in the Telecommunications Sector]</ref>  

[http://www.oecd.org/dataoecd/36/35/32482712.pdf Regulatory Reform in France, Regulatory Reform in the Telecommunications Sector]</ref>  

<ref>[http://www.orange.com/en_EN/group/governance/att00008709/Bylawsupdated19.01.2011.pdf France Telecom Bylaws]</ref>  

<ref>[http://www.orange.com/en_EN/group/governance/att00008709/Bylawsupdated19.01.2011.pdf France Telecom Bylaws]</ref>  

==Business Portfolio==

==Business Portfolio==

===Orange Business Services Brand===

===Orange Business Services Brand===

In 2000, France Telecom purchased Orange, a mobile phone operator owned by Vodafone AirTouch and based in United Kingdom, for 40.3 billion dollars. The transaction allowed the company to combine its cellular business with Orange to create the second largest mobile phone company in Europe.<ref>[http://money.cnn.com/2000/05/30/deals/orange/ France Telecom to form Europe's No. 2 mobile firm after buying UK player]</ref> In 2001, France Telecom formed the Orange Telecom Plc., selling 15% of its shares during the Initial Public Public Offering.<ref>[http://www.prweb.com/releases/Orange/Tuesday/prweb2362604.htm Orange Tuesday happy birthday to Orange Telecom which celebrates its fifteenth irthday with an unusual twist - cupcakes]</ref> In 2003, the company bought back the 13 percent minority shares, which had been worth $7.8 billion dollars. This decision was prompted by a bill passed by the French government granting France Telecom the option to buy out the minority shareholders of Orange and Wanadoo, the company's internet business division.<ref>[http://edition.cnn.com/2003/BUSINESS/09/01/france.telecom.reut/ France Telecom in Orange buyout]</ref> At present, Orange has more than 144 million customers. In 2007, Milward Brown Optimor ranked the company as one of the world's most powerful brands.

In 2000, France Telecom purchased Orange, a mobile phone operator owned by Vodafone AirTouch and based in the United Kingdom, for 40.3 billion dollars. The transaction allowed the company to combine its cellular business with Orange to create the second-largest mobile phone company in Europe.<ref>[http://money.cnn.com/2000/05/30/deals/orange/ France Telecom to form Europe's No. 2 mobile firm after buying UK player]</ref> In 2001, France Telecom formed the Orange Telecom Plc., selling 15% of its shares during the Initial Public Public Offering.<ref>[http://www.prweb.com/releases/Orange/Tuesday/prweb2362604.htm Orange Tuesday happy birthday to Orange Telecom which celebrates its fifteenth birthday with an unusual twist - cupcakes]</ref> In 2003, the company bought back the 13 percent minority shares, which had been worth $7.8 billion dollars. This decision was prompted by a bill passed by the French government granting France Telecom the option to buy out the minority shareholders of Orange and Wanadoo, the company's internet business division.<ref>[http://edition.cnn.com/2003/BUSINESS/09/01/france.telecom.reut/ France Telecom in Orange buyout]</ref> At present, Orange has more than 144 million customers. In 2007, Milward Brown Optimor ranked the company as one of the world's most powerful brands.

===Wanadoo/Orange Broadband===

===Wanadoo/Orange Broadband===

==End of French Gov't Majority Control==

==End of French Gov't Majority Control==

In 2004, the French government decided to end its majority control over France Telecom and sold as many as 299 million shares, reducing its stake in the company by 10.85 percent, making its hold 42.25 percent. The sale was initiated by then-Finance Minister Nicolas Sarkozy in order to cut the public debt of France and bring it within the standard limitation (60% of gross domestic product) set by the European Union. In reducing the government's holdings in the company, Sarkozy's hope was to increase room to maneuvering room for adapting to future developments in the telecommunications market.<ref>[http://www.nytimes.com/2004/09/02/news/02iht-ftel_ed3_.html?pagewanted=1&_r=1 Paris cedes control of telephone company]</ref> In 2005, the French government again offered $5.5 billion worth of its shares in the company to reduce its holding to less than 33 percent. The sale was initiated by then-Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin.<ref>

In 2004, the French government decided to end its majority control over France Telecom and sold as many as 299 million shares, reducing its stake in the company by 10.85 percent, making it hold 42.25 percent. The sale was initiated by then-Finance Minister Nicolas Sarkozy in order to cut the public debt of France and bring it within the standard limitation (60% of gross domestic product) set by the European Union. In reducing the government's holdings in the company, Sarkozy's hope was to increase room to maneuvering room for adapting to future developments in the telecommunications market.<ref>[http://www.nytimes.com/2004/09/02/news/02iht-ftel_ed3_.html?pagewanted=1&_r=1 Paris cedes control of telephone company]</ref> In 2005, the French government again offered $5.5 billion worth of its shares in the company to reduce its holding to less than 33 percent. The sale was initiated by then-Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin.<ref>

[http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=newsarchive&sid=aYPP4tXAYCqs&refer=europe France Sells France Telecom Stake to Reduce Debt]</ref> In 2007, when Nicolas Sarkozy became Prime Minister of France, the French government once again sold at least 5 percent of its holdings in the company to yet again reduce the country's debt.<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/6236672.stm Share sale dents France Telecom]</ref> At present, French government owns 27 percent stakes in France Telecom.<ref>[http://www.leadersmag.com/issues/2011.1_Jan/ROB/LEADERS-Didier-Lombard-France-Telecom.html The Future of Telecommunications: An Interview with Didier Lombard, Chairman of the Board, France Telecom]</ref>

[http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=newsarchive&sid=aYPP4tXAYCqs&refer=europe France Sells France Telecom Stake to Reduce Debt]</ref> In 2007, when Nicolas Sarkozy became Prime Minister of France, the French government once again sold at least 5 percent of its holdings in the company to yet again reduce the country's debt.<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/6236672.stm Share sale dents France Telecom]</ref> At present, the French government owns 27 percent stakes in France Telecom.<ref>[http://www.leadersmag.com/issues/2011.1_Jan/ROB/LEADERS-Didier-Lombard-France-Telecom.html The Future of Telecommunications: An Interview with Didier Lombard, Chairman of the Board, France Telecom]</ref>

==Orange Foundation==

==Orange Foundation==

==ICANN Involvement==

==ICANN Involvement==

Prior to the establishment of the [[ICANN|Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers]] in 1998, France Telecom was actively involved with the consensus building process for the creation of the organization, particularly in the International Forum on the White Paper ([[IFWP]]). The company also provided its comments regarding the fourth draft of the Articles and Bylaws of the [[Internet Assigned Numbers Authority|IANA]]. The company recommended the inclusion of appropriate application of international laws and a balance international representation in the Board of the new corporation.<ref>

Prior to the establishment of the [[ICANN|Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers]] in 1998, France Telecom was actively involved with the consensus-building process for the creation of the organization, particularly in the International Forum on the White Paper ([[IFWP]]). The company also provided its comments regarding the fourth draft of the Articles and Bylaws of the [[Internet Assigned Numbers Authority|IANA]]. The company recommended the inclusion of appropriate application of international laws and a balance international representation in the Board of the new corporation.<ref>

[http://forum.icann.org/iana/comments/19sep1998-25sep1998/msg00034.html France Telecom statement on fourth draft articles and bylaws of the new IANA]</ref>

[http://forum.icann.org/iana/comments/19sep1998-25sep1998/msg00034.html France Telecom statement on fourth draft articles and bylaws of the new IANA]</ref>

On April 21, 1999, France Telecom/Oléane was one of the five companies (along with America Online ([[AOL]]), [[CORE]], [[Melbourne IT]] and [[Register.com]]) selected by the [[ICANN Board]] to become part of the [[Testbed Registrars|initial testbed phase]] of the new competitive Shared Registry System for the .com, .net, and .org top level domain names ([[TLD]])s. France Telecom's Group Executive Vice-President of the Development Division [[Jean-Jacques Damlamian]] said, "France Telecom has played an active role in the worldwide consensus-building effort that led to the creation of ICANN." In addition, Damlamian said that the company was proud to be a testbed participant and he emphasized that having been selected in the process is an acknowledgment of France Telecom's capacity as partner in developing the Internet at the international level. He said that being a participant strengthened the company's position as leader in the Internet business.<ref>[http://www.icann.org/en/announcements/icann-pr21apr99.htm Press Release: ICANN Names Competitive Domain-Name Registrars]</ref>

On April 21, 1999, France Telecom/Oléane was one of the five companies (along with America Online ([[AOL]]), [[CORE]], [[Melbourne IT]] and [[Register.com]]) selected by the [[ICANN Board]] to become part of the [[Testbed Registrars|initial testbed phase]] of the new competitive Shared Registry System for the .com, .net, and .org top-level domain names ([[TLD]])s. France Telecom's Group Executive Vice-President of the Development Division [[Jean-Jacques Damlamian]] said, "France Telecom has played an active role in the worldwide consensus-building effort that led to the creation of ICANN." In addition, Damlamian said that the company was proud to be a testbed participant and he emphasized that having been selected in the process is an acknowledgment of France Telecom's capacity as a partner in developing the Internet at the international level. He said that being a participant strengthened the company's position as a leader in the Internet business.<ref>[http://www.icann.org/en/announcements/icann-pr21apr99.htm Press Release: ICANN Names Competitive Domain-Name Registrars]</ref>

In 2004, during the ICANN Board meeting in Rome, Jean-Jacques Damlamian was appointed Chair of the [[Nominating Committee]]. At the time of his appointment, he served as Special Advisor to the CEO of France Telecom.<ref>[http://www.icann.org/en/announcements/announcement-20apr04.htm 2004 Nominating Committee Begins Work with New Chair]</ref>

In 2004, during the ICANN Board meeting in Rome, Jean-Jacques Damlamian was appointed Chair of the [[Nominating Committee]]. At the time of his appointment, he served as Special Advisor to the CEO of France Telecom.<ref>[http://www.icann.org/en/announcements/announcement-20apr04.htm 2004 Nominating Committee Begins Work with New Chair]</ref>

[[Category:Companies]]

[[Category:Telecommunications]]