Bouygues Telecom network to lift skiers

Bouygues Telecom is to invest FF750m (£70m) in building up its network in the Alps region of France.

Patrick Wiart, director of Bouygues operations in Lyon, claimed the mobile operator already offers 96 per cent coverage in the area, but wanted to boost this to 99 per cent. Over 200 base stations will initially be installed throughout the region next year at a cost of FF450m (£42m), but this will increase to over 900 within the next few years to improve the service for users of the 120 ski resorts within the region. Wiart claimed Bouygues wanted to get rid of the current black spots of coverage which making it hard for users to make or receive calls in certain urban areas.