Q3 data points - France

Technological advancement brings falling barriers to market entry, and the sacred cows in the European incumbent telecom space are headed for the slaughterhouse. While France Telecom is doing all it can to be a problem neighbor to BT, KPN and Telefonica in their home markets, using the very strategy which has caused it such trouble in France, Telecom Italia has drawn inspiration from France Telecom - in France. My colleague covering Southern Europe reports that Telecom Italia's conference call yesterday contained the news that it is now in 128 local exchanges, covering 25 - 30% population in the French market, and is now on a marketing push. T-Online's French ISP Club Internet is also working on a VoIP product to add to its broadband offering. Let's have a gang fight!