France's three major telecom companies – Bouygues Telecom, Iliad (Free), and Orange – have agreed to purchase their rival SFR for €20.35 billion, a deal that would reduce the market from four major operators to three. Following government approval, Bouygues Telecom will acquire 42% of SFR's operations, including B2B services and the majority of fixed-line and mobile customers. Free will take over the 'RED' by SFR brand and approximately two million standard contracts, while Orange will absorb under five million customers due to competition regulations. The transition is expected to be a multi-year process, with customers experiencing minimal immediate changes to their services or contract terms, although concerns about potential price increases due to reduced competition persist.