iliad S.A. (OTCMKTS: ILIAF) is a French telecommunications company founded in 1990 by entrepreneur Xavier Niel. Headquartered in Paris, the group operates under the consumer‐facing Free brand and serves both residential and corporate clients. Since its inception, iliad has been positioned as an outsider challenger, leveraging cost-efficient business models and direct‐to‐customer distribution channels to offer competitive broadband and mobile services.
The company’s core activities comprise fixed-line internet access via ADSL, VDSL and fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) technologies, alongside a suite of over-the-top (OTT) IPTV and voice offerings. On the mobile front, iliad provides 2G, 3G, 4G and 5G services through its nationwide network in France, supplemented by roaming and partnerships with other European operators. The group also hosts a range of value-added services, including fixed and mobile communication bundles, digital entertainment, cloud storage solutions and internet security packages.
While France remains its largest market, iliad has pursued a steady international expansion. In Italy, iliad Italia was launched in 2018, quickly gaining subscribers by introducing no-contract, low-cost mobile plans and launching its own 4G and 5G networks. The group also operates Slovenia’s Telemach and maintains strategic partnerships in Poland and Switzerland to extend its footprint through mobile virtual network operator (MVNO) arrangements. This geographic diversification underscores iliad’s ambition to replicate its disruptive model beyond its domestic base.
Leadership at iliad reflects a focus on innovation and efficient operations. Xavier Niel, who holds a controlling stake, has steered the company through multiple industry upheavals, while CEO Thomas Reynaud (appointed in 2018) has overseen the rollout of fiber infrastructure and 5G network development. Emphasizing transparency, customer satisfaction and digital transformation, iliad continues to invest in next-generation technologies and sustainable practices as it seeks to maintain its position as a cost leader in European telecommunications.
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