It was before the Commercial Court of Lyon that the Scopelec group, a subcontractor of Orange for the installation of fiber optics, attacked the telecom giant for “sudden termination of the commercial relationship”. The summary summons was filed on March 23 according to information from the JDD, confirmed on Sunday March 27 by an AFP dispatch.
Scopelec loses 40% of its turnover
Scopelec is the largest cooperative group in France with 3,600 employees. It lost 65% of its subcontracting contracts with Orange in November 2021, following a call for tenders. The end of these contracts, which should take effect on March 31, will cause it to lose around 40% of its turnover, estimated at 475 million euros in 2021.
Orange contests the declarations of its subcontractor
Scopelec criticizes Orange for not having respected the notice and not having accompanied it in this change, which Orange contests.
“The purpose of this summons is to enforce our rights to useful notice and our rights to support, including financial, in the face of the damage suffered”, commented the chairman of the management board of the Scopelec group, Thomas Foppiani, in a statement sent to the AFP.
“It is normal for Orange to assume its responsibilities and compensate for its shortcomings,” he continued, believing that “no one can bear to lose 40% of their turnover overnight”.
“Orange disputes the merits of this assignment”, for its part reacted the telecom giant in a press release, ensuring that it had “respected all deadlines”.
“The winners of the contract in force until March 31, 2022 were notified in 2018 of the end of this contract and the launch of a new call for tenders. This was formally notified to them in April 2020, i.e. 23 months before the end, with a notice period greater than usual,” added Orange.