Orange and Morrison Joint Venture Overview
Orange and infrastructure investor Morrison have entered an exclusivity agreement to create a jointly‑controlled data‑centre company in France. The venture will be owned on a 50/50 basis, with both parties accounting for it under the equity method once the transaction closes.
Investment Scale and Capacity Target
The new platform is backed by a €3 billion investment programme that will combine Orange’s existing assets, Morrison’s equity contribution and additional debt financing. Its strategic goal is to expand the combined data‑centre capacity to 400 megawatts, which is roughly ten times the capacity that Orange currently operates in France.
Asset Contributions
Orange will contribute five major data centres located across four campuses: Chevilly‑Lurue, Aubervilliers, Chartres, and Val‑de‑Reuil. In addition to the physical assets, Orange will provide operational expertise, commercial reach, and will retain operational control over the sections of the facilities dedicated to its own services.
Morrison will bring its infrastructure and data‑centre investment experience, committing equity through its global value‑add strategy to support the platform’s growth. The partnership also envisages Morrison’s involvement in securing debt to fund the expansion.
Commercial Arrangement
Orange Business will act as the exclusive partner for distributing colocation and hosting services to large enterprises, small and medium‑sized businesses, and public‑sector entities. The joint‑venture platform will serve as the foundation for Orange Business’s cloud and artificial‑intelligence solutions, while Orange’s own platforms and services will continue to be hosted within the new data‑centre facilities.
Timeline and Approvals
The parties expect to sign the definitive transaction agreement by the end of 2026, subject to consultation with relevant employee representative bodies and receipt of required regulatory approvals. Closing of the joint venture is anticipated in the first quarter of 2027.
Executive Comments
"We are absolutely convinced that France will need sovereign, trusted digital infrastructure if it is to rise to the challenge of surging demand driven by cloud and artificial intelligence," said Christel Heydemann, Chief Executive Officer of the Orange group.
"Europe’s digital future will require significant new investment in trusted infrastructure capable of supporting the growth of cloud services, artificial intelligence and data‑intensive applications," said William Smales, Chief Investment Officer at Morrison.
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