Fiber optics launched in Les Orres

In addition to speeds 50 times faster than ADSL, fiber offers unrivalled quality of service for businesses, communities and individuals, providing access to a host of services whose necessity and benefits in the fight against isolation and precariousness were recently demonstrated by the covid-19 pandemic. These include collaborative telecommuting, telemedicine, digital TV and other direct services for the local population, which help to overcome the logistical and isolation problems specific to mountain areas. On a different note, ADSL upload speeds are too low and irregular for image streams to be transmitted properly. This is a major factor in the appeal of a resort like Les Orres, which hosts numerous events, including world-class mountain bike competitions, as we saw recently.

From a tourism point of view, mountain destinations need to adapt to the new uses of vacationers and to the innovative development of the service and leisure offer. As well as wanting to connect sensorially with nature and the great outdoors, holidaymakers are also keen to share their experiences and memories with close family and friends, using social applications for sharing, performance and discovery. Today, sporting activities are evolving towards the experiential and the playful. We're talking about the "gamification" of sporting activities, with timed trails, hot spots for souvenir photos in an exceptional natural setting, and online treasure hunts to inspire people to hike or discover mountain life, the surrounding peaks, fauna and flora, alone or with a group. Fiber is a driving force behind the democratization of the mountains and respect for them. In an age of smartphones, mobility and new forms of teleworking, the mountains need innovative tools to develop their economy while preserving their environment. Visitors' stay at Les Orres is facilitated by the presence of digital screens, some of which are touch-sensitive, and by a highly effective "companion-mobile" application.

During the previous term of office, Les Orres invested in the installation of ducts and cable chambers to facilitate the rollout of fiber. Thanks to this proactive approach, the entire commune is now covered by fiber. In addition, 4G coverage has been implemented as part of the white zone coverage program.

Pierre Vollaire, Mayor of Les Orres, praises the excellent collaboration with the SFR teams, who seized the opportunity to build a pilot project in a highly innovative mountain sports and leisure resort right from the start. He thanks the SUD Provence, Alpes, Côte d'Azur Region and the Hautes-Alpes Department, which initially invested in the project through the Syndicat Mixte Ouvert, and SFR, which, having won the Call for Local Commitment, fully met the deadlines announced. "I can attest to the fact that the subcontractors continued to work hard during the containment period, ensuring the success of the operation in a difficult context", reports Pierre Vollaire. The mayor of Les Orres assures Alain Weil, CEO of SFR, of the commune's interest in developing a concrete partnership between Les Orres and his company, to capitalize on the major opportunities offered by very high-speed broadband.

A FEW FIGURES - FIBER IN LES ORRES MEANS :

• 3095 outlets to be built
• 271 outlets built and marketable to date, and nearly a thousand by early 2021
• 735 km of fiber needed to build the intercommunal network

All information on fiber in the Hautes-Alpes: www.lafibre05.fr