- French telecom iliad becomes Europe’s fifth-largest operator after a strong 2024 performance
- Company pledges €3B towards AI innovation and infrastructure through 2025
What happened: Iliad Group celebrates strong financials, expansion, and AI ambitions in 2024
French telecommunications company iliad Group has achieved two major milestones in 2024: surpassing 50 million subscribers and reaching €10 billion in revenue. These results firmly position the company as the fifth-largest telecom operator in Europe.
The growth was powered by an 8.5% rise in revenue, reflecting strong performance across its core markets—France, Poland, and Italy. The company’s French brand, Free, added 668,000 net new subscribers and maintained its leadership in net additions for both mobile and fixed-line services. Technologically, Free advanced its competitive edge by launching Wi-Fi 7 in January and implementing nationwide 5G Standalone (SA) coverage by September.
In Poland, subsidiary Play continued to grow with 270,000 new mobile subscribers, even as prepaid numbers declined. The Polish unit led the market in mobile number portability and saw 58,000 net new broadband users. In Italy, iliad Italia added 906,000 mobile subscribers and 142,000 fibre customers, securing its lead in mobile net additions for the seventh straight year. The Italian mobile segment also posted over €100 million in operating free cash flow, offsetting fibre investment costs for the first time.
Group profit rose 15.5% to €367 million, while maintaining €2 billion in capital expenditure. This investment extended ultra-fast broadband access to 7.6 million additional homes and rolled out nearly 6,000 new 5G sites across Europe.
Looking forward, iliad is positioning itself at the forefront of artificial intelligence. During the 2025 Artificial Intelligence Action Summit in Paris, the group announced a €3 billion investment in AI infrastructure, research, and applications. It will leverage internal platforms like OpCore, Scaleway, and Kyutai to establish Europe’s premier independent data centre platform focused on AI innovation.
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Why it’s important
Iliad’s 2024 performance underscores a strategic shift in European telecoms, with traditional operators now doubling down on digital transformation and infrastructure development. Reaching over 50 million subscribers and €10 billion in revenue confirms the group’s sustained momentum, with its operations now spanning eight countries.
In core markets, growth in subscriber base and services reflects consumer appetite for faster, more reliable connectivity, including the rollout of advanced technologies like Wi-Fi 7 and standalone 5G. Steady capital expenditure has allowed iliad to invest in new infrastructure while maintaining profitability—evidenced by its €367 million profit and consistent €2 billion investment level.
The €3 billion pledge towards artificial intelligence marks iliad’s broader ambition to transcend traditional telecom services. By integrating AI research and infrastructure into its business model, and promoting platforms like Scaleway and Kyutai, the company is aligning with European Union initiatives to boost home-grown AI innovation and reduce dependency on foreign cloud service providers.
Moreover, iliad’s operational free cash flow target of €2 billion for 2025 indicates confidence in its long-term financial sustainability amid heightened capital deployment. This could further encourage other European telecoms to pursue similar models combining infrastructure growth with AI-focused development.
