By the end of 2025, all residents and businesses in the Écusson region will be eligible for fiber.
“An exemplary collaboration between the State, Orange and the City of Nîmes”. This is the message that Cyril Luneau, Director of Relations with Local Authorities of the Orange group, wanted to underline this Tuesday, November 19, at the Salon des Mayors in Paris, during the signing with the City of Nîmes for the deployment of fiber in the neighborhood of the Badge. A realization that comes after more than two years of discussions “and nearly forty meetings”underlines Philippe Escojido, deputy mayor of Nîmes, delegate to the Connected City in particular, present for the occasion and representing Mayor Jean-Paul Fournier.
Ten cabinets installed by the end of 2025
Because installing fiber in the heart of the Écusson was not an easy task, the district being considered a remarkable heritage site. “We had to think about the color of the cables, the boxes, the location of the cabinets so that they fit perfectly into the landscape. It’s a delicate work, which requires thought”specifies Armando Melim, director of relations with local authorities in Gard. “The health crisis and the heritage requirements of the architect of Bâtiments de France have also delayed planning for the historic center”adds Frédéric Escojido.
5,000 mayors in black scarves to protest against the budget cut
A few minutes before the opening of the 106th congress of mayors and intercommunity presidents of France, nearly 5,000 mayors from all over France gathered, black scarves on their shoulders, to protest against the drain of 5 billion euros planned in the 2025 finance plan. In the rural communes of Gard, the mayors also contested this budget cut by closing their town halls. Symbolic acts which aim to alert the State to the risks of these declines. “For my municipality, the VAT freeze represents €30,000 less per year. There is also the increase in employer contributions, which is four points more. This also represents €30,000 less per year. year”illustrates Philippe Ribot, president of the Association of Mayors of Gard and mayor of Saint-Privat-des-Vieux, who was present during this protest rally. More spending or less revenue for communities which has an impact on the management of their projects. “We are really worried about the possibility of maintaining a quality public service”he insists. Concerns, but above all an anger that the mayors intend to share with Prime Minister Michel Barnier who is expected to go to the Salon des Mayors this Thursday, November 21.
After two years, the first cabinets were finally able to be installed in the heart of the city last September. Six in total which should be connected to the connection points at the start of 2025. And ultimately, ten cabinets will be installed on the Ecusson representing nearly 7,000 fiber sockets to which residents of the district and traders will be able to connect, high demand for this service. “For individuals, this will allow a better quality of digital life, and for professionals, this infrastructure will be an asset to remain competitive in a world where digital is taking up more and more space”continues the elected official in the City.
Making Nîmes a true “smart city”
For the Orange group, this deployment in a remarkable heritage site is also an example. “I know of other cities that have not taken this approach”launches the director of relations with local authorities, emphasizing the effort of discussions between the different actors to overcome the numerous obstacles linked to the particular character of the district. “It shows that we can do it”he continues. Indeed, if other communities are in discussions with the group to deploy fiber in their historic center, Nîmes would be the only city in Occitania where, for the moment, the deployment is at this stage of completion.
“This enhanced connectivity brings us even closer to our ambition to make Nîmes a true “smart city””, concludes, for his part, Frédéric Estojido. An ambition that he will share this Wednesday, November 20, by presenting the operational urban hypervision center of Nîmes within the Salon des mayors.
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