News
Orange and Morrison target 400MW data-centre platform for France’s AI cloud
Orange and Morrison have announced a proposed 50/50 French data-centre joint venture targeting 400MW of capacity, positioning telecom infrastructure closer to the growing demands of cloud services and mobile AI.
Orange and global infrastructure investor Morrison have announced an exclusivity agreement to create a 50/50 data-centre joint venture in France. The proposed platform would target 400MW of capacity, backed by a €3 billion investment programme, as demand rises for cloud computing, artificial intelligence and data-intensive applications.
The announcement is relevant to mobile technology because smartphones and apps increasingly depend on remote computing, storage and AI services. Orange is not announcing a new consumer handset, tariff or mobile application here. Instead, it is outlining the infrastructure it believes will support trusted digital services behind the screen.
What Orange and Morrison have announced
Under the proposed structure, Orange would contribute five major data centres across four French campuses: Chevilly-Larue, Aubervilliers, Chartres and Val-de-Reuil. The telecom group would also contribute operational expertise and commercial reach. Morrison would provide infrastructure-investment experience and equity through its global value-add strategy.
Orange says the target platform would reach nearly ten times the capacity of its current data-centre portfolio. The €3 billion programme would combine Orange’s existing assets, Morrison’s equity contribution and debt. The companies intend to account for the venture using the equity method once the transaction closes.
The project is designed around French-hosted infrastructure. Orange says the platform would offer services operated within France for cloud and AI customers, while aiming to meet demanding national and European standards for security and data availability. The company also points to the relatively low-carbon electricity mix available in France and says the future platform would pursue high standards for energy efficiency.
Why it matters for mobile services
For smartphone users, the most visible part of an AI service is usually the app interface. The difficult work often happens elsewhere: models process requests, servers store account data, and cloud systems deliver results back to the phone. As AI features become more multimodal and more deeply integrated into mobile software, the amount of computing required behind those apps is likely to increase.
Orange’s proposal does not guarantee faster mobile connections or new phone features. It does, however, show how operators are positioning their fixed and cloud infrastructure as part of the wider mobile ecosystem. A telecom group that can host data, run enterprise workloads and connect those systems to its networks is better placed to offer integrated services to businesses and public-sector customers.
Orange Business is expected to become the exclusive distribution partner for the proposed joint venture’s colocation and hosting offers. The company says the platform would also support Orange Business cloud and AI solutions, while Orange’s own platforms would continue to be hosted in the facilities. That could give enterprise customers a single commercial relationship spanning connectivity, hosting and managed digital services, although the release does not announce specific customer products or launch dates.
A plan, not a completed transaction
The distinction between the announcement and a finished deal is important. Orange and Morrison have entered an exclusivity agreement, but the proposed joint venture still requires consultation with relevant employee representative bodies and the necessary regulatory approvals. The companies expect to sign the transaction by the end of 2026, with closing targeted for the first quarter of 2027.
Those dates are targets rather than guarantees. Orange’s official announcement explicitly says the transaction remains subject to approvals and conditions. The company has not provided a site-by-site construction schedule, a detailed capacity ramp or a list of confirmed cloud customers.
The bigger telecom infrastructure picture
The proposal arrives as operators look beyond traditional connectivity revenue. Mobile networks remain essential for reaching users, but cloud platforms, data centres and AI services increasingly shape how digital experiences are delivered. Orange’s plan combines those layers in one investment story: existing telecom infrastructure would be expanded into a larger hosting platform, while a financial partner would help fund the build-out.
For consumers, the immediate impact is therefore limited. There is no announced change to Orange mobile plans, no new smartphone requirement and no confirmed app rollout connected to the venture. The practical significance is longer term: if the project proceeds, it could strengthen the French infrastructure available to companies building mobile applications, AI tools and connected services.
For now, the confirmed news is the proposed partnership, its 400MW capacity target, the €3 billion investment programme and the planned approval timeline. Everything beyond those points remains dependent on the transaction completing and the platform being built as described.