"I would like to start with a confidence. Before this summer, I sometimes had the feeling that the telecom sector didn't exist. And then there were the fires, and I changed my mind. I now know that the telecom sector exists and that in a crisis situation, it knows how to work together remarkably well."
These words were spoken by Yann Breton, director of Gironde Numérique, during his intervention at the University of Territorial Digital Transition, held yesterday in Pau. He participated in a panel discussion on network resilience.
The dramatic fire that occurred this summer in Gironde provided many lessons. Within the crisis cell set up by the Prefecture, Gironde Numérique represented all operators (Orange, Bouygues, Free, SFR, etc.) for the first time due to its neutrality and public service missions. The mixed syndicate thus became a liaison agent, facilitating information flow, identifying contacts, and fostering trust.
This episode also demonstrated the resilience of fiber optics. PBOs (Mutualization Points) continued to function despite external damage, and some bare optical fibers continued to transmit data. Although destroyed cables must be replaced and poles rebuilt, fiber generally withstood the fire well, validating Gironde's choice to bury 100% of collection and transport since 2018.
Nicolas Tarbes, President of Gironde Numérique, wished to convey an essential message: "We were the first Department to conceptualize and implement a Local Resilience Plan. But it's not moving fast enough, and meanwhile, climate crises are multiplying and intensifying. Resilience has a cost, and to prepare and preserve our territories, this cost must be integrated into the economic models of the networks."
