[Press release] COVID-19: TDF ensures continuity of services

TDF's audiovisual broadcasting and mobile and fiber telecommunications infrastructure activities are essential services for the population of metropolitan and overseas France and for its customers. TDF does everything in its power to ensure continuity of service and enhance the security of its operations. 

In the current context of the COVID-19 pandemic, TDF is implementing exceptional measures whose primary objective is to protect its employees and support them during confinement. 

The services provided by TDF for its customers and partners - TV channels, radio stations, operators - are all the more essential during periods of confinement. 

TDF has set up a Business Continuity Plan (BCP) to guarantee maximum continuity of its services: Digital Terrestrial Television and radio broadcasting, telecom infrastructures and fiber optic networks. In its supervision center, located at Les Lilas in the Fort de Romainville (93), TDF has adapted the way its teams operate to preserve them and maintain a quality service. Given the increase in Internet traffic, Digital Terrestrial Television is of vital importance. Free of charge and accessible throughout the country, it is essential for information and democratic life, particularly during the current health crisis.

TDF continues to improve digital coverage of the French territory through its infrastructure rollouts. 

As far as possible, the deployment of new fiber and telecom infrastructures is continuing, particularly in rural areas.
By maintaining this core business, TDF is preparing for the recovery. As a socially responsible company, TDF does not rely on public aid and has not implemented short-time working. The company strives to maintain the highest possible level of activity.

In terms of mobile telephony infrastructure, twenty-four towers and roof terraces have been made available to operator customers since the start of containment. In Polynesia, two towers have been built and two more are under construction. TDF plays a central role in the coverage of white zones in France. TDF offers its existing towers to meet the needs of the population and operators. In addition, TDF is conducting an active tower construction program: in 2019 alone, more than three hundred towers have been raised.
On the fiber side, TDF is continuing to roll out fiber optic networks as far as possible, led by TDF in sparsely populated areas in five départements (Val d'Oise, Yvelines, Indre-et-Loire, Loir-et-Cher and Maine-et-Loire). To facilitate these priority connections, the company is working with its ISP partners. Teams of site supervisors and auditors continue to work in the field, in compliance with barrier measures. Operations and maintenance activities continue to keep infrastructures, equipment and services in operational condition, particularly for utilities and businesses.

To protect its employees, customers, suppliers and subcontractors, TDF has put in place protection and support measures.
Protecting employees is the company's priority in the face of the pandemic. All employees who are able to do so are teleworking, a system that has already been in place within the company for several years. For teams who have to intervene in the field, for priority operations and service continuity, rules have been drawn up to remind and enforce the barrier measures recommended by the government, and to limit travel to the strict minimum, as well as the number of employees present simultaneously on site. To anticipate operations and maintenance requiring more than one person, TDF has placed several orders for masks, and already has hydroalcoholic gels and gloves in stock.
TDF supports its employees during confinement. To prevent psycho-social risks, the company has set up a support unit staffed by social workers who are on hand to deal with any difficulties that may arise. In addition, medical teleconsultations are available free of charge to all employees. As part of its ongoing efforts to improve quality of life in the workplace, TDF offers its employees online sports and yoga classes, as well as tips for keeping children occupied and advice on managing work at home. The Social and Economic Committee (Comité social et économique - CSE) has also made a platform available to all employees to enhance their knowledge in all areas. Finally, the company allows employees who are also firefighters, first-aiders and reservists to carry out these civic missions during their working hours.

TDF has set up a special crisis unit to manage and monitor all issues related to the current crisis.

Made up of representatives of TDF's Executive Committee and members of management committees. Meeting every day for continuous monitoring, this working group draws up and pilots an action plan focusing on personal safety, contagion prevention and business continuity. At the same time, the Executive Committee meets every morning to review the situation.

Olivier Huart, Chairman and CEO of the TDF Group, states:

"The global crisis linked to COVID-19 is of unprecedented gravity. In this crisis, we are present to meet the needs of the population and our customers. We fully accept this responsibility, which is both human and civic, both to protect everyone and to meet the major challenge of ensuring the continuity of our business. Our priority is to protect our employees and support them during this period of confinement. To guarantee their safety while meeting the major challenge of business continuity, we have reinforced the security of our operations. This is a decisive challenge, as the continuity of our services is all the more vital during a period of confinement. Whether it's for digital terrestrial television or radio broadcasting, for the smooth operation of our telecommunications infrastructures hosting cell phone operators, or for the maintenance of our fiber optic networks in rural areas, we are mobilized and are doing everything possible to ensure that every employee can carry out his or her duties in complete safety, in strict compliance with government instructions. This crisis will not be without consequences. The TDF Group is a strategic player in the French telecommunications sector. It has turned its industrial capacity into a strength, even in the most critical times, to contribute ever more to the digital coverage of the country.