Capgemini and Orange announce that Bleu will start engaging with customers by the end of 2022

Capgemini press contact
Victoire Grux
Tel.: +33 6 04 52 16 55

E-mail: victoire.grux@capgemini.com

Orange press contact
Tom Wright
Tel.: +33 6 78 91 35 11
E-mail: tom.wright@orange.com

Capgemini and Orange announce that Bleu will start engaging with customers by the end of 2022¹

Paris, June 22, 2022 – Today Capgemini and Orange confirmed that Bleu, their future joint venture that will provide trusted cloud (“Cloud de Confiance”²) services to address the needs of specific French organizations, is expected to start supporting clients in preparing for their migration by the end of 2022 (date being subject to regulatory approvals). Bleu’s first services, including Microsoft Azure and Microsoft 365, will be operational in 2024.

Progressing according to plan; proposed future CEO named
Since the announcement of Bleu in May 2021, Capgemini and Orange have been working closely together to confirm the target model, validate the technical solution with Microsoft, and initiate the development phase. In parallel, Capgemini and Orange are progressing with ANSSI to ensure Bleu Cloud services are designed to comply with SecNumCloud³ requirements. The new company is expected to be set up in 2022, after receiving the necessary regulatory approvals. Jean Coumaros, currently Chief Transformation Officer and member of the Group Executive Committee at Capgemini, has been selected by the two shareholders as the proposed CEO of the future Bleu joint venture.

Bleu will start engaging with the market by the end of 2022
Once established, Bleu will promote its services and invite clients to prepare for their trusted cloud (“Cloud de Confiance”) migration through the Bleu “Readiness Program”. The objective of this program, which will be supported by Capgemini, Orange and an ecosystem of future partners, will be to ensure that clients are ready to transition when the platform is available. It will enable organizations to get trained, to initiate key preparation tasks, and to run trials and pilots.

Bleu’s Cloud platform to be available in 2024
In 2024 Bleu will be able to offer Microsoft Azure services and core Microsoft 365 services. The Bleu platform will be launched on a geographically distributed set of datacenters in France, meeting high resilience and availability requirements. Regular update processes will ensure that Bleu clients benefit from innovations delivered by Microsoft for Azure and Microsoft 365.

“Since the initial announcement of Bleu in May last year, Capgemini and Orange have been working hand in hand to progress the technical and regulatory aspects required to make this trusted cloud (“Cloud de Confiance”) project a reality,” comments Aiman Ezzat, Chief Executive Officer of the Capgemini Group. “Bleu brings a unique combination of benefits for clients in terms of security, service offering, and the widest range of the latest technology innovations. We are now looking forward to the implementation of the planned next steps so that organizations can prepare a smooth migration journey.”

“As an independent French company, 100% owned by French shareholders, Bleu will bring an unprecedented value proposition to French State and critical infrastructure operators. From now, our main ambition with our partner Capgemini is to make sure that clients are ready to benefit from Bleu services as soon as the platform is available and initiate their transition with the best support and guidance. This is the purpose of the Bleu Readiness Program. Trust is at the core of Orange value and is a key trigger for the French and European cloud ecosystem rise,” comments Christel Heydemann, Chief Executive Officer of Orange.

With this unique partnership, Bleu will offer Microsoft 365 and a broad range of Microsoft Azure services, including IaaS, PaaS and SaaS, in a “Cloud de Confiance” environment.

Notes to editors:

• A biography and high-resolution photography of Jean Coumaros are available on request.
• On May 27th, 2021 Orange and Capgemini announced that they intend to establish “Bleu”, a new company that will provide ”Cloud de Confiance” services to address the unique needs of the French State, public agencies, hospitals, regional authorities, Vital Importance Operators (OIVs) and Essential Service Operators (OSEs).

Once established, and subject to regulatory approvals, Bleu will offer Microsoft technology, including collaboration and productivity solutions of Microsoft 365, and services available on the Microsoft Azure cloud platform.

About Capgemini
Capgemini is a global leader in partnering with companies to transform and manage their business by harnessing the power of technology. The Group is guided everyday by its purpose of unleashing human energy through technology for an inclusive and sustainable future. It is a responsible and diverse organization of over 340,000 team members in more than 50 countries. With its strong 55-year heritage and deep industry expertise, Capgemini is trusted by its clients to address the entire breadth of their business needs, from strategy and design to operations, fueled by the fast evolving and innovative world of cloud, data, AI, connectivity, software, digital engineering and platforms. The Group reported 2021 global revenues of €18 billion.

Get The Future You Want | www.capgemini.com

About Orange
Orange is one of the world’s leading telecommunications operators with sales of 42.3 billion euros in 2020 and 140,000 employees worldwide at 31 March 2021, including 80,000 employees in France. The Group has a total customer base of 262 million customers worldwide at 31 March 2021, including 217 million mobile customers and 22 million fixed broadband customers. The Group is present in 26 countries. Orange is also a leading provider of global IT and telecommunication services to multinational companies, under the brand Orange Business Services. In December 2019, the Group presented its new "Engage 2025" strategic plan, which, guided by social and environmental accountability, aims to reinvent its operator model. While accelerating in growth areas and placing data and AI at the heart of its innovation model, the Group will be an attractive and responsible employer, adapted to emerging professions.
Orange is listed on Euronext Paris (symbol ORA) and on the New York Stock Exchange (symbol ORAN).
For more information on the internet and on your mobile: www.orange.com, www.orange-business.com or to follow us on Twitter: @orangegrouppr.
Orange and any other Orange product or service names included in this material are trademarks of Orange or Orange Brand Services Limited.

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1 Timing is subject to regulatory approval.
2 The “Cloud de Confiance” label complies with the French State’s cloud doctrine that requires SecNumCloud qualification from the French National Cybersecurity Agency (ANSSI), as well as compliance with legal provisions.
3 SecNumCloud is a referential of the French National Cybersecurity Agency (ANSSI) which enables the qualification of cloud services demonstrating a high level of security and trust.

 

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