Compagnie Generale des Eaux SA is to join forces with Unisource NV to provide AT&T Corp with a way into the French market to compete with France Telecom on telecommunications facilities management, systems integration and related services. A new joint venture company called Iris will be owned 50.01% by the diversified water company. The balance of the shares in the joint venture will be held by Uniworld, which is 60% owned by Unisource and 40% by AT&T Corp. Compagnie Generale des Eaux has already lined up capacity with railway company SNCF, toll road companies and broadcaster Teleffusion de France, and controls the Societe Francaise du Radiotelephone SA cellular network operator.
