Revenues from the Group’s activities are recognized and presented as follows.
Separable components of bundled offers and related offers: many service offers available on the Group's main markets are comprised of two components: an equipment component (e.g. a mobile handset) and a service component (e.g. a talk plan).
Hence, for bundled offers including a handset sold at a discounted price and a telecommunication service, revenues recognized for the handset sale are limited to the amount of the arrangement that is not contingent upon the rendering of telecommunication services, i.e. the amount paid by the customer for the terminal: this amount is usually the amount paid at the delivery, or the discounted amounts paid over a 12 or 24-month period with respect to the offers paid by installments.
For offers that cannot be separated into identifiable components, revenues are recognized in full over the life of the contract. The main case for which this method is used is connection to the service: this is not a separately identifiable transaction from subscription and communications, and first connection fees are therefore recognized over the average expected life of the contractual relationship.
Where separable, revenues from equipment sales are recognized when the significant risks and rewards of ownership are transferred to the buyer. The provision of an Internet box does not constitute either a separable component of the Internet access service offer nor a rental because Orange maintains control of the box and its usage.
When equipment – associated with the subscription of telecommunication services – is sold by a third-party retailer who purchases it from the Group and receives compensation for signing up the customer, the related revenues are:
■ recognized when the equipment is sold to the end-customer;
■ assessed by the Group taking into account the best estimate of the retail price to the end-customer and any subsidies granted to the retailer at the time of the sale and passed on to the end-customer in the form of a rebate on the equipment.
Equipment for which a right of use is granted is analyzed in accordance with IFRIC 4 “Determining Whether an Arrangement Contains a Lease” in order to determine whether IAS 17 “Leases” is applicable. Equipment lease revenues are recognized on a straight-line basis over the life of the lease agreement, except in the case of finance leases, which are accounted for as sales on credit.
Services: with regards to the mass market and the corporate market, revenues from telephone subscriptions and Internet access are recognized on a straight-line basis over the subscription period and revenues from charges for incoming and outgoing telephone communications, international roaming and data exchange invoiced to customers are recognized when the service is rendered. The Group offers customized solutions to its Enterprise customers: management of the telecommunication network, access, voice and data transmission and migration. The contingent commercial discounts granted under these arrangements are recorded as a deduction from revenues based on the specific terms of each arrangement. Migration costs incurred by the Group under these arrangements are expensed when incurred except when the arrangements include an early termination penalty clause.
With regards to the operators, wholesale connection subscriptions are recognized on a prorata basis as this represents the best estimate of the consumption of the service, while wholesale voice or data transfers (termination on the Orange network, international traffic) are recognized when the service is rendered. Between the major transit carriers (“International Carriers”), transfers of minutes are invoiced and recorded gross (and often settled on a net basis) and transfers of data are not charged (“free peering”). Over-The-Top service providers (OTT) (like Google, Apple, Microsoft, etc.) are not charged for the data they send (“free peering” and “net neutrality”) and hence no revenues are recognized.
Revenues from the sale of transmission capacity on terrestrial and submarine cables, as well as from offers providing access to the local loop, are recognized on a straight-line basis over the life of the contract.
The gross or net accounting for revenue sharing arrangements and supply of content depends on the analysis of the facts and circumstances surrounding each transaction. Thus, revenues are recognized on a net basis when the provider is responsible for supplying the content provided to the end-customer and for setting the price. This principle is notably applied for revenues and cost-sharing arrangements (special rate numbers, etc.), as well as for revenues from the sale or supply of content (audio, video, games, etc.) through the Group's various communication systems (mobile, PC, TV, fixed-line telephony, etc.).
The Group’s commercial arrangements incorporate service level commitments (delivery time, service reinstatement time). These service level agreements cover commitments provided by the Group under the order, delivery, and after sales services process. If the Group fails to comply with one of these commitments, then it pays compensation to the end-customer, which is usually a tariff reduction deducted from revenues. Such penalties are recorded when it is likely that they will be paid.
Revenues are stated net of discounts. With respect to certain commercial offers where customers sign up for a fixed period, the Group offers a free service or temporary price reduction. When these free services are conditional upon a commitment for a certain period of time, the total revenues generated under the contract may be spread over the total period of the contractual agreement.
Loyalty points awarded to customers are considered as a separable component to be delivered in the transaction that triggered the acquisition of these points. Part of the invoiced revenues are allocated to these points based on their fair value taking into account an estimated utilization rate, and deferred until the date on which the points are definitively converted into benefits. Fair value is defined as the excess in value of the benefit granted to the loyal customer over the sales incentive that would be granted to any new customer. This principle is applied for both types of loyalty programs that exist within the Group, those with and those without a contractual renewal obligation.
The public-private service concession agreements are accounted for in accordance with IFRIC 12 “Service Concession Arrangements”. Revenues are recognized under the percentage of completion method in accordance with IAS 11 during the construction period, and in accordance with IAS 18 during the operating and maintenance period.
The Group has a right to receive a consideration from either the public entity or the users of the public service in exchange for its operator’s activities. This right is accounted for as:
■ an intangible asset, if the Group has a right to charge users of the public service. This asset is measured at the infrastructure fair value and depreciated over the agreement period;
■ a financial receivable, if the Group has an unconditional right to receive payments from the public entity. This asset is measured at the infrastructure fair value and accounted for at amortized cost.