PARIS, June 9, 2008 (AFP) - Iliad, the parent group of French Internet service provider Free said on Monday that it was in exclusive talks with Telecommunication Italia to buy its Internet business Alice.

Iliad said it was prepared to pay up to 800 million euros (1.26 billion dollars), to become the second-biggest provider in France after Orange, overtaking Neuf Cegetel.

PARIS, Jan 7, 2008 (AFP) - Italy's operator Telecommunication Italia is looking at the possible sale of its French Internet access unit Alice France, an informed source said Monday.

French investment bank 'Calyon has been given the mandate by Telecommunication Italia (to examine the issue) but no formal sale process has been started', said the source.