France Telecom sees "special case"

Nov 16 (Reuters) - France Telecom believes its British operation is a "special case" that does not currently meet its criteria for investments elsewhere in Europe, Chief Executive Didier Lombard said on Friday.

"I should have said that the UK is a special case," he said. "In fact, the first step is to improve the UK operation."

Orange UK, a mobile and broadband operator, saw operating profit fall in the first six months of the year. Former chief-executive Bernard Ghillebaert had blamed copy-cat tactics from rivals for damaging a once cutting-edge brand.