The company that’s about to buy St Joseph’s cable television provider is one of the largest telecommunications firms in Europe, but has no presence in the US. Pete Abel, the Senior Vice President for Corporate Communications for Suddenlink, says that’s important to his company’s workforce.

Altice, the company about to buy 70% of Suddenlink, will need a local workforce.

“We are still ver early in the process,” Abel said in email, “It will be several months before the acquisition is completed – which is not expected until later this year or early next – and Altice’s plans for the company will come together during and after that time frame.

“It’s also important to remember that Altice does not currently have operations in the United States and will need U.S.-based employees to operate and grow the company.”

Founded by its chairman Patrick Drahi, Altice is a global communications company, with approximately 40 million customers, 30,000 employees, over $15 billion in annual revenue, and a market capitalization of more than $31 billion.

Altice owns and operates multiple company brands in 15 regions, including France, Israel, Belgium, Switzerland, Portugal, the Dominican Republic, and elsewhere.

But not, up until now, in the US.