Orange Pours €1 Billion Annually into Connecting Africa and Middle East
The telecom giant underscores that while 520 million people in Africa have mobile access, many are still excluded from fixed broadband, highlighting connectivity as a cornerstone for socio-economic development.
Orange Group is significantly accelerating its initiatives to bring digital services to millions across Africa and the Middle East, regions where a substantial portion of the population remains unconnected. The telecom giant underscores that while 520 million people in Africa have mobile access, many are still excluded from fixed broadband, highlighting connectivity as a cornerstone for socio-economic development.
Orange is backing its commitment with substantial investment, pouring over €1 billion annually into developing high-performance fixed and mobile networks. This strategy not only expands crucial broadband infrastructure but also aligns with the Group’s efforts to manage its energy consumption and carbon footprint, ensuring sustainable growth.
Expanding Networks and Embracing 5G Innovation
Orange’s approach to connecting the unconnected is multi-faceted, focusing heavily on network expansion. The company is aggressively deploying 4G, aiming for an impressive 85% average coverage by 2025. Fiber optics is a key growth driver, with the goal of bringing it to more African households, evidenced by a 27% increase in fixed broadband customers in the region between 2021 and the end of 2023, reaching 3.3 million.
Beyond traditional networks, Orange is making significant strides in 5G technology. After successfully launching 5G services in countries like Botswana, Jordan, and Senegal, the company has established five “Orange 5G Labs” across key African and Middle Eastern markets. These labs serve as innovation hubs where local partners can explore and test new 5G use cases. Orange also has an ambitious target for 50% of smartphone sales in the region to be 5G compatible by 2026.
Targeted Rural Connectivity and Robust Infrastructure
Recognizing that rural populations often lag in digital access, Orange is spearheading initiatives to reach the approximately 70 million people in remote areas without internet. The Group plans to deploy an additional 15,000 rural sites over the next three years, building on the 2,000 already in place. Notably, all these new rural sites will be 100% solar powered, showcasing a commitment to sustainable and accessible energy solutions.
Orange also invests between €100 million and €200 million annually in vital pan-African infrastructure. This includes the extensive Djoliba terrestrial fiber network, spanning up to 10,000 kilometers, and crucial investments in submarine cables like 2Africa. These backbone networks are essential for delivering high-quality digital services and have led to an almost seven-fold increase in Orange Middle East and Africa’s international connectivity capacity over the past five years.
As a leading telecoms player in Africa and the Middle East, Orange reaffirms its dedication to bridging the digital divide, fostering digital inclusion, and driving socio-economic progress through its continuous investment in networks, infrastructure, and a comprehensive multi-service strategy.
