TELECOMS
Orange prefers new partners to organic growth in Africa
The French phone carrier invests about €1bn every year in 21 countries on the continent
Abidjan — Orange SA is seeking to build partnerships in Africa rather than make major acquisitions or entering new markets, as the French phone carrier focuses on its existing businesses in 21 countries on the continent. Mobile-phone operators in Africa had to increasingly share their investment in infrastructure to reduce costs, Bruno Mettling, deputy CEO in charge of operations for Africa and the Middle East, said in Abidjan, the commercial capital of the Ivory Coast, on Tuesday. Orange, which invested about €1bn in Africa each year, would also concentrate on recent acquisitions, such as those in Sierra Leone, Burkina Faso and Liberia, he said, while those three businesses represented 8% of Orange’s revenue, they accounted for about a third of its global growth. "Of course there are some opportunities of consolidation, but it’s not Orange’s priority," Mettling said. Orange was starting new services in the countries where it operated, including the distribution of solar kits, he sa...
Would you like to comment on this article?
Sign up (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.
Subscribe now to unlock this article.
Support BusinessLIVE’s award-winning journalism for R129 per month (digital access only).
There’s never been a more important time to support independent journalism in SA. Our subscription packages now offer an ad-free experience for readers.
Cancel anytime.
Questions? Email helpdesk@businesslive.co.za or call 0860 52 52 00. Got a subscription voucher? Redeem it now.