Orange has announced it will no longer operate its CDMA network (Orange wireless) in Kenya and is set to replace it with GSM (Orange Mobile) after a thorough review of its offerings in the country.
The shift will be complete by end of Q1 2015.
According to the company’s CEO, Vincent Lobry, “CDMA technology is no longer able to favourably compete with 3G and LTE, its evolving GSM component. Moreover, CDMA is fast becoming obsolete around the world and the maintenance of the same will not be a simple affair for any telco in the mid and long term.
Lobry said the switch over will allow it to focus on its strategic effort on the advancement of GSM technology in this market.
Orange wireless will be replaced with the firm’s existing Orange Mobile in areas where Orange wireless was the only available option, as it continues to expand its 3G network across the country.
“An additional 41 towns/ urban centres will be open by the end of Q1, 2015,” says Lobry.
Orange wireless clients on 020-XXXXXXX will be shifted to GSM SIM cards of 077 or equivalent. Some of the users especially those using devices which can’t take up a normal GSM SIM card, Orange will give them vouchers from KSh 500 to KSh 10,000 as long their devices were bought in an Orange shop. The device subsidy applies to all the prepaid voice and EVDO customers as well as its postpaid customers.