Orange has announced it will continue to invest significantly in territorial coverage, with a particular emphasis on the continued deployment broadband networks and aims to launch 4G in seven countries in 2015 in the Middle East and Africa.
The firm expects to have fully deployed its 4G in the majority of countries in that region by 2018. The firm also aims to continue to modernizing its infrastructure and drive the evolution of its network towards all-IP, the cloud and the virtualization of network functions, as well as preparing for the introduction of 5G.
The firm announced this in its Essentials2020, its new strategic plan to 2020 building on the “Conquests 2015” plan launched in 2010. According to the firm, Conquests 2015 delivered numerous successes and enabled the Group to overcome market disruption thanks to the implementation of clear, responsible strategic choices and rigorous management.
Stéphane Richard, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Orange, said: “With the launch of Essentials2020, we are writing a new page in Orange’s history. This five-year strategic plan is focused firmly on our customers. Our ambition is based on a strong commitment to provide them with an unmatched experience on a daily basis.”
Orange wants its customers to benefit from personalized services and enrich and facilitate their lives using cutting-edge of innovation.
To maintain its position as a high-speed broadband leader, Orange will invest more than 15 billion euros in its networks from 2015 to 2018. This will also see the firm triple average data speeds compared to 2014 on both fixed and mobile networks by the end of 2018.
The firm also said it will deploy a Customer Experience Management tool – CEM similar to the “My Network” application to allow each customer to be actively involved in the improvement of his or her quality of service by reporting any issues as they are encountered.
In France, Orange will triple its investments in fibre by 2020 and increase the number of connected homes from 3.6 million at the end of 2014 to 12 million in 2018 and to 20 million in 2022. The firm will also launch Voice over WiFi in 2015 t and as well the “ma ville sans coupure” project, which aims to virtually eliminate dropped calls in urban areas, and will deploy an ambitious program focused on improving coverage along major transport routes.
In Africa Orange’s 4G will compete with Safaricom’s, Smile Telecom’s Vodacom’s and several other telco’s that have unveilled 4G.
