While 520 million people in Africa have mobile access, only a small portion benefit from broadband connectivity.
In today’s world, access to the internet is considered a cornerstone of socio-economic development.
To help solve this issue, Orange Group has intensified its efforts to deliver digital services to millions across Africa and the Middle East.
OVER €1 BILLION INVESTED ANNUALLY
To support this goal, Orange is investing more than €1 billion every year to develop fixed and mobile networks in the region.
The company aims to achieve an average 4G coverage of 85% by 2025 and has already expanded its broadband customer base to 3.3 million between 2021 and the end of 2023.
5G TECHNOLOGY ON THE RISE
Orange has also launched 5G services in countries such as Botswana, Jordan, and Senegal.
Following these rollouts, the company established five “Orange 5G Labs” in key African and Middle Eastern markets.
One of Orange’s main targets is for 50% of smartphones sold in the region to be 5G-compatible by 2026.
SOLAR-POWERED INTERNET FOR RURAL AREAS
Despite progress, many rural communities still face internet access challenges.
Orange plans to build 15,000 new rural network sites within three years to reach 70 million people. Importantly, all these new sites will be powered 100% by solar energy.
ADDITIONAL SUPPORT FOR PAN-AFRICAN INFRASTRUCTURE
Orange’s investment in the region doesn’t stop there. The company is also spending between €100 million and €200 million annually on pan-African infrastructure.
This includes the Djoliba terrestrial fiber network, which spans up to 10,000 kilometers, and subsea cable systems like 2Africa.
Through all these projects, Orange is demonstrating its strong commitment to closing the digital divide, promoting digital inclusion, and advancing socio-economic development across the African continent.