Portail Orange
Orange launch in Kenya
On 17 September 2008, Orange becomes the commercial brand for Telkom Kenya, the country's historical operator, following France Telecom's acquisition of 51% of its capital in December 2007.
Telkom Kenya therefore joins a worldwide community of 115 million Orange customers and becomes the first integrated operator in the country, proposing fixed and mobile telephony alongside Internet services.
In parallel, a Foundation will be established to develop corporate philanthropy actions in the country, as has been the Orange Foundation policy for the last 20 years in countries where the Group operates.
The launch of the new GSM network, alongside new mobile and broadband Internet offers under the Orange brand constitutes a decisive step in Telkom Kenya's development.
The historical operator will now offer the Kenyan population convergent services in mobile, fixed and Internet telecommunications.
Kenyan customers will benefit from a first-rate quality of service. Initially, broadband Internet and mobile offers will be available in Nairobi and Mombassa only, but this will be progressively extended and rolled out across the whole country by the end of the year.
Additionally, with the arrival of undersea cables planned for 2009 and a pricing policy adapted to the country, Telkom Kenya is setting itself up to adopt a leadership position in broadband Internet.
With 34 million residents and a mobile user rate of 30% today, there is an excellent potential for growth in Kenya. To allow Telkom Kenya to develop its activities fully, €58 million have been invested in network infrastructures since the beginning of 2008.
Today, its ambition is to increase its customer base to 1.5 million customers within a year (from 500,000 customers today), through high quality services and the strength of the Orange brand.
Classified as the world's 50th largest brand by Millward Brown in 2008, today Orange covers all the Group's broadband services (mobile, Internet, TV) and the content published on these three screens, thereby integrating the most recent developments in the digital revolution.
In parallel, Telkom Kenya and Orange have announced that they are setting up a Foundation that will support local corporate philanthropy actions, in line with the activities of the Orange Foundation in 16 other African countries where the Group operates, as well as in Europe and the Middle East.
These activities are centred on three areas: health, education and culture.
About Orange
Orange is the key brand of France Telecom, one of the world's leading telecommunications operators.
France Telecom serves close to 174 million customers in five continents as of June 30, 2008, of which two thirds are Orange customers. The Group had consolidated sales of 52.9 billion euros in 2007 (26.3 billion euros for the first half 2008).
As of June 30, 2008, the Group had 113.8 million mobile customers and 12.2 million broadband Internet (ADSL) customers.
Launched in June 2005, the NExT program (New Experience in Telecommunications) will enable the Group to pursue its transformation as an integrated operator and make France Telecom the benchmark for new telecommunications services in Europe.
In 2006, Orange became the Group's single brand for Internet, television and mobile services in the majority of countries where the company operates, and Orange Business Services the banner for services offered to businesses worldwide.
France Telecom is the number three mobile operator and the number one provider of broadband Internet services in Europe and one of the world leaders in providing telecommunication services to multinational companies.
France Telecom (NYSE:FTE) is listed on Euronext Paris (compartiment A) and on the New York Stock Exchange.
For more information: www.orange.com, www.francetelecom.com, www.orange-business.com
Orange and any other Orange product or service names included in this material are trade marks of Orange Personal Communications Services Limited, Orange France or France Telecom.
Press contact: + 33 1 44 44 93 93
Béatrice Mandine, beatrice.mandine@orange-ftgroup.com
Sébastien Audra, sebastien.audra@orange-ftgroup.com
