At AfricaCom, Orange presents its latest innovations to democratise access to smartphones, encourage e-education and support the startup ecosystem
Democratise access to digital
In the field of telephony as in many others, Africa has jumped a technological step by
moving directly to mobile. The outlook of the smartphone market is still seeing exponential
growth. It is estimated that at least 660 million Africans (against 336 million in 2016) will be equipped with a smartphone by 20201.
This breakthrough can be explained by several factors, led largely because Orange is fully
mobile: it has established mobile payment services (via the Orange Money service), it
continues to invest in mobile internet coverage (14 Orange countries with 4G) and it offers
affordable prices to provide accessibility to all.
On this last point Orange continues to innovate today by partnering with KaiOS
Technologies to democratise access to digital services in Africa.
Beginning 2019, Orange customers in Africa will have access to a new category of smart
feature phones powered by KaiOS, the operating system from KaiOS Technologies, that is
creating an emerging ecosystem of digital products and services at an affordable price.
In addition, customers will be able to use Google’s digital assistant – the Google Assistant –
in French, English and Arabic to help overcome language and literacy challenges.
The first product to launch will be a 3G smart feature phone, followed by a 4G version later
next year. The new phones will allow access to in-demand apps like Twitter, Facebook, You
Tube, Google Search, Google Maps and the Google Assistant. It comes at an affordable
price as a smart feature phone with advanced smartphone-like functionalities.
This offer will be available in almost every country where the Group is present.
High-quality online lessons for all, everywhere
Of all the digital revolutions, e-learning is arguably one of the most transformative for Africa.
Online education will make it possible to train the millions of professionals the continent
needs to take charge of its development.
Through its “African Digital School” programme, Orange aims to mobilise its infrastructure,
access and expertise to help Africa rise to the challenge of training young people, especially
in digital growth sectors.
The first partners of this programme are major French institutions, like the CNED and the
University Institutes of Technology, and the startup OpenClassrooms for IT lessons.
Today, Orange announces a new partnership with the Virtual University of Tunis, the world
pioneer in online education, which has provided digital training to all Tunisian students for
over a decade. The partnership aims to support access to their courses and training in the
African countries within Orange’s footprint. A similar partnership will be signed in December
with the Virtual University of Senegal, another leader in online training in Africa.
Identify, support and guide African startups
For the 8th year running, Orange will award its “Orange Social Entrepreneur Prize in Africa
and the Middle East” at the AfricaCom Awards. This competition aims to reward the best
projects by African startups that help improve the living conditions of local people through
digital, in fields such as education, healthcare, farming, mobile payments or sustainable
development.
The two-part competition was held in 17 countries where Orange operates. During the first
stage, out of 1,304 applications received, 49 innovative projects were chosen as winners
and rewarded in the relevant country. Then 10 projects were selected and presented to an
international jury made up of professionals, investors and institutions.
On Wednesday, 14 November, the 3 winners of the 2018 edition will be announced. The
winners will receive grants and guidance to develop their projects.
The Special Content Prize, the 4th international winner, will be revealed at the same time.
To discover this year’s winning projects: Orange Social Venture Prize 2018
Orange is present in 20 countries in Africa and the Middle East where it has 119 million
customers (Q3 2018). Generating €5 billion in sales in 2017, this zone is a strategic priority
for the Group. Orange Money, its mobile-based money transfer and financial services offer
is available in 17 countries and has 40.2 million customers. Orange, a multi-service operator
and benchmark partner of the continent’s digital transformation, provides its expertise to
support the development of new digital services in Africa and the Middle East.
You find Orange at the AfricaCom show in the Connectivity Hall – stands D1A, D1B and D2A
About Orange
Orange is one of the world’s leading telecommunications operators with sales of 41 billion euros in 2017 and 150,000 employees worldwide at 30 September 2018, including 92,000 employees in France. The Group has a total customer base of 261 million customers worldwide at 30 September 2018, including 201 million mobile customers and 20 million fixed broadband customers. The Group is present in 28 countries. Orange is also a leading provider of global IT and telecommunication services to multinational companies, under the brand Orange Business Services. In March 2015, the Group presented its new strategic plan “Essentials2020” which places customer experience at the heart of its strategy with the aim of allowing them to benefit fully from the digital universe and the power of its new generation networks.
Orange is listed on Euronext Paris (symbol ORA) and on the New York Stock Exchange (symbol ORAN).
For more information on the internet and on your mobile: www.orange.com, www.orange-business.com or to follow us on Twitter: @orangegrouppr.
Orange and any other Orange product or service names included in this material are trademarks of Orange or Orange Brand Services Limited.
