Orange aims to drive digital transformation in the Middle East and Africa(MEA) with new innovations in smart metering, NFC, branded smartphones, as well as tap the emergence of solar power as a new growth sector.
Speaking at its 4th annual strategy and activity update in London recently, Ramon Fernandez - Deputy CEO and Chief Finance and Strategy Officer, Bruno Mettling - CEO of Orange MEA, and Jean-Marc Vignolles - COO for Orange MEA, outlined their vision and priorities, identifying a number of new sectors and activities in which Orange can play a key role in delivering digital transformation to this region. Following are some of the Groups's strategies for the region:
Orange Money – With 19 million customers and one billion euros of transactions in one month, Orange Money is part of the Group’s ambition to strategically diversify around mobile financial services. With more than 19 million clients, Orange Money is a proven success and, for the first time, Orange Money has exceeded one billion euros of transactions in June 2016, claims the Operator.
Orange Branded Smartphone - In February 2016, Orange partnered with Google to launch its branded smartphone, dubbed as Orange Rise 31 as an affordable new Android-based smartphone bundled with data, available in 10 countries in the MEA. The new Orange Rise 51 features the latest Android N version from Google, and is a 4G smartphone bundled with Orange applications and popular Google services such as YouTube and Google Search.
Solar Power - To be piloted first in the Ivory Coast, Senegal and Cameroon from November 2016, Orange is providing solar kits or micro-grids to rural communities to harness the power of the sun and generate electricity. The pilot is due to run for six months and the equipment will be wholly subsidised by Orange. Customers will be able to pay by Orange Money.
Smart Metering - In September 2016, Orange will launch Tunisia’s first smart metering pilot in partnership with STEG (The Tunisian Company of Electricity and Gas). The pilot is due to run for six months with 100 smart meters installed in residential premises in Tunisia with up to an envisaged four million smart meters when the solution is rolled out commercially across the country.
NOMAD – an on-the-spot solution to authenticate and activate new customers or services effectively. Orange has developed NOMAD, a new and simple portal, accessible via USSD or through an Android app on a smartphone, tablet or web interface, which provides a fast and reliable service for Orange sales agents to authenticate and activate new accounts or services. NOMAD is already rolled out in 14 countries in the MEA region today.
Bruno Mettling, CEO, Orange MEA
The Middle East and Africa remains a key growth contributor for Orange. Today, we are present in 21 countries in the zone, with more than one in 10 Africans being Orange customers. We are investing for the long term and plan to continue playing a major role in the digital transformation of the region, from providing infrastructure and access to communications services through to developing new models that will help the region grow.
