Orange celebrates Botswana penetration

Orange Group Chief Executive and Chairman, Stephane Richard said the group aims to be the digital partner for government to achieve economic and social development in the execution of Botswana’s Maitlamo National Policy on ICT Development Speaking during Orange 20th anniversary celebration, Richard said digital potential still needs to be tapped in the area of e-government and local content. “There is still much to be done with regards to digital schools and digital education, and with creating stronger ecosystems for local start-up businesses, but we are making strong and continued progress,” said Richard. Orange currently operates as a mobile telephone operator in 28 countries in Europe, the Middle East and Africa. The group corporate business has a footprint of over 220 locations worldwide, with specific focus on cyber security and cloud services for businesses. Orange is present in 20 countries and serves 120 million customers in Africa and the Middle East, with strong focus on digital transformation, Orange Money and 4G technology with more than 15m 4G customers on the African footprint Richard highlighted that they aim to leverage the local business’ strengths and resources to offer customers an unmatched experience.“The group’s financial behaviour has become that much easier through such innovations as Orange Money with more than 40m users in Africa by end of October 2018, and in Botswana, where there are around one million mobile money users,” he said. Orange Money provides 700.000 customers with the benefits of a simple, flexible and convenient solution for payment and money transfers. On his note, President Dr Mokgweetsi Masisi said government has committed itself towards improving other ICT sector and driving economic diversification through technology. Government has committed to funding local access network infrastructure to the value of P742, 5 million in 33 towns and villages identified in the National Broadband strategy. “Government investment will complement those from the private sector, such as Orange’s infrastructure development, which runs into millions of pula everyday. I must applaud Orange Botswana for such a commitment to our national development agenda,” said Dr Masisi.