Orange (www.Orange.com), a platinum member of the Smart Africa (www.SmartAfrica.org) Alliance, supports the One Africa Network (OAN) project which has the aim of reducing the cost of communication and keeping the traffic generated and destined for Africa within Africa.
The Smart Africa Secretariat has emphasised the need to collaborate effectively with the private sector and create synergies with existing infrastructure. Smart Africa warmly welcomes Orange’s collaboration on the initiative.
For many years, Orange has provided infrastructure through its African subsidiaries to directly interconnect African operators. The Group will pursue this strategy by localising voice and roaming data hosting and transport on the continent. To this end, Orange announces the creation of two new international voice points of presence (PoP) in Lagos, Nigeria, as well as the hosting of roaming data for its African customers at a data clearing house in Africa. These initiatives will help boost quality of service and data security for all users across the continent.
A connected Africa – An extensive network to keep intra-African traffic in Africa
In order to always better serve the needs of all customers on the continent and play a role in digital inclusion by allowing direct connections between African countries, Orange is working to:
- facilitate voice traffic connections between regions in Africa, with the creation of two new Voice Tier-1 Points of Presence (PoP). Through these PoP, Orange offers a diverse range of services to all African mobile operators, allowing the routing of traffic across Africa.
- expand internet data network coverage thanks to an ambitious IP and IPX Tier-1 Points of Presence (PoP) deployment plan in Africa. Orange has announced the creation of a new IP PoP in Accra, Ghana (end of September 2020). These PoP ensure a local connection to African and international content for its customers, as well as the exchange of roaming data.
These new PoP, combined with the IP points of presence, as well as all points of presence which Orange operates through its 17 subsidiaries, will allow it to host and route all voice traffic in Africa between connected operators.
A Data Clearing House to host roaming data in Africa Orange has several interconnected data centres in an open, seamless network to host data locally in Africa. Since 2015, Orange has established a Roaming Operational Centre in Abidjan, a global centre of expertise which supervises testing and new roaming routes, either directly with its regional and global partners, or via its Roaming Hub (over 100 operators connected).
To supplement this approach, from 1 January 2021 Orange customer roaming traffic between operators in Africa will be hosted by a data clearing house located in a data centre in Africa.
Lacina Koné, Director General & CEO Smart Africa: “We value Orange’s commitment to strengthen Africa’s capacity to manage and retain her own data. This is important for ensuring universal access through cost savings and data sovereignty which is a hallmark of our data policy. Therefore, this partnership with Orange goes a long way in operationalising these principles and making the One Africa Network a reality.”
Jérome Barré, CEO Orange Wholesale & International Networks: “With the creation of new voice points of presence and a data clearing house for roaming traffic in Africa, Orange is emphasising its position as a leader in international interconnection in Africa, as well as its ability to provide a local solution to African operators for all voice, data and roaming services. Orange’s ambition is to keep all traffic and flows in Africa, in order to contribute to the development of the continent’s digital economy.”
Alioune Ndiaye, CEO Orange Middle-East and Africa: “These initiatives contribute to the Smart Africa objectives and demonstrate Orange’s willingness and investment to facilitate and expand the use of roaming and international voice services in Africa. We are working hard to promote the emergence of a dynamic digital society, a key driver of African development. From this year, Orange will endeavour to keep African traffic in Africa.”
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Orange.
Media Contact:
Orange – +33 1 44 44 93 93
Nathalie Chevrier
nathalie.chevrier@orange.com
Orange Middle East and Africa
Khadija Komara
khadija.komara@orange.com
Smart Africa – +250 781 018 528
Garikai Nhongo
garikai.nhongo@smartafrica.org
About Orange:
Orange (www.Orange.com) is one of the world’s leading telecommunications carriers with a turnover of €42 billion in 2019 and 143,000 employees as at 30 June 2020, of which 84,000 are in France. The Group has a total customer base of 253 million customers worldwide at 30 June 2020, including 208 million mobile customers and 21 million fixed broadband customers. The Group is present in 26 countries. Orange is also a leading provider of global IT and telecommunication services to multinational companies, under the brand Orange Business Services. In December 2019, the Group presented its new “Engage 2025” strategic plan, which, guided by social and environmental accountability, aims to reinvent its operator model. While accelerating in growth areas and placing data and AI at the heart of its innovation model, the Group will be an attractive and responsible employer, adapted to emerging professions.
Orange is listed on Euronext Paris (symbol ORA) and on the New York Stock Exchange (symbol ORAN).
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Orange and any other Orange product or service names included in this material are trademarks of Orange or Orange Brand Services Limited.
About Smart Africa:
Smart Africa (www.SmartAfrica.org) is an alliance of 30 African countries, international organisations and global private sector players tasked with Africa’s digital agenda. The alliance is empowered by a bold and innovative commitment by African Heads of State to accelerate sustainable socioeconomic development on the continent and usher Africa into the knowledge economy through affordable access to broadband and use of ICTs. With a vision to create a single digital market in Africa by 2030, the Smart Africa Alliance brings together Heads of State who seek to accelerate the digitalization of the continent and create a common market. Launched in 2013 by seven (7) African Heads of State, the Alliance now has 30 member countries, representing over 750 million people and over 40 Private Sector members committed to the vision and the advancement of Africa.
