News
France-based telco adds market number 21 in Africa.
Orange late on Tuesday closed the acquisition of Airtel Sierra Leone, increasing its Middle East and Africa footprint to 21 markets.
The France-based telco agreed to buy the assets from Bharti Airtel in January, as part of a deal that also included Airtel Burkina Faso. The Burkina Faso transaction closed in June.
In a statement, Orange said it has received all the official approbations needed to complete the Sierra Leone deal.
"Following the recent launch of operations in Liberia and Burkina Faso, Sierra Leone becomes the 21st country in Africa and the Middle East to join the Orange group," Orange said.
With 1.3 million mobile subscribers, Airtel Sierra Leone is the country’s biggest player, according to Orange.
"With a mobile penetration rate of around 50% of the population, Sierra Leone offers considerable growth potential," the telco added.
Under its strategic plan, Orange intends to grow revenues in the Middle East and Africa by 20% between 2015 and 2018. In 2015, the telco generated revenue of €4.9 billion from the region, up from €4.3 billion in 2014.
