FRI, OCT 09 2020-theG&BJournal- Orange, a platinum member of the Smart Africa (www.SmartAfrica.org) Alliance, has ramped up its presence in the Nigeria with the creation of two new international voice points of presence (PoP) in Lagos.
‘’These initiatives will help boost quality of service and data security for all users across the continent,’’ Orange said today.
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.
The latest creation adds to the new IP PoP created 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.
Orange is a platinum member of the Smart Africa (www.SmartAfrica.org) Alliance which supports the One Africa Network (OAN) project, and which has the aim of reducing the cost of communication- keeping the traffic generated and destined for Africa within Africa.
The Smart Africa Secretariat which has emphasised the need to collaborate effectively with the private sector and create synergies with existing infrastructure said they ‘’warmly welcome Orange’s collaboration on the initiative.’’
Orange said, ‘’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 said, “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.”
For many years, Orange has provided infrastructure through its African subsidiaries to directly interconnect African operators.
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).
According to Jérome Barré, CEO Orange Wholesale and 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.”
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 is currently listed on Euronext Paris (symbol ORA) and on the New York Stock Exchange (symbol ORAN). The Group 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. It has presence in 26 countries.
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