Orange's financial results from last year highlighted a strong revenue surge in the Middle East and Africa (OMEA) region. This demonstrates the success of the French company's substantial investments in these emerging markets. 

French telecommunications group Orange recently indicated its Africa and Middle East division (OMEA) was the primary driver of group growth in 2024.

OMEA, encompassing 16 African subsidiaries and Jordan, generated 7.683 billion euros in revenue, up 11.1% from 2023. This performance contrasted sharply with other markets: France saw a 0.4% increase, while Europe and Orange Business each reported a 2.1% decline.

The division accounted for nearly 19% of Orange's total revenue, which reached 40.26 billion euros in 2024. Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, amortization, and after lease costs (EBITDAaL) for OMEA rose 13.1%, signaling strong financial health.

"The Africa & Middle East region once again delivered a robust performance, driven by its growth engines, namely mobile data, fixed broadband, B2B and Orange Money. Orange now has over 160 million mobile customers and almost 40 million Orange Money customers on the continent,” Orange wrote in a release.

Mobile data revenue grew by 18.4%, fixed broadband by 19.5%, Orange Money by 20.4%, and B2B services by 12.5%. Several major investments in 2023 contributed to these strong results. OMEA continued expanding mobile network coverage, improving service quality, developing fiber optic networks, diversifying mobile financial services, strengthening business offerings (cloud, cybersecurity, etc.), introducing 5G in several markets including Senegal and enhancing its commercial strategy with the super app Max It.

Orange CEO Christel Heydemann emphasized that the 2024 successes “fully reflect the execution of our Lead the Future strategic plan.” Launched in 2023, this strategy is built on four pillars, including accelerating OMEA’s growth by deepening its local presence and expanding its role as a multi-service operator.

For 2024, Orange achieved its EBITDAaL targets, with a 2.7% increase from the previous year. Looking ahead to 2025, the group is aiming for approximately 3% growth and is counting on OMEA’s continued momentum to help achieve that goal.

By Muriel EDJO,

Editing by Sèna D. B. de Sodji