Orange to expand solar offering in Africa

French telecommunications operator Orange SA (EPA:ORA) this week said it is extending its solar offering in Africa to five new countries after recent launches in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Madagascar.

The company launched Orange Energie in the Democratic Republic of the Congo in December 2017 and Mijro in Madagascar in February. The offering, aimed at off-grid rural areas, consists of solar kits with batteries and accessories. The equipment is provided by partners -- BBOXX in the Democratic Republic of Congo and D Light in Madagascar.

The telecoms group is now launching the service in Burkina Faso, where its partner is Niwa. The offering will also be rolled out to Senegal, Mali, Guinea and Cote d’Ivoire. Orange said the next step will include massive deployment of the Orange Energie service in other countries across its footprint.

"Orange wants to be much more than a telecoms operator in Africa. We want to be a provider of essential services for our customers," said Bruno Mettling, chief executive of Orange Middle East and Africa.

Orange expects to reach 12,000 Orange Energie kits distributed in the first quarter of 2018.

Daily, weekly or quarterly subscriptions are available. The monthly subscriptions start at USD 15 (EUR 12) for instance in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the company said.

(USD 1 = EUR 0.812)

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