Orange launches in Guinea, starts Orange Zone roaming (Guinea)

Orange has launched its latest mobile venture in Guinea. Its regional affiliate Sonatel was awarded a mobile licence earlier this year in Guinea, and the company is now launching commercial services in 11 large cities. By the end of the year, this is expected to reach 25 cities, while by 2008 the company will be present in all eight regional capitals and 33 main regional towns. Orange has committed to investing GNF 1.044 billion (EUR 180 million) in the Guinea market in its first five years. The operator also unveiled a new roaming offer. Customers in Guinea will get calls to the five countries in the Orange Zone – Senegal, Mali, Guinea Bissau, Guinea and Cote d’Ivoire – at GNF 1,000 per minute and can also make calls while roaming there at the same rate. Receiving calls in these countries will be free. Orange expects to later extend the Orange Zone offer to other countries in Africa and Europe. Other services in Guinea include the ability to transfer airtime credit to others, and three shops open already for services. Orange plans to expand the retail network nationwide.

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