Telecom network operator Orange has made an investment of €6.486 billion euros (+9.3 percent) or $7.23 billion in 2015.
Orange’s Capex to sales ratio was 16.1 percent (+1.4 percent) last year.
In line with the Essentiels2020 strategic plan, Orange’s investment in fiber in Europe increased 55 percent. Orange has made investment in the mobile networks with the upgrading of mobile access networks and the continued deployment of 4G LTE networks.
Orange connected 5.1 million (+1.4 million) households in France, 6.8 million in Spain and 716,000 in Poland with fiber. Orange deployed VDSL to more than 4.7 million households in Poland.
Orange 4G coverage reached 80 percent of the population in France, 85 percent in Spain, 84 percent in Poland, 99 percent in Belgium, 72 percent in Romania, 65 percent in Slovakia and 84 percent in Moldova.
In addition, Orange has deployed 4G in Botswana, Jordan, Morocco, Mauritius, Cameroon and Guinea-Bissau.
Orange invested in networks to improve customer experience, notably in France, where 3G+ coverage exceeds 90 percent of the principal motorways.
France Orange is investing in an Internet of Things (IoT) network based on LoRa technology.
At €3,097 million, Capex in Orange France rose 10.6 percent in 2015, and the ratio of Capex to revenues was 16.2 percent, led by the investments in fiber (+50 percent).
At €1,783 million, Capex of Orange in the Europe zone rose 3.8 percent in 2015, and the ratio of CAPEX to revenues was 17.9 percent. A large share of the investments concerned 4G services in all countries of the Europe zone and very high-speed broadband in Spain (fibre) and Poland (fiber and VDSL).
At €864 million, Orange’s Capex in Spain rose 5.3 percent in 2015, and the ratio of Capex to revenues was 20.3 percent, led by the growth of investments in fiber.
Poland Orange invested €463 million towards Capex. The ratio of Capex to revenues was 16.4 percent.
At €193 million, Capex in Belgium & Luxembourg fell 10.3 percent in 2015 following the substantial investments made in 4G services in 2014.
At €263 million, Capex was stable in the Central European countries in 2015. Main focus areas were 3G and 4G networks.
Orange remains the 4G leader in Romania, covering 72 percent of the population and deploying 4G+ in 13 cities. In Slovakia, 4G coverage reached 65 percent (+35 percentage points) and 4G+ is available in 7 cities. In Moldova, 4G coverage reached 84 percent (+51 percentage).
At €922 million, Capex in Africa and Middle East climbed 8.5 percent in 2015, and the ratio of Capex to revenues was 18.8 percent.
Orange has deployed 3G in all countries of the Africa and Middle East segment.
Baburajan K
editor@telecomlead.com
