• Orange Centrafrique, a subsidiary of Orange S.A., provides telecom services in the Central African Republic.
  • Orange plays a key role in the local market as an important telecoms service provider in the Central African Republic, although it is currently facing a number of legal and financial challenges.

Orange Centrafrique, a subsidiary of French telecommunications giant Orange S.A., has been operating in the Central African Republic for a decade and is the country’s second largest mobile network operator. Despite its important role in social activism and the provision of diversified telecommunication services, the company has recently faced multiple legal and financial challenges, including rent disputes, rising social tensions and Government intervention.

Company overview

Orange Centrafrique is a telecommunications network company operating in the Central African Republic and a subsidiary of Orange S.A., the French multinational telecommunications company.

The company has been operating in the Central African Republic since December 2009 and is the second largest mobile network operator in the country. Headquartered in Bangui, Orange Centrafrique employs 101-250 people and has annual revenues of between $50 million and $100 million.

Orange Centrafrique is involved in a variety of social activities, such as helping children with hearing impairments and silence, as well as encouraging young girls to explore technical careers.

However, it has recently been reported that Orange Centrafrique may be at risk of being forced to move out of its premises in Bangui due to a court order to vacate within six months and pay landlord Immo Bangui approximately €153,000 ($167,122) in rent arrears plus interest.

Overall, Orange Centrafrique plays a key role in the local market as an important telecoms service provider in the Central African Republic, although it is currently facing a number of legal and financial challenges.

Also read: Can Africa’s internet infrastructure cope with the future?

Scope of business and key customer segments

Orange Centrafrique’s specific lines of business and key customer segments in the Central African Republic are set out below:

Specific lines of business

  • Mobile communications services: Orange Centrafrique offers prepaid and postpaid mobile communications services, including voice and data services.
  • International roaming services: The company also provides international roaming services for local users as well as foreign tourists visiting the Central African Republic.
  • High-speed Internet connectivity: Through a partnership with SES Networks, Orange Centrafrique has launched a high-speed Internet solution for businesses, based on IP Transit technology, which ensures low latency and high bandwidth.
  • Electricity prepaid payments: recently, Orange Centrafrique signed an agreement with ÉNERCA (Société Energétique Centrafricaine) for the sale of electricity prepaid top-up codes through Orange Money to ensure 24-hour uninterrupted power supply.

Main customer groups

  • Individual consumers: these include ordinary consumers who use mobile communications services and can choose between prepaid or postpaid packages.
  • Business users: in particular, corporate customers who require high-speed Internet connectivity and who can take advantage of the high-bandwidth, low-latency IP solutions offered by Orange to meet their business needs.
  • Tourists and people in transit: thanks to its international roaming offer, Orange Centrafrique also serves foreign tourists and business people on short stays in the Central African Republic.
  • Home users: in partnership with ÉNERCA, Orange Centrafrique also offers home users a prepaid electricity service to ensure that they have access to a stable supply of electricity at all times.

Also read: Orange launches new GenAI offers end-to-end for French clients

Legal challenges

The legal challenges faced by Orange Centrafrique are centred on the following areas:

  • Rental dispute: According to, Orange Centrafrique has been judged to have to vacate its premises on Boganda Avenue within six months and pay the corresponding damages. This indicates that the company could be at risk of losing its office space, affecting its daily operations and the stability of its employees.
  • Increased social tensions: it was noted that the Government accused Orange Centrafrique of increasing social tensions by unilaterally raising fees for mobile money transfers and withdrawals. Such behaviour could lead to public discontent and affect the company’s brand reputation and customer loyalty.
  • Government intercention: It was mentioned that for certain reasons, the Managing Director of Orange Centrafrique was about to be asked to leave the country. This indicates that the company may face direct intervention from the government affecting its management structure and business continuity.

About Orange Centrafrique

Orange Centrafrique is a telecommunications network company operating in the Central African Republic and a subsidiary of Orange S.A., the French multinational telecommunications company. Orange Centrafrique’s operations in the Central African Republic cover mobile communications, international roaming, high-speed Internet connectivity and electricity services under a partnership that offers a diverse range of service options for individual consumers, business users, travellers and home users.

Although the company is currently experiencing challenges such as lease disputes, social tensions, and government intervention, its contribution to the promotion of local economic development and technological career exploration cannot be ignored.

In the face of these issues, the future expansion of the company’s business and stability of its operations remains a concern, while how it overcomes these difficulties and continues to contribute to the telecommunications market in the Central African Republic deserves further observation.