Photo by: Bloomberg
Orange, the French telecommunications company, announced on Tuesday that its subsidiary Orange Côte d’Ivoire had bought Cellcom Telecommunications’ Liberian unit.
A statement from Orange said that Cellcom’s founders and employees would continue to be involved in the business to ensure a smooth integration and to continue long-standing relations with the government of Liberia. The transaction is subject to regulatory approval.
Orange said the acquisition was in line with the company’s strategy to enter new emerging markets with high potential, particularly in Africa, which is a strategic priority for the group.
Liberia has more than 4.3-million inhabitants, with a mobile penetration of 66%, which is lower than neighbouring countries.
Orange, which has operations in 28 countries, has a customer base of 263-million customers worldwide and listings in Paris and New York.