As a platinum member of the Smart Africa Alliance, Orange is supporting the OAN project and its aim of reducing the cost of communication and keeping the traffic generated and headed for Africa within the continent.
Specifically Orange will localise voice and roaming data hosting and transport on the continent with the launch of two new international voice points of presence (PoPs) in Lagos, Nigeria, as well as the hosting of roaming data for its African customers at a data clearing house in Africa.
“With the creation of new voice points of presence and a data clearing house for roaming traffic in Africa, Orange is emphasising its position as a leader in international interconnection in Africa, as well as its ability to provide a local solution to African operators for all voice, data and roaming services.
“Orange’s ambition is to keep all traffic and flows in Africa, in order to contribute to the development of the continent’s digital economy,” said Jérome Barré (pictured), CEO Orange Wholesale and International Networks.
These two initiatives will help boost quality of service and data security for all users across the continent.
The creation of two new voice Tier-1 PoPs Orange can offer a diverse range of services to all African mobile operators, allowing the routing of traffic across Africa.
In addition, Orange can expand internet data network coverage with its IP and IPX Tier-1 PoP deployment plan in Africa. Orange has announced the creation of a new IP PoP in Accra, Ghana.
“These initiatives contribute to the Smart Africa objectives and demonstrate Orange’s willingness and investment to facilitate and expand the use of roaming and international voice services in Africa,” added Alioune Ndiaye, CEO Orange Middle-East and Africa.
“We are working hard to promote the emergence of a dynamic digital society, a key driver of African development. From this year, Orange will endeavour to keep African traffic in Africa.”
As of 2015, Orange has established a Roaming Operational Centre in Abidjan, which supervises testing and new roaming routes, either directly with its regional and global partners, or via its Roaming Hub.
From 1 January 2021 Orange customer roaming traffic will be hosted by a data clearing house located in a data centre in Africa.
