PARIS, France, October 9, 2020/ -- Orange (www.Orange.com), a platinum member of the Smart Africa (www.SmartAfrica.org)
Alliance, supports the One Africa Network (OAN) project which has the
aim of reducing the cost of communication and keeping the traffic
generated and destined for Africa within Africa.
The Smart Africa
Secretariat has emphasised the need to collaborate effectively with the
private sector and create synergies with existing infrastructure. Smart
Africa warmly welcomes Orange’s collaboration on the initiative.
For
many years, Orange has provided infrastructure through its African
subsidiaries to directly interconnect African operators. The Group will
pursue this strategy by localising voice and roaming data hosting and
transport on the continent. To this end, Orange announces the creation
of two new international voice points of presence (PoP) in Lagos,
Nigeria, as well as the hosting of roaming data for its African
customers at a data clearing house in Africa. These initiatives will
help boost quality of service and data security for all users across the
continent.
A connected Africa - An extensive network to keep intra-African traffic in Africa
In
order to always better serve the needs of all customers on the
continent and play a role in digital inclusion by allowing direct
connections between African countries, Orange is working to:- facilitate
voice traffic connections between regions in Africa, with the creation
of two new Voice Tier-1 Points of Presence (PoP). Through these PoP,
Orange offers a diverse range of services to all African mobile
operators, allowing the routing of traffic across Africa.
- expand
internet data network coverage thanks to an ambitious IP and IPX Tier-1
Points of Presence (PoP) deployment plan in Africa. Orange has
announced the creation of a new IP PoP in Accra, Ghana (end of September
2020). These PoP ensure a local connection to African and international
content for its customers, as well as the exchange of roaming data.
These
new PoP, combined with the IP points of presence, as well as all points
of presence which Orange operates through its 17 subsidiaries, will
allow it to host and route all voice traffic in Africa between connected
operators.
A Data Clearing House to host roaming data in
Africa Orange has several interconnected data centres in an open,
seamless network to host data locally in Africa. Since 2015, Orange has
established a Roaming Operational Centre in Abidjan, a global centre of
expertise which supervises testing and new roaming routes, either
directly with its regional and global partners, or via its Roaming Hub
(over 100 operators connected).
To supplement this approach, from
1 January 2021 Orange customer roaming traffic between operators in
Africa will be hosted by a data clearing house located in a data centre
in Africa.
Lacina Koné, Director General & CEO Smart Africa: “We
value Orange’s commitment to strengthen Africa’s capacity to manage and
retain her own data. This is important for ensuring universal access
through cost savings and data sovereignty which is a hallmark of our
data policy. Therefore, this partnership with Orange goes a long way in
operationalising these principles and making the One Africa Network a
reality.”
Jérome Barré, CEO Orange Wholesale & International Networks: “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.”
Alioune Ndiaye, CEO Orange Middle-East and Africa: “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. 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.” |
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