French telecommunications firm Orange has announced the availability of its Orange Money service in mainland France, allowing mobile subscribers the ability to transfer money to other Orange Money customers in Côte d'Ivoire, Mali and Senegal.

"We are delighted to offer the Orange Money solution to our customers living in Metropolitan France and particularly to those with a link to Africa – this is a simple, secure and instant money transfer service between family and friends via mobile," states Patrick Roussel, Orange France Consumer Sales Director.

The telco says there is an increasing demand for the service and reinforced connection with Africa from its local customers.

Recipients can withdraw money from over 30,000 Orange Money points in the three recipient countries and Orange has confirmed the intention to increase the number of points of sale in France, as well as make available an app to expand the offering from France to additional countries.

"For the launch of Orange Money in France, Orange is supported by its subsidiary W-HA, which has an EMI agreement(2) and is authorised to issue and manage electronic money. The technical and banking expertise of W-HA allows Orange to offer international money transfer services with an excellent standard of customer experience and user security," stated Orange.

Orange Money was launched in Côte d'Ivoire in 2008.

According to Orange over 18 million customers already use it in 14 countries in Africa to carry out transactions such as payments and money transfers.

In 2013 Orange launched the first international money transfer service for its Orange Money customers between Senegal, Mali and Côte d'Ivoire. In March 2015, this service was expanded to transfers to and from Airtel Money customers in Burkina Faso, Côte d'Ivoire and Senegal.