Orange Bissau has launched its program to modernise the mobile access network and extend its rural coverage to more than 1,000 new villages in Guinea Bissau.

According to a statement released to the media, the operator has invested 13.4-billion FCFA into the infrastructure upgrade.

The company recently inaugurated the first antenna in the village of Bijimita (Quinhamel sector), which it says marks the complete modernisation of its 3G+ and 4G network, and an extension of its 2G and 3G rural coverage to villages with the deployment of 150 new antennas.

The President of the Republic of Guinea Bissau General Umaro Sissoco Embaló, as well as the Chairman of the Board of Directors of Orange Bissau, and several Ministers attended the inauguration.

Brutus Sadou Diakite is the CEO of Orange Bissau and the company has been operating in Guinea Bissau since 2007.

According to the company, it currently has nearly one million (1,000,000) mobile customers and 600,000 Orange Money customers.

Orange is present in 18 countries in Africa and the Middle East and has around 130 million customers as at 31 March, 2021. With €5.8 billion in turnover in 2020, Orange MEA is the Group’s main growth region.

Orange Money is available in 17 countries and has 50 million customers.