Christel Heydemann, Chief Executive Officer of the Orange Group.

The Africa & Middle East (AME) region has once again led Orange's Q1 2025 growth, accounting for the majority of the overall $66.2 million global revenue increase.

The telecom giant recorded a robust 12.8% year-on-year revenue growth in the AME area, which more than compensated for reductions in other markets. 

This is the seventh consecutive quarter of double-digit growth in AME, contributing to Orange's overall strong performance and keeping it on track to meet its targets, which include a 3.2% increase in EBITDA.

In response to these results, Christel Heydemann, CEO of the Orange Group, attributed AME's strong momentum to its four core growth engines: mobile data, fixed broadband, Orange Money, and B2B services.

She emphasised that Orange's regional approach is paying off with mobile data, which is now the foundation of digital inclusion across the continent. 

It led the region's surge with a 21.0% gain, followed by a 22.1% rise in Orange Money, the group's mobile financial services arm that is still revolutionising banking access for underprivileged groups.

“More than 80 million customers in the region now rely on our advanced 4G and 5G networks. Our Max it super app is fast becoming the digital hub for nearly 20 million users, offering everything from entertainment to financial transactions,” said Heydemann.

Fixed broadband, which is the foundation of digital transformation in urban and peri-urban populations, also showed a significant 19.1% increase.

According to the Q1 results, B2B services across all sectors increased by 17.1%, as firms in the region increasingly rely on digital solutions to improve operational efficiency.

However, Orange's performance in Africa and the Middle East contrasts with deteriorating results in Europe and France. 

While French revenues fell by 1.3% and Europe as a whole remained flat, the group's success in AME markets provided a clear route for development.

Heydeman emphasised that the remarkable performance is supported by ongoing investment, which has increased the Group's CAPEX by 6.6% to $1.56 billion, with significant resources directed towards expanding and improving network infrastructure.

Orange's long-term financial ambitions remain unchanged, with EBITDA forecast to grow by approximately 3% in 2025.

“In an uncertain economic context, these results demonstrate the resilience of our business and the trust our customers have in the quality of our services across all our regions,” according to Heydemann.