Following the demise of Nashua Mobile stores, French telecoms firm Orange plans to launch a light franchise model for independent businesses in South Africa.

Sebastien Crozier, global chief executive officer of Orange confirmed this with ITWeb Africa saying that there is potential in the market, as well as high value players targeting SMEs.

Earlier this year Nashua Mobile announced it would close its doors and transfer its Cell C, MTN and Vodacom subscribers to Altech Autopage Cellular, MTN and Vodacom respectively.

According to Crozier with the shutdown of Nashua Mobile stores, there are some independent players interested in being in a kind of franchise where Orange can provide help to manage their stores.

“If they want to provide services it’s not so easy for them because they have to create everything and have to offer services, previously existing franchise for Nashua Mobile stores are now alone. You can go to Altech but if you want to stay independent it’s better for them to have the help of the Orange brand,” he stated.

Crozier said independent stores that want to use the Orange brand, as well as deliver services and offerings to clients can approach Orange to become a franchise.

The launch of the franchise model will compliment the existing online store via a click-and-collect system. Through this system consumers will be able to check on stock availability and whether or not they would have to wait a few days to receive the product, he explained.

“We should open our first model franchise store quite shortly. We need to provide services to our customers coming to South Africa,” he said.

“We plan to open stores in the main cities in the country where you should be able to find our services and products,” he stated.

Crozier added that Orange also plans to launch an internet service provider (ISP) in South Africa early next year.

“We can’t enter into the MVNO field because of regulation… We’ve tried to but we are waiting for regulation.

“So in that case we have decided to launch an ISP because I think that we can bring some innovations in terms of marketing. That’s one of our plans to be able to launch that during 2015,” he concluded.