French telecoms firm Orange plans to roll-out 4G network services in seven countries in Africa and the Middle East where it operates.

Orange is present in 20 countries across the region, including but not limited to Egypt, Senegal, Tunisia, Cameroon, Botswana, Madagascar, Mali, The Ivory Coast, Jordan, Niger, and Kenya.

Company chief executive officer, Stephane Richard said on Tuesday that his company plans to continue to invest significantly in the African and Middle Eastern region.

Richard was outlining the telcos' five-year strategic plan and stated Orange would "continue to invest significantly in territorial coverage, with a particular emphasis on the continued deployment of broadband networks".

According to Richard 4G would be launched by 2018 in the majority of countries where Orange has a presence.

The telecoms firm has also stated that it would "continue to offer affordable smartphones that are customised within the Orange environment".