Orange mobile operator eyes Swazi market

French telecommunications giant Orange which is very popular and is highly patronized by Cameroonians is eyeing Swaziland’s mobile phone market and could soon add Africa’s last absolute monarch to its growing presence on the continent, the Times of Swaziland reported on Monday.

Quoting an unnamed official purportedly representing Orange interest, who was in the country last week, the paper said the French firm exploring ways to have the mobile operator coming into Swaziland.

“Should we manage to be given a licence to operate in Swaziland, we are prepared to invest as soon as possible and give the available players competition, something which could be beneficial to Swazis,” the official said.

Orange operates in 23 countries in the world, 11 of which are in Africa. Other African countries it operates in are Cameroon, Botswana, Cote d’Ivoire, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Kenya, Madagascar, Mali, Mauritius, Tunisia and Uganda.

Swaziland would become the 12th country to which the giant mobile operator is eying to expand its footprint.

It also has footprints in France, the United Kingdom, Portugal, Spain and Poland.