PARIS, French, July 26 – French telecoms operator Orange said Wednesday that rising sales in Africa and the Middle East boosted revenues in the first half of the year, helping offset the cost of a French pension reform.
Overall revenues edged two percent higher to 21.4 billion euros ($23.8 billion), thanks in large part to the 10.5 percent gain in the Africa and Middle East region.
“Growth in Africa is an essential element of our strategy,” said chief executive Christel Heydemann in a conference call.
An increase in prices also helped boost revenue and help make up for a 1.5 percent slowdown in France, Orange’s main market.
Net profits fell by a quarter however to 1.09 billion euros, primarily due to a charge of 257 million euros for additional costs of pre-retirement programs following a reform that will see French workers need to work an additional two years.
