International growth consulting and research firm Frost & Sullivan has hinted that there is a possibility of France Telecom’s Orange starting operations in South Africa as early as this year.
“What we anticipate for 2012 is that we will see new mobile virtual network operators (MVNO’s) in South Africa and we predict Orange could see the market as a key destination,” said Birgitta Cederstrom, business unit leader, Africa ICT at Frost & Sullivan.
She also added that Orange is already in talks with Business Connexion. “We already know that the carrier is in talks with BCX (Business Connexion) for Mergers & Acquisition (M&A), and our prediction for 2012 is that a global telecommunications company will enter the market”.
France Telecom-Orange has however denied that the two companies were in discussions to enter South Africa.
But if that deal doesn’t go ahead, Calderstrom has another option. “We are awaiting the Orange/BCX deal and then we have KT/Telkom (TKG) as another possibility.”
Charlie Fripp – Acting Online editor
