Orange S.A.
Orange S.A. (French pronunciation: [ɔʁɑ̃ʒ]), sometimes known as Groupe Orange and formerly known as France Télécom S.A. (stylised as france telecom) is a French multinational telecommunications company. It has 266 million customers worldwide and employs 89,000 people in France and 59,000 people elsewhere.[4] In 2023, the group had a revenue of €43 billion.[5] The company's head office is located in Issy-les-Moulineaux, in the southwestern suburban area of Paris.
This article is about the corporation formerly known as France Télécom. For the former UK mobile phone operator the company is named after, see Orange UK.Formerly
France Télécom S.A.
1 January 1988 (as France Télécom)
1 July 2013 (as Orange)
Issy-les-Moulineaux, France
Worldwide
€4.80 billion (2023)[2]
€2.62 billion (2023)[2]
€109.65 billion (2023)[2]
€34.96 billion (2023)[2]
French State (23%)
Public float (77%)[3]
132,002 (2021)[2]
www
www
Orange has been the company's main brand for mobile, landline, internet and Internet Protocol television (IPTV) services since 2006. The Orange brand originated in the United Kingdom in 1994 after Hutchison Whampoa acquired a controlling stake in Microtel Communications: that company became a subsidiary of Mannesmann in 1999 and then was acquired by France Télécom in 2000. The France Télécom company was rebranded to Orange on 1 July 2013.[6]
The company has faced criticism due to the Orange S.A. suicides.
History[edit]
Nationalised service (1878–1980s)[edit]
In 1792, under the French Revolution, the first communication network was developed to enable the rapid transmission of information in a warring and unsafe country. That was the optical telegraphy network of Claude Chappe.[7]
In 1878, after the invention of the electrical telegraph and then the invention of the telephone, the French State created a Ministry of Posts and Telegraphs. Telephone Services were added to the ministry when they were nationalised in 1889. However, it was not until 1923 that the second 'T' (for 'telephones') appeared and the department of P&T became PTT.
In 1941, a General Direction of Telecommunications was created within this ministry. Then, in 1944, the National Centre of Telecommunications Studies (CNET) was created to develop the telecommunications industry in France.
In the 1970s, France attempted to make up for its delay in developing communications infrastructure, compared to other countries, by launching the programme "Delta LP" (increasing the main lines). It was at that time that the majority of the local loop was built (that is all the cables linking the users to the operator). Moreover, with the help of French manufacturers, digital switching -- Minitel and the GSM standard—were invented by engineers and CNET researchers.
In 1982, Telecom introduced Minitel online ordering for its customers.[8]
Creation of France Télécom (1988–1997)[edit]
Until 1988, France Télécom was known as the direction générale des Télécommunications, a division of the Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications. It became autonomous in 1990. This was in response to a European directive, aimed at making competition mandatory in public services from 1 January 1998. The 2 July 1990 Bill changed France Télécom into an operator of public law, with Marcel Roulet the first Chairman. Since then, the company has had a separate body corporate from the State and acquired financial autonomy. It was privatized by Lionel Jospin's Plural Left government starting on 1 January 1998. The French government, both directly and through its holding company ERAP, continues to hold a stake of almost 27% in the company. In addition, the government Conseil of Ministers names the CEO.[9] In September 1995, Michel Bon was appointed to run France Télécom Group.[10]
'Roaring Nineties' (1997–2000)[edit]
In 1997, the capital of the new public company was successfully floated whereas the dot-com bubble phenomenon made the stock exchanges bullish. A second share offering occurred in 1998. France Télécom got behind in the internationalization launched by its international competitors such as Vodafone, thus, it started looking for targets at the highest speculation rate of the dot-com bubble. Moreover, its alliance with Deutsche Telekom based on a reciprocal capital contribution of 2% broke off when Deutsche Telekom announced that they were planning to do business with Telecom Italia without letting the French know; even if this project ended up failing.
[edit]
The major shareholders of Orange as of 31 December 2015 are the state of France through Agence des participations de l'État[54] and Banque publique d'investissement (replacing Fonds stratégique d'investissement) for 23.04%.[55] As of mid-2013, Orange employees owned 4.81%, and the company itself owned 0.58%.[56]
Orange Foundation[edit]
In 1987 France Telecom established the France Telecom Foundation. On 16 January 2007, the foundation changed its name to Orange Foundation. In 1990 France Telecom Foundation received the top award for corporate philanthropy from ADMICAL.[156] In 1995 France Telecom Foundation received the top award for solidarity from ADMICAL.[156] The board of directors of Orange Foundation consists of representatives of Orange, independent personalities and employee representatives. Its purpose is to support projects related to health, particularly autism; education, particularly schooling for girls in developing countries; and culture, particularly group vocal music. Projects supported by Orange Foundation are chosen by committees of experts devoted to each major theme. The Foundation has been involved in 300 to 400 projects per year since 1987.[157] The Foundation works with international NGOs and local associations involved in long-term projects in countries in which Orange is based for better follow-up of these projects.
Sponsorship[edit]
From 2000 to 2002, Orange was a major sponsor of British Formula One team Arrows.[158]
Orange was the sponsor for UEFA Euro 2012 and UEFA Euro 2016.[159][160]
The company was the official jersey sponsor of the national basketball teams of the Central African Republic and Senegal at the 2015 FIBA Africa Championship.[161]
Orange was the kit sponsor of the French association football club Olympique de Marseille for the 2017/18 and 2018/19 seasons.[162]
The company became a sponsor of esports organization Team Vitality in 2018.[163]