Orange launches new MVNO partner platform with Transatel deal

• Transatel deal can bring new MVNO brands on to the Orange network in just 6 weeks
• Transatel will target the SME market through telecom resellers and community-based brands looking to introduce mobile propositions

Orange has today announced that it has chosen mobile virtual network aggregator (MVNA) Transatel as a partner to sign-up new mobile virtual network operators (MNVO) on behalf of its UK business. Through this deal, companies will be able to launch as an MVNO in just six weeks – making it quicker, easier and more cost-effective than ever before. This deal is expected to appeal to SMEs, telecom resellers and brands that want to target niche communities with mobile propositions. It will be available for both pre-paid and post-paid segments.

This partner platform means that a host of new MVNOs will be able to benefit from Orange’s extensive GSM network which reaches 99% of the UK population and Orange’s 3G network which currently covers over 93% of the UK population*- more than any other network. With Transatel’s speed to market, Orange could theoretically introduce up to 20 MVNOs each year. This builds on Orange’s existing MVNO partnerships and demonstrates the company’s commitment to expand MVNO opportunities in the UK.

Marc Overton, Vice President of New Business, Wholesale and Strategy at Orange UK, said: “Our overarching ambition at Orange is to become the network partner of choice for new and existing MVNO’s. By partnering with Transatel, we hope to achieve this aim – by broadening the availability, ease and speed with which companies and brands of all sizes and from all sectors can become an MNVO partner of ours and enter the exciting mobile arena.”

“This partnership has been driven by market-demand, as companies are increasingly realising that offering telecoms services to their customers creates additional profitable growth and increased loyalty.”

Jacques Bonifay, CEO at Transatel also commented: “We’ve already launched our MVNA business model in France and Belgium, and we are delighted to be partnering with Orange to expand our offering in the UK. We believe we are the right partner for companies that want to launch their own mobile offering under their own brand in a cost-effective way.”

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Footnote:

• Ofcom 3G coverage maps, 8 July 2009

About Orange:

Orange is the key brand of the France Telecom Group, one of the world’s leading telecommunications operators. With 123 million customers, the Orange brand now covers Internet, television and mobile services in the majority of countries where the Group operates.

In the UK, Orange provides high quality GSM coverage to 99% of the UK population. At the end of July 2009, Orange had almost 17 million customers in the UK – 15.9 million active mobile customers and close to one million fixed broadband customers.

At the end of 2008, France Telecom had consolidated sales of 53.5 billion euros (12.7 billion euros for the first quarter of 2009) and at 31st March 2009, the Group had a customer base of almost 184 million customers in 32 countries. These include 123 million mobile customers worldwide and 13 million broadband Internet (ADSL) customers in Europe. Orange is the number three mobile operator and the number one provider of broadband Internet services in Europe and, under the brand Orange Business Services, is one of the world leaders in providing telecommunication services to multinational companies.

Orange and any other Orange product or service names included in this material are trade marks of Orange Personal Communications Services Limited.

For more information please call the Orange Press Office 0870 3731500, or visit www.orange.co.uk/newsroom

About Transatel

Transatel is a “Mobile Enabler” (or MVNE – MVNO Enabler) dedicated to deliver value to Mobile Users, Mobile Service Providers (MVNO) and GSM operators (MNO). Transatel offers: Turn-key solution & methodology for economic players wishing to deploy and market mobile services under their own brand; Infrastructure & services for GSM operators to easily integrate new Mobile Service Providers (or MVNO) or launch a differentiated co-marketing offers; An innovative approach to mobile service differentiation. Transatel tools & processes integrate into the existing environment from the MVNO and the MNO.

Depending on the MVNO’s needs, Transatel services cover: order entry management, provisioning, billing (post-paid & prepaid), CRM, SIM card and value added services. Transatel’s solution runs on a mutualised MVNE platform, ensuring scalability and cost optimisation. Transatel’s MVNE platform is currently deployed and is live on 7 European GSM networks with more in the works.

For more information, please visit: www.transatel.com and www.transatel-solutions.com