By Njodzeka Danhatu
Orange Cameroun recently kicked off activities marking its 25-year anniversary of dedicated and committed service to its over 14 million subscribers in Cameroon.
The multinational company came to Cameroon in 2000 under the name Mobilis before later adopting the name Orange Cameroun and has since then been a formidable leading telecommunications provider, both in calls, Orange Money, internet, among other services.
In Douala, Cameroon’s economic capital, on March 14, the company celebrated its customers, partners and workers, among others, who turned out massively as people that have accompanied Orange Cameroun’s achievements it is now celebrating.
Prior to the Douala event, Orange Cameroun caravan started in Yaounde with the launching of the slogan “Orange is here”. The slogan demonstrated Orange Cameroun’s unwavering commitment to Cameroonians.
For the past 25 years, Orange has been dedicated to providing a strong and fast evolving network, service to its customers and partners, and steadfast support for culture, music, sports and innovation.
Unveiling Orange Cameroun Futuristic Headquarters
As part of the celebrations, Orange Cameroun showcased one of West and Central Africa’s largest futuristic digital hubs. It was a tribute to Orange Cameroun’s huge investments in the region. Orange aims to achieve more than 90 percent coverage of its 3G/4G network throughout the national territory. According to data, Orange processes a daily capacity of 76.5 million calls.
“For Cameroonians, we have been able to deploy a network that now covers 90% of the population. We have also deployed solutions to support the country’s digitisation, and we obviously have the will to go even further,” said Orange Cameroun Director General, Dr Patrick Benon.
Orange Cameroun Dg, Dr Patrick Benon, Speaking During The Celebration In Douala
Crucial Social Responsibility Role
Aside from technology advancements, Orange Cameroun has significantly impacted other areas in Cameroon. They encompass culture, education, health, sports and the environment, among others. All of this reinforces the company’s social responsibility position. For 25 years, Orange has sponsored and recognised unique rich cultural heritage in Cameroon’s 10 Regions.
“From centuries-old traditions to contemporary artistic expressions, we are committed to preserving and promoting the legacy of our ancestors,” it said.
Among these are the Nguon and Ngondo festivals, which have been designated by UNESCO as part of humanity’s intangible cultural heritage.
Furthermore, the business entity has helped to preserve Cameroon’s rich cultural legacy by funding the establishment of museums such as the Foumban and Dschang museums.
Aside from that, Orange has played an important role in sports, serving as a devoted sponsor of the national football team, the Indomitable Lions, since 2002, and partnering with the National Football Academy, ANAFOOT, to cultivate new football prospects since 2021.
These accomplishments, as well as those outside of Orange’s main commercial purpose, according to its Director General, Dr Patrick Benon, demonstrate that the company is much more than a telecommunications provider.
“Today, we are taking stock, and, above all, we want to say thank you. Thank you to our consumers. Thank you to the population. Over the past 25 years, we have wanted to be more than just a telecommunications company. We have also been a company that has deployed a corporate social responsibility strategy,” said Dr Benon.
Orange Cameroun has been able to promote maternal and child health by refurbishing over 30 maternity wards and donating critical supplies to local communities. The organisation also stated that since its inception in Cameroon, it has developed 32 digital schools and renovated more than a dozen elementary schools, thereby improving access to quality education for thousands of pupils.
In the environmental area, Orange Cameroun has encouraged sustainability by co-financing a carbon project that resulted in the reforestation of over 244 hectares of mangrove forests and the planting of 600,000 trees. The multinational has also invested approximately FCFA 2billion in the transition to solar energy, demonstrating its commitment to green energy solutions.
Create Jobs
Orange Cameroun has been able to align with the Cameroon government’s strategy of job creation. During the anniversary celebration in Douala, Orange announced that it had trained over 3,000 young people, facilitated over 600 professional certifications, produced roughly 1,000 job opportunities, and assisted over 40 enterprises. The astonishing results highlighted Orange’s critical role in the fight against unemployment. According to its Director General, the corporation established the Orange Cameroun Foundation to assist underprivileged communities.
“We have launched the Orange Digital Centre, which aims to support young people in appropriating digital technology and accompanying startups in developing their businesses in the digital sector,” Dr Benon said.
“So, Orange Cameroun is not just a telecommunications company. It is a company that truly wants to be centred on Cameroon and accompany Cameroonians in appropriating digital technology, always with a strong social aspect,” he added.
Entertainers Illuminating The Event
Looking Into The Future
Celebrating 25 years of operating in Cameroon does not mark the end of the trip. Orange Cameroun also underlined its commitment to continue serving Cameroonians in a dynamically changing industry.
That is why its next agenda is clear: emphasis on innovation through projects in 5G, mobile financial services, and emerging technologies.
This forward-thinking vision seeks to strengthen its leadership while satisfying the demands of an increasingly connected populace in an era where digital transformation is emerging as a strategic lever for Cameroon’s development. According to Dr. Benon, Orange Cameroon clearly intends to improve the quality of service to the community over the next 25 years.
“I mentioned earlier that we cover more than 90 percent of the population. Unfortunately, we still don’t cover 100 percent of the population. So, we have this desire to go even further, especially in areas where there is currently no network coverage for telecommunications. This is because when the network is available, you can see how it categorises the population; we want to go as far as possible. We support Cameroon in its digitalisation efforts and accompany businesses as far as possible,” he added.
Celebration Till End Of Year
What happened in Yaounde and Douala is just one of several initiatives that Orange Cameroon plans to do around the country. However, the March 14 ceremony resonated strongly in Douala and drew a large crowd, demonstrating the operator’s ability to unify people with its history and principles.
The lightning moment cemented Orange’s reputation as an indispensable partner, entrenched in the community but expressing regional ambitions. Orange Cameroun is rewarding its loyal customers and partners with a series of exciting surprises as the celebration continues.
Customers who have been with the network since its inception on January 27, 2000 will receive a unique gift consisting of 2568 data units and FCFA 25,000 credit units. According to officials, all customers can enter a lottery to win prizes such as cutting-edge smartphones, large data and airtime packages, and luxury vacation to Cameroon’s magnificent environment.