Orange S.A. history, company profile (overview) and history video
Orange S.A. (formerly France Télécom S.A.) is a French multinational telecommunications corporation headquartered in Paris, France. The company’s history derives from the history of the Orange brand and the history of France Télécom S.A.
HISTORY
Orange brand
Orange’s origins date back to 1994 when Hutchison Whampoa acquired a controlling stake in Microtel Communications Ltd. and renamed it Orange Personal Communications Services Ltd.
In April 1994, the Orange brand was launched in the UK.
In 1999, Mannesmann AG acquired Orange.
In February 2000, Vodafone acquired Mannesmann AG and decided to divest Orange because the EU regulations wouldn’t allow it to hold two mobile licences.
In August 2000, France Télécom S.A. bought the mobile telephone operator Orange from Vodafone.
France Télécom S.A.
Until 1988, France Télécom was known as the Directorate General of Telecommunications, a division of the Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications.
In 1990, the Directorate General of Telecommunications became France Télécom, an independent operator incorporated under public law, separate from the government and with financial autonomy.
In 2006, France Télécom started commercializing all its products under a single worldwide brand, Orange becoming the single brand for mobile, TV, Internet, and digital services.
In 2013, France Télécom changed its name to Orange S.A.
In 2017, Orange launched banking services via Orange Bank.
OPERATIONS
Orange SA operates through the following segments: Networks, Cybersecurity, Wholesale operator services, Mobile financial services, Business services, Health, and Start-ups.
With more than 142,000 employees and over 250 million customers worldwide, Orange S.A. is considered one of the world’s largest mobile network operators. According to Forbes, it is considered one of the Largest Public Companies in the World.
*Information from Forbes.com, Wikipedia.org, and ”www.orange.com”.
***Video published on YouTube by “Companies History“.