The company strengthened its position as a converged telecommunications operator with the completion of the merger between Orange Romania S.A. (ORO) and Orange Romania Communications S.A. (OROC) on June 1, 2024. Orange remains consistent in its objective to strengthen its position in the integrated fixed-mobile market in Romania for both residential and business customers.
Orange network: continued investments to improve the network and extend coverage
Despite growing challenges in the market, investments in network expansion and modernization continued in 2024 as a key component of the company's strategy for long-term growth. Extending fixed network coverage and upgrading technology from FTTB (Fiber to the Building) to FTTH (Fiber to the Home) is helping to increase the performance of internet services, with customers benefiting from faster speeds and an improved experience. Last year, by expanding the infrastructure and upgrading the existing network, Orange Romania added more than 278,000 households.
The expansion also targeted the 5G mobile network, which now covers 45 cities, as well as upgrades to existing networks for 4G and 4G+ services. Orange has again been recognized as Romania's number 1 network for mobile internet and voice services. The independent external auditor LCC International renewed the certification as the best mobile network at the end of 2024, after benchmarking measurements carried out for all 4 operators in Romania, in 40 metropolitan areas and on the roads between towns.
Efforts to expand and modernize the network have contributed to those in the commercial area. Despite the stabilization of the subscribed customer base (postpaid), the residential segment remained under pressure in 2024. At the same time, interest in digital services increased. Orange Romania is seeing growth in YOXO users, with a 30% increase in the number of new customers, as well as an increase in the use of digital channels, with 1 in 2 customer interactions being successfully handled by a bot.
The B2B segment was an important growth driver, driven by the accelerated development of IoT solutions (+23% year-on-year) and broadband internet services (+9% year-on-year), supported by the continued roll-out of fiber and 5G networks.
Social responsibility: always a positive impact on communities and the environment
To support its carbon footprint reduction targets, by the end of 2024, Orange had 4 virtual green power purchase agreements (vPPAs) in its portfolio, securing around half of its long-term energy consumption from renewable sources. In addition, through the "Re" program, Orange has collected a total of 591,000 phones, which will be put back into circulation through refurbishment or recycling. Also, through special offers designed to promote more sustainable choices, the number of refurbished phones sold increased compared to 2023, marking the second consecutive year of growth.
Orange remains committed to bridging the digital divide and creating a more inclusive digital future. The Orange Foundation has intensified its efforts to provide access to digital education and social inclusion, backed by investments of around €2 million, with a total of 88,000 beneficiaries in 2024. In addition, the largest free digital education platform for secondary schools in Romania, Digitaliada, now has over 70,000 active accounts for teachers, parents and students.
”Six months after the legal merger, we are in an active process of unification, and the steps we are taking now are fundamental to our long-term success. This has been a crucial step in strengthening Orange Romania's position in the fixed internet and TV segments. We are talking about a complex process that involved sustained efforts and thorough preparations. For almost 3 years we have improved the processes, organizational structure and IT systems of the two companies, but at the same time we have laid the foundations for the sustainable growth that we have assumed for the future.
We are focused on continuously improving the quality of service and customer experience, but also on increasing business value through efficient investment in an industry where it is critical to maintain performance in today's technological environment. The local telecom market is competitively unbalanced. After a challenging 2024, we look forward to legislative changes that create a level playing field to stimulate investment. Our global experience shows us that only a solid partnership between the political environment and economic and social actors can lead to an increase in the quality of the services offered, to investments that contribute to a long-term sustainable development of society as a whole," said Julien Ducarroz, CEO Orange Romania.
