2020 Universal Registration Document

including the Annual Financial Report

Person responsible for the Universal Registration Document

Stéphane Richard, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer.

Statement of the person responsible for the Universal Registration Document

I hereby certify, that the information in this Universal Registration Document is, to the best of my knowledge, in accordance with the facts and makes no omission likely to affect its import.

I certify, to the best of my knowledge, that the financial statements have been prepared in accordance with applicable accounting standards and give a fair view of the assets, liabilities, financial position, and profit or loss of the Company and all the undertakings included in the consolidation, and that the Management Report, whose cross-reference table indicating its content is included on page 409 of this Universal Registration Document, presents a fair review of the development and performance of the business and financial position of the Company and all undertakings included in the consolidation, and describes the main risks and uncertainties to which they are exposed.

I have received a completion letter from the Statutory Auditors stating that they have audited the information contained in this Registration Document relating to the financial position and statements and that they have read this document in its entirety.

The Statutory Auditors have reviewed the historical financial information in this document and have issued reports, included on pages 281 et seq.

Without qualifying their opinion on the financial statements, in their report on the consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2020, set out on page 281 of this document, the statutory auditors drew the reader’s attention to Note 2.3.1 Interpretations and amendment of IFRS 16 - Leases to the consolidated financial statements, which sets out the change in accounting method linked to the decision of IFRS IC on the duration of leases published in December 2019 and its application with retroactive effect from January 1, 2019.

Paris, March 17, 2021

Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

Stéphane Richard

The Universal Registration Document was filed on March 17, 2021, with the AMF as the competent authority under Regulation (EU) 2017-1129, without prior approval in accordance with Article 9 of said regulation. The Universal Registration Document can be used for the purpose of offering financial securities to the public or admitting financial securities for trading on a regulated market, if it is supplemented by an offering circular relating to the securities and, where applicable, a summary and all amendments made to the Universal Registration Document. The document thus supplemented is approved by the AMF in accordance with Regulation (EU) No. 2017-1129.

 

 

Copies of the Universal Registration Document are available from Orange at its registered office.

This document is also available on Orange’s website: www.orange.com and on the AMF website: www.AMF-france.org.

Reports included in the Universal Registration Document

This Universal Registration Document includes:

−    the Annual Financial Report, prepared pursuant to Article L. 451-1-2 of the French Monetary and Financial Code;

−    the Management Report of the Board of Directors to the Shareholders’ Meeting, prepared pursuant to Articles L. 225-100 et seq. of the French Commercial Code;

−    the Corporate Governance Report of the Board of Directors, prepared pursuant to Article L. 225-37 of the French Commercial Code.

Cross-reference tables between the information legally required in these reports and the content of this document are provided in Section 7.1 Cross-reference tables.

Information incorporated by reference

Pursuant to Article 19 of Regulation (EU) 2017-1129, the following information is incorporated by reference in this Universal Registration Document:

−    the consolidated financial statements, the annual financial statements and the corresponding audit reports, the analysis of the Group’s financial position and earnings as well as other information on the Company’s financial statements are provided on pages 78 to 297 of Registration Document D. 20-0319 (www.orange.com/2019URD.pdf);

−    the consolidated financial statements, the annual financial statements and the corresponding audit reports, the analysis of the Group’s financial position and earnings as well as other information on the Company’s financial statements are provided on pages 74 to 286 of Registration Document D. 19-0182 (www.orange.com/2018rd).

The references to websites contained in this document are provided for reference purposes only; the information contained on these websites is not incorporated by reference in this document.

Forward-looking statements

This document contains forward-looking statements, including in Sections 1.2 Market, strategy and business model, 1.4 Operating activities, 3.1 Analysis of the Group’s financial position and earnings (in particular in Sections 3.1.1 Overview) and 3.2.2 Outlook.

Although Orange believes these statements are based on reasonable assumptions, these forward-looking statements are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties and there can be no assurance that the anticipated events will occur or that the objectives set out will actually be achieved.

The important factors that could cause Orange’s actual results to differ materially from the objectives set out are described in Section 2.1 Risk factors. Other than required by law (in particular pursuant to Article 223-1 et seq. of the AMF General Regulations), Orange does not undertake any obligation to update forward-looking statements.

Documents available

All documents made available to shareholders under legal conditions can be viewed at Orange’s registered office, 78 rue Olivier de Serres in Paris (15th arrondissement), in France (111, quai du Président Roosevelt, 92130 Issy-les-Moulineaux, France as of May 18, 2021 subject to approval by the Shareholders ‘Meeting of the resolution ratifying the transfer of the Company’s registered office).

In addition, Orange’s Articles of Association are available on the website www.orange.com, under the heading Group/Governance (www.orange.com/documentation-gouvernance).

Orange’s consolidated financial statements for the last three fiscal years are also available on the www.orange.com website under the Finance/Results (www.orange.com/resultats-consolides) heading and at www.info- financiere.fr.

In this document, unless otherwise indicated, the terms the "Company" and "Orange SA" refer to Orange, société anonyme (French public limited company), and the terms "Orange," the "Group" and the "Orange Group" refer to the Company together with its consolidated subsidiaries.

1.       Presentation of the Group and its activities

1.1         Overview 

1.1.1       Company identification

1.1.2       Group’s main footprint and key figures

1.1.3       Organizational structure

1.1.4       History

1.2         Market, strategy and business model

1.2.1       The global digital services market

1.2.2       The Orange group strategy

1.2.3       Business model

1.3         Significant events

1.4         Operating activities

1.4.1       France

1.4.2       Europe

1.4.3       Africa and Middle East

1.4.4       Enterprise

1.4.5       International Carriers & Shared Services

1.4.6       Mobile financial services

1.5         Orange’s networks

1.5.1       Access networks

1.5.2       National transmission and IP transport and control networks

1.5.3       International networks

1.6         Research and development

1.6.1       Research and innovation

1.6.2       Intellectual Property and Licensing

1.6.3       Capital investment

1.7         Regulation of activities

1.7.1       Regulation of telecommunication activities

1.7.2       Regulation of banking activities

 

 

This chapter contains forward-looking statements about Orange, particularly in Sections 1.2 Market, strategy and business model and 1.4 Operating activities. These forward-looking statements are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from the results anticipated in the forward-looking statements. The most significant risks are detailed in Section 2.1 Risk factors.

1.1    Overview

Orange is one of the world’s leading telecommunications operators with revenue of 42.3 billion euros in 2020 and 142,000 employees worldwide at December 31, 2020, including 82,000 in France. The Group has a total customer base of 259 million customers worldwide at December 31, 2020, including 214 million mobile customers and 22 million fixed broadband customers. The Group is present in 26 countries. Orange is also a leading provider of global IT and telecommunication services to multinational companies, under the brand Orange Business Services. In December 2019, the Group presented its new "Engage 2025" strategic plan, which, guided by social and environmental accountability, aims to reinvent its operator model. Whilst accelerating in growth areas and placing data and AI at the heart of its innovation model, the Group will be an attractive and responsible employer, adapted to emerging professions.

Orange SA has been listed since 1997 on Euronext Paris (symbol: ORA) and on the New York Stock Exchange (symbol: ORAN).

1.1.1    Company identification

Company name: Orange

Place and registration number:

Paris Trade and Companies Register (Registre du commerce et des sociétés) 380 129 866 APE (principal activity) code: 6110Z

Legal Entity Identifier (LEI): 969500MCOONR8990S771

Date of incorporation and term:

Orange SA was incorporated as a French société anonyme (a public limited company under French law) on December 31, 1996 for a 99-year term. Barring early liquidation or extension, the Company will expire on December 31, 2095.

Registered office:

78, rue Olivier de Serres, 75015 Paris, France

From May 18, 2021: 111, quai du Président Roosevelt in Issy-les-Moulineaux (92130), subject to ratification of the transfer of the registered office by the Shareholders’ Meeting of May 18, 2021.

Telephone: + 33 (0)1 44 44 22 22

Website: www.orange.com

Legal form and legislation applicable:

Orange is governed by French corporate law subject to specific laws governing the Company, notably Act 90/568 of July 2, 1990 on the organization of public postal services and France Telecom, as amended.

The regulations applicable to Orange as a result of its operations are described in Section 1.7 Regulation of activities.

Purpose: "As a trusted partner, Orange gives everyone the keys to a responsible digital world".

The purpose of Orange, included in Article 2 Corporate scope and Purpose of the By-laws, is part of the Strategic Plan, Engage 2025, which is guided by exemplary social and environmental conduct. See Chapter 4 Non-financial performance, Section Orange’s Purpose.

Corporate scope:

The Company’s corporate scope, in France and abroad, specifically pursuant to the French Postal & Electronic Communications Code, shall be:

−    to provide all electronic communication services in internal and international relations;

−    to carry out activities related to public service and, in particular, to provide, where applicable, a universal telecommunications service and other mandatory services;

−    to establish, develop and operate all electronic communications networks open to the public necessary for providing said services and to interconnect the same with other French and foreign networks open to the public;

−    to provide all other services, facilities, handset equipment, electronic communications networks, and to establish and operate all networks distributing audiovisual services, and especially radio, television and multimedia broadcasting services;

−    to set up, acquire, rent or manage all real-estate or other assets and businesses, to lease, install and operate all structures, businesses, factories and workshops related to any of the purposes defined above;

−    to obtain, acquire, operate or transfer all processes and patents related to any of the purposes defined above;

−    to participate directly or indirectly in all transactions that may be related to any of the purposes defined above, through the creation of new companies or enterprises, the contribution, subscription or purchase of securities or corporate rights, acquisitions of interests, mergers, partnerships, or by any other means;

−    and more generally, all industrial, commercial and financial transactions, or transactions involving movable or fixed assets, that may be related directly or indirectly, in whole or in part, to any of the aforementioned corporate purposes, or to any similar or related purposes, or to any and all purposes that may enhance or develop the Company’s business.

1.1.2    Group’s main footprint and key figures

1.1.3    Organizational structure

Orange SA is the parent company of the Orange group and also carries the bulk of the Group’s activities in France.

The list of the main consolidated entities of the Orange group at December 31, 2020 is provided in Note 20 to the consolidated financial statements (Section 3.3).

The Group’s organizational structure is reflected in the composition of the Executive Committee (see Section 5.1.3).

Geographical divisions •     France •     Europe •     Africa and Middle East

Cross-cutting divisions •     Orange Business Services •     Mobile Financial Services •     Wholesale and International Networks •     Cyberdefense •     Orange Content

Cross-cutting functions •     Finance, Performance and Development •     Human Resources and Group transformation •     Technology and Innovation •     General Secretariat •     Strategy •     Communication, Brand, and Commitment •     CSR, Diversity and Solidarity

 

 

1.1.4    History

Orange, formerly France Telecom, is France’s incumbent telecommunications operator. The Group has its origins in the Ministry for Mail, Telegraphs and Telephone, later to become the General Directorate of Telecommunications, which in 1990 was accorded the status of independent public entity and, on January 1, 1991, renamed France Telecom. On December 31, 1996, France Telecom became a société anonyme (limited company). In October 1997, France Telecom shares were listed on the Paris and New York stock exchanges, allowing the French government the disposal of 25% of its shares to the public and Group employees. Subsequently, the public sector gradually reduced its holding to 53%. The law of December 31, 2003 authorized the transfer of the Company to the private sector and between 2004 and 2008 the public sector sold a further 26% of the capital, and then again 4% in 2014 and 2015. On December 31, 2020, the French State retained 22.95% of the share capital, held either directly or jointly with Bpifrance Participations.

France Telecom’s area of activity and its regulatory and competitive environment have undergone significant changes since the 1990s. In a context of increased deregulation and competition, the Group has, over that period, undertaken several strategic investments, in particular the acquisition of the mobile operator Orange Plc and its brand created in 1994, and the acquisition of a controlling stake in Poland’s incumbent operator, Telekomunikacja Polska.

Since 2005, the Group has expanded strategically in Spain by acquiring the mobile operator Amena, then in 2015 the fixed-line operator Jazztel.

Over the last fifteen years, the Group has pursued a policy of selective, value-creating acquisitions by concentrating on the markets in which it is already present. Mainly targeting the emerging markets of Africa and the Middle East where the Group is historically present (in particular Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, Guinea, Jordan, Mali and Senegal), this strategy was implemented through the acquisition of Mobinil in Egypt (2010) and of Méditel in Morocco (2015) and more recently by the acquisition of a number of African operators (in Liberia, Burkina Faso, Sierra Leone and the Democratic Republic of the Congo) (2016).

It also resulted in the joint venture with Deutsche Telekom that combined UK activities under the EE brand (2010) followed by the disposal of EE in 2016, as well as the disposal of Orange Suisse (2012), Orange Dominicana (2014), Orange Armenia (2015) and Telkom Kenya (2016).

As part of its corporate services and since the acquisition of Equant in 2000, Orange has been pursuing its strategy of becoming a global player in digital transformation and has accelerated its shift to services through a number of targeted acquisitions, notably in the fields of cyber security and Cloud services, such as those of Business & Decision and Basefarm in 2018 and SecureLink and SecureData in 2019.

Business diversification is one of the major pillars of Orange’s strategy. The acquisition of Groupama Banque, now Orange Bank, in 2016, which launched its new banking offer in November 2017, illustrates the goal of diversifying into the mobile financial services sector.

In 2006, Orange became the Group’s main brand for Internet, television and mobile telephony services in the majority of countries where it operated, most importantly France and Spain. In 2013, the Company adopted the Orange name, offering the full range of its telephony services in France under the Orange brand. This policy continued with the adoption of the Orange brand by Telekomunikacja Polska in 2013, by Mobinil in Egypt, Mobistar in Belgium and Méditel in Morocco in 2016, and by several of the Group’s subsidiaries in Africa in 2017. Corporate services in the world are offered primarily under the brand Orange Business Services.

In December 2019, the Group presented its new strategic plan, Engage 2025, which looks to reinvent its operator model, guided by exemplary social and environmental conduct. For more information on Orange’s strategic plan and its business model, see Section 1.2 Market, strategy and business model.

1.2    Market, strategy and business model

1.2.1    The global digital services market

The digital services market is a subsector of the broader Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) sector. It combines IT services and software, telecom services, digital content TV and video services, and Internet services. However, it does not include network equipment or telecommunication devices ^[1]. The digital services market offers significant sources of value creation through the spread of new services and new uses. It has been a vital component of the economy since the start of the health crisis. Digital technology has become essential to maintaining economic activity and social ties (widespread use of telework during periods of lockdown, maintenance of essential services, entertainment, etc.).

In 2020, the global digital services market amounted to 3,630 billion euros. The Covid-19 pandemic had a significant impact on market trends, leaving it down 0.8% over the year (instead of the 5.4% growth projected in p-Covid forecasts). The impact varied greatly from one sector to another. The IT services market, for instance, experienced a sharp drop of 4.8% (compared with projected growth of 7.2% before the pandemic), whereas the impact was close to zero on revenues from telecom services, which remained more or less flat (+0.6%) at 1,161 billion euros. The numbers were more mixed for Internet services (+4.7%) and content services (+0.7%), where strong pressure on advertising revenues was offset by huge demand for entertainment services and e-commerce ^[2]. For a presentation of the global business services market, see Section 1.4.5 Enterprise.

Source: IDATE DigiWorld 2021.

Market growth by region ^[3]

In 2020, North America (excluding Mexico) remained the world’s leading region in the digital services market with 35.1% of global market revenues, ahead of Asia-Pacific, which is catching up at 32.5%, driven by its economic and industrial development. Europe is losing ground, with 23% of the global market, while Africa and the Middle East (4.7%) and Latin America (4.8%) together account for nearly 10%. In Africa and the Middle East, digital market growth is estimated at 2.3% in 2020 (compared with 5.3% in p-Covid-19 estimates).

The impact of the Covid-19 pandemic has varied from one region to another. Europe, and even more so North America, have been badly affected, with differences of 7.3 and 8.2 percentage points respectively between p-Covid forecasts for 2020 and the current IDATE projections, whereas Asia-Pacific lost only 3.3 points between the two measures - probably reflecting an earlier recovery, particularly in China. In Africa and the Middle East, the gap is limited to 3 points - and just under 2 points in the region’s telecom markets only.

With Africa projected to account for 25% of the world’s population in 2050, up from 17% in 2020, the potential of the Africa and Middle East region, where the Orange group has a broad footprint, is huge.

According to the GSMA report, The Mobile Economy, Sub-Saharan Africa 2020, the Covid-19 pandemic has demonstrated the importance of a strong and inclusive digital economy, supported by universal access to a fast and reliable Internet network and a range of digital services, for individuals and businesses alike. And with nearly 800 million people in the region still not connected to the mobile Internet, bridging the digital divide has never been more pressing. The report states that 45% of the population in Sub-Saharan Africa had subscribed to mobile services by the end of 2019. That percentage is expected to reach 50% by 2025. In absolute terms, the number of subscribers is set to reach 500 million in 2021 and the number of mobile connections 1 billion in 2024, with a penetration rate of 50% of the population by 2025. Africa thus remains a region of strong growth in connectivity and digital services ^[4].

Key social and environmental trends for 2025

At the demographic level, a dramatic increase in the African population is expected in the coming years as large numbers of young people will reach adult age.

With the increase in the number of extreme weather and climatic events, the immediate impacts of climate change have become more tangible. The tech industry, which consumes a great amount of data, is directly concerned: the boom in data could account for nearly 20% of global electricity consumption by 2025 (source: ICT Footprint EU, European Framework Initiative for Energy & Environmental Efficiency in the ICT Sector). However, digital technology is also a tool for the energy transition, because it provides other sectors with innovative solutions to reduce their environmental impact (mobility, industry, agriculture, housing, energy). In the years to 2025, major technological developments (AI, Data, Cloud, 5G, etc.) are poised to transform all business sectors, affecting professions across the board and laying down new skills and expertise challenges to businesses.

Key changes in telecom services

Network development and growth in telecommunication uses worldwide

While Internet access networks are expanding mainly through the rollout of mobile 4G networks in Africa and the Middle East, network investments in Europe are focused on very high-speed broadband access, with the development of fiber in the fixed-line segment, improved performance of 4G mobile networks and commercial launches of 5G. At the same time, operators are constantly upgrading their networks in a bid to make them more agile and easier to manage (through the virtualization of network functions and automation), and to optimize their value through pooling.

Constraints related to the pandemic (lockdown measures, widespread telework, heightened need for cybersecurity) have greatly accelerated the take-up of new uses accessible via a multiplicity of screens (computers, smartphones, tablets, connected TV), thanks to the resilience and increased capacity of existing networks and the penetration of smartphones. Lastly, the development of 5G technology has prompted the emergence of new use cases, both for companies, for which 5G is already a real breakthrough (optimization of production times, remote control of machines, predictive maintenance, etc.), and for the general public (immersive videos, Cloud gaming).

Consumer and company expectations

The health crisis and global lockdown have turned connectivity into a vital need. More than simply providing services for daily life, the Internet is now essential for individuals to work, eat, look after themselves and maintain social ties, and for companies to ensure their survival or growth, by accelerating their digitization (telework, e-commerce, etc.). With the expansion of telework, business customers now see cybersecurity as a vital means of addressing the shifting types of attacks and phishing maneuvers. The need for cybersecurity is now critical for people, companies and governments. Gartner sees the cybersecurity market representing 186 billion US dollars in 2024 (source: Gartner - Forecast: Information Security and Risk Management Worldwide, July 2020).

More than ever, customers expect quality coverage and continuous network reliability everywhere, but also the protection of their personal data based on a relationship of trust with their operator. On top of those expectations, society is increasingly demanding greater transparency from companies, more commitment in respect of major environmental and social issues, and a greater presence in the regions and other areas.

Transformation of the telecom industry

Against this new backdrop, the transformation of the telecom industry has gathered pace. OTT players have continued to gain ground, and are more than ever leveraging the digital services they offer in the B2C and B2B markets. They have become increasingly important, particularly in communication services for companies (telework), e-commerce and entertainment. Moreover, the major digital players are speeding up the development of their own infrastructure by building new Data centers and international networks that they are promoting in the B2B and wholesale markets.

At the same time, European operators need to continue to invest massively in the networks of the future to meet ever-growing demand for connectivity, against the backdrop of intense competition and heightened regulatory requirements. This imposes significant financial constraints on the entire industry, leading operators to make structuring decisions in their choice of telecom infrastructure. To better capitalize on them, operators will have to further pool or share their networks, and even sell part or all of their infrastructure to financial funds and/or infrastructure companies.

1.2.2    The Orange group strategy

The Engage 2025 strategic plan, which combines growth and responsibility, is based on an environmental and social commitment and four ambitions:

1.    Reinventing Orange’s operator model;

2.    Accelerating in growth areas;

3.    Placing data and AI at the heart of the innovation model;

4.    Co-creating a future-facing company.

In this plan for 2025, launched in December 2019, Orange has for the first time made the clear and committed choice to place its social responsibility at the heart of its strategic vision. With Engage 2025, the Group aims to play its part in building a more sustainable and inclusive world by focusing its CSR initiatives on two main areas: the fight against global warming and digital exclusion.

A strong commitment guided by social and environmental responsibility

The Group has adopted a business model that is committed and accountable to its employees, its customers and society as a whole. And it is giving itself the resources to finance its environmental and social plans with the completion of an inaugural 500 million euro sustainable bond issue in September 2020 and the announcement that some of the 2.2 billion euros in funding received in December will be used to ramp up a number of projects including the rollout of Orange Digital Centers and the financing of carbon sinks (see Section 1.3 Significant events).

Commitment to inclusion

The Covid-19 pandemic has confirmed the pressing need for this commitment, as the economic crisis is likely to exacerbate inequalities in access to digital technology. In addition to its ambitions for the digital coverage of regional areas, Orange trains and supports the digitally excluded so that everybody can reap the benefits of the digital revolution. The Group has thus opened its first three Orange Digital Centers to promote more inclusive digital uses. Since June 15, 2020, Orange Polska has been holding free webinars on the digital world for the elderly with the Senior Economy Institute in Poland. After gigas solidarios in Spain, and the coup de pouce offer in France, a new offer for low-income households, Tarifa social, was launched in Spain in September. 2020 also saw Orange join forces with Google to launch the Orange Sanza Touch, the most affordable advanced Android 4G smartphone on the market, thereby improving access to the mobile Internet in Africa.

Environmental commitment

In response to the challenge of climate change, the Group has set itself the goal of bringing forward the GSMA objectives by 10 years, reaching Net Zero Carbon ^[5] by 2040, despite the surge in network data, which has been compounded by the health crisis. To that end, the Group is making unprecedented efforts to improve energy efficiency, increase the use of renewable energies and adopt circular economy principles. In July 2020, Orange signed its first renewable electricity purchase agreement in France with Boralex Europe, the leading independent French producer of onshore wind (see Section 1.3 Significant events). In September, with its "re" program in France, the Group undertook to recycle, return and recondition mobile phones. Lastly, Orange Polska has launched a pilot project to monitor air quality in schools, completed the Warsaw Data Hub, a new data center built to demanding safety standards and equipped with the latest technologies and sustainable solutions, and installed two wind farms near Poznań to supply itself with clean energy. Since 2015, the Group has reduced its CO₂ emissions by 12%.

For more information, see Section 2.2.4.4.1 Orange’s environmental commitment.

Four bold ambitions to tackle a changing ecosystem

Reinventing its operator model by capitalizing on its leading position in networks

Despite the effects of an unprecedented health and economic crisis, Orange has begun rolling out its Engage 2025 strategic plan, demonstrating the robustness of its networks and its resilience in all of its markets. During the crisis, society’s increasing digitization allowed Orange customers to continue to work, play, train, learn and stay in touch, highlighting the value of the Group’s networks. At the end of 2020, Orange’s mobile network was ranked by Arcep as the best in mainland France for the tenth consecutive year, and the best in rural areas in France (see Section 1.3 Significant events).

In 2020, the Group stepped up the rollout of its fixed and mobile broadband networks, benefiting from joint funding of the fiber network in France driven by a health environment making the quality of connectivity more essential than ever. Whether through its own infrastructure or the use of third-party networks, Orange aims to be able to offer its FTTH packages to more than 65 million households in Europe by 2023, thereby entrenching its leadership in fiber in Europe. See Section 1.3 Significant events.

In November, Orange acquired 54% of Telekom Romania Communications, Romania’s second-largest fixed-line operator, a major step towards becoming the leading convergent player in that country (see Section 1.3 Significant events).

Faster digital development for regional communities

The Group continues to improve mobile coverage in France: in 2020, for instance, thousands of kilometers of motorway and 100% of the metro networks in Paris, Toulouse, Rennes and Lyon were covered by 4G. The agreement signed with Eutelsat in July (see Section 1.3 Significant events) also makes it possible to provide very high-speed satellite broadband throughout France, even in the most remote areas. The creation of Orange Concessions in January 2021 (see below) gives the Group the means to continue to expand fiber networks in rural areas by winning new public initiative networks or by taking part in market consolidation. With the aim of holding more than 4.5 million FTTH connections by 2025, Orange Concessions will be the leading operator of fiber networks in rural areas.

At the same time, Orange is constantly improving the quality of connectivity in homes (Homelan) through advances in boxes and WiFi, and helping customers optimize their home network. The Group now offers new services: around the connected home via a partnership in France with Somfy, world leader in the automation of home and building openings and closures, as well as in content. Partnering with Amazon, it launched the Prime Video app on Orange TV in September. Its contribution to the digitization and renewal of TV media was marked by the November 2020 launch with France TV Publicité of the first segmented (or addressed) TV campaigns in France via Orange set-top boxes. A great technological achievement, this allows the personalization of advertising messages in compliance with personal data regulations.

In mobiles, the Group has embraced 5G, which represents a turning point in the history of telecoms. After Romania, the Group launched its 5G offers in Poland, Spain and then France, where it acquired the largest block of spectrum in October 2020 and rolled out its 5G network in Marseille, Toulouse, Nice, Strasbourg and Le Mans in December (160 municipalities by the end of 2020). The technical performance of 5G will allow the emergence of countless use cases. For the general public, the immersive and personalized videos displayed at the French Open in September foreshadow what can be expected at similar events in the future. For companies, 5G is an accelerator of digital transformation, helping optimize production times, facilitating remote machine control and promoting predictive maintenance. In France, the Group is testing the industrial uses of 5G on two factory of the future projects with Schneider Electric (Eure) and Lacroix Group (Maine-et-Loire). On the Orange Industry 4.0 Campus in the port of Antwerp (Belgium), it is testing network slicing (prioritizing certain parts of the network to cover critical uses or specific needs). For more information on 5G, see Section 1.6.1 Research and innovation.

Lastly, the Group is intensifying its investments to develop national and international networks and extract value from them on the wholesale market. In July, Orange Wholesale France was the first wholesale operator in France to offer the eSIM (see Section 1.3 Significant events). In July, the Group also launched the Montblanc Summit 2+ cellular watch, a pioneer in eSIM connectivity with Wear OS by Google.

In Africa, Orange has invested in facilitating access to connectivity for operators and companies by supporting the "One Africa Network" project and building a new secure international backbone linking eight West African countries. Lastly, Orange is the majority investor in more than 40 submarine cables. In February 2020, it joined forces with a Telefónica subsidiary to extend the terrestrial links of Google’s Dunant transatlantic cable; in May, it partnered with international and African players on 2Africa, the innovative submarine cable linking 23 countries in Africa, the Middle East and Europe. It also launched the Urbano Monti, its new vessel dedicated to laying submarine cables. The Group is also helping improve access to quality content delivery services in Africa by providing its CDN content delivery solution (which replaces satellite broadcasting) to Côte Ouest Audiovisuel, a leading content provider in West Africa. See Section 1.3 Significant events.

Monetization of the networks and execution of the infrastructure strategy

To develop its networks while keeping a rein on its investments, Orange is reinventing its business model. Acknowledging the transformation of the telecom industry in Europe, Orange is entrenching its leadership in more open and better valued infrastructure, while retaining control of its strategic assets. For its FTTH infrastructure, Orange continues to invest in its own infrastructure, in order to fulfill its commitments outside of very densely populated areas (especially in France), while working with partners to pursue industrial efforts in certain areas. The Group has thus launched the projects needed to set up FiberCos in rural areas in both France and Poland. In France, the Group took a step forward in the development of its infrastructure in January 2021 by partnering with long-term investors Banque des Territoires (Caisse des dépôts), CNP Assurances and EDF Invest to create Orange Concessions (see above and Section 1.3 Significant events - Optimization, development et valorization of infrastructure).

In addition, co-financing of fiber optic networks in France by other operators is expected to continue in the coming years. It is clearly a means of making investments profitable.

Orange can now seize potential opportunities to develop or consolidate its positions in this market. It anticipates the signing of agreements in the first half of 2021, with a view to creating dedicated structures that will be up and running in both France and Poland in 2021.

To optimize the rollout of its mobile infrastructure, particularly in 5G, in terms of pace, coverage and financial capacity, Orange plans to rely on RAN-sharing agreements, while maintaining areas of differentiation, in keeping with the agreements already existing in Poland and Romania, and those signed in 2019 in Spain and Belgium.

At the same time, to better understand and extract value from the 40,000 towers of its own mobile network in Europe, the Group has launched its European TowerCo plans. In February 2021, Orange took a major step forward in its Engage 2025 strategic plan with the creation of its European TowerCo TOTEM, which will initially operate around 25,500 sites in France and Spain. See section 1.3 Significant events - Optimization, development and valorization of infrastructure.

Accelerating its development in three growth areas: Africa and the Middle East, B2B services and financial services

Making Orange the benchmark digital operator in Africa and the Middle East

Orange has considerably expanded its activities in Africa and the Middle East, where its operations go back more than 20 years: the Africa and Middle East region has more than doubled its contribution to the Group’s revenue in 10 years. In January 2020, Orange set up the new headquarters of its subsidiary Orange Middle East and Africa in Morocco, thereby confirming its commitment to Africa, with the aim of becoming the benchmark digital operator in Africa and the Middle East. The Group’s target for the 2020-2023 period is average annual revenue growth (CAGR) of approximately 5% across the region.

It aims to achieve that target by virtue of growth in mobile data driven by the increase in the smartphone penetration rate and the rollout of 4G. At the end of 2020, the 4G network covered 33 million customers, an increase of 39% over the year, out of a total of 128 million mobile customers. In 2020, Orange will thus have rolled out 4G in almost all countries, using RAN-sharing agreements and innovative technologies (lighter masts for example) to extend its coverage in rural areas. At the same time, the Group is pursuing its multi-service strategy, with the development of content, e-health and energy offers. The aim is for these services to account for 20% of regional revenue by 2025. In September, it launched Orange Campus Africa, the new African e-learning platform. That was followed in November by a partnership with Greenlight Planet, the largest provider of prepaid energy services, to provide customers with clean energy solutions in several African countries.

Financial services in the MEA region

Confirming the Group’s ranking as a major player in mobile money in Africa and the Middle East, Orange Money was rolled out in Jordan (where 70% of the population is unbanked) in January 2020, and then Morocco in March. In May 2020, two new money transfer corridors via Orange Money were opened from France to Burkina Faso and Morocco, after Côte d’Ivoire, Guinea, Madagascar and Mali.

In addition, the Group partnered with NSIA, a leading bank and insurance company in Africa and the Middle East, to launch Orange Bank Africa in Abidjan (Côte d’Ivoire) in July 2020 (see Section 1.3 Significant events). New for Orange in Africa, the banking activity is part of the Group’s multi-service operator strategy, and confirms its determination to facilitate access to financial services and strengthen the financial inclusion of populations in West Africa, offering customers a fully digital credit and savings offer.

In financial services, Orange Money’s goal is to generate approximately 900 million euros in revenue by 2023 and at the same time to continue developing content, e-health and energy offers. The Group plans to achieve average annual revenue growth (CAGR) of around 5% across the region between 2020 and 2023.

Accelerating the development of IT services for B2B customers and scaling up cybersecurity

During the Covid crisis, digital technology in general and Orange’s networks in particular helped ensure the continuity of economic life by supporting initiatives by companies and public authorities. The crisis has also opened up opportunities stemming from the acceleration of the digital transformation of companies, in line with Orange’s B2B strategy of opening up to IT businesses and services. It focuses on four categories of services related to our legacy business as an operator (Cloud services, cybersecurity, digital and data, smart mobility), as well as four priority sectors, namely health, industry, automotive and smart cities. In 2020, IT services accounted for more than 39% of Orange Business Services revenue.

Faced with unprecedented demand since March 2020, Orange is helping VSEs and SMEs with the development of new digital solutions for e-commerce and the digitization of strategic business processes. In October, Orange Business Services merged its activities into a Health division within its Enovacom subsidiary. In November, Orange Business Services signed a strategic global partnership agreement with Amazon Web Services to help companies accelerate their digital transformation and leverage the benefits of the Cloud to adapt more quickly to market developments and user needs. KDDI, a Japanese telecommunication services provider, has chosen Orange Business Services to equip more than 1 million vehicles in 63 countries and regions in Europe with connected device services. Orange Business Services ranked among the leaders in the March 2020 edition of the Gartner Institute’s Magic Quadrant for Global Network Services for its more flexible SD-WAN customer projects, and its smart end-to-end multi-cloud, multi-service and multi-access networks.

Cybersecurity is a fast-growing sector. Its new organization (which includes the acquisitions of SecureLink and Secure Data in 2019) under the Orange Cyberdefense (OCD) brand has seen the Group provide assistance to some 50 French healthcare establishments, which were a prime target of cybercriminals when the health crisis peaked between March and June 2020. It has also supported its business customers in the face of the increase in the number of cyberattacks and phishing maneuvers. The spread of telework has made cybersecurity a core concern for most companies, prompting the shift to a fresh approach. The Group aims to exceed 1 billion euros in revenue and to be the European leader in this area in 2023.

The Group’s target is that more than half of its revenue in the Enterprise segment comes from new connectivity services (SD-WAN, 5G) and IT services in 2023.

Continuing its expansion in financial services across its footprint

The Engage 2025 strategic plan underscores Orange’s determination to accelerate its growth in financial services. The pertinence of its growth path is backed up by the push towards digitization across all sectors on the back of the health crisis.

The Group aims to capitalize on the success of Orange Bank in European countries, and of Orange Money in Africa where demand in countries with limited banking access is very strong. Orange Bank now extends out of France and into Spain, highlighting the strategy of expanding into other European countries. In order to support this phase of development, the Group is looking for a new banking partner to possibly replace Groupama: a partner who shares its ambitions, contributes to the industrial project, and is likely to provide its expertise and possibly its assets.

The Group’s multi-service diversification around payments, credit and insurance is underway. The July 2020 acquisition of Orange Courtage made Orange Bank an insurance broker. With BNP Paribas Cardif, it now offers insurance covering smartphones, tablets and connected devices. In November 2019, Orange Bank partnered with Wirecard to offer a practical mobile payment solution with Google Pay for all Android users in France. To mark its third anniversary, Orange Bank launched an innovative offer for families, featuring new-generation cards for the secure and autonomous management of children’s pocket money. Orange Bank has also gained a foothold in the VSE/SME market with the acquisition of Anytime, a neobank dedicated to the needs of professionals, companies and associations. Lastly, in Romania, Orange Money has launched its currency transfer service to all types of accounts in Romania or internationally.

Orange Bank aims to break even in Europe towards the end of 2023, with nearly 5 million customers and around 400 million euros in net banking income. Orange Bank Africa aims to have nearly 10 million customers by 2023, with NBI of about 100 million euros.

Crossing a new milestone in its digital transformation by placing AI and data at the heart of its innovation model

The Covid crisis has demonstrated Orange’s ability to move very quickly on the digitization of certain processes and to step up the pace of its transformation. By combining digital resources and human interaction, the Group uses new technologies to offer a simple, expert and responsible customer experience. It is based on digital acceleration (chatbots, robotic process automation) combined with the redesign of stores as Smart Stores, essential for customer proximity. Orange aims to increase the share of the digital channel in its day-to-day relationship with its customers, and to reduce the number of contacts with call centers in Europe by 55% by 2023. In December 2020, Orange Polska became the first entity to receive Customer Operations Performance Center (COPC) "Operational Excellence" certification for the improvement of its operational efficiency and quality of service. In May, the Orange Fixbox, which allows our Tunisian customers to benefit from unlimited Internet access at home, was voted 2020 Product of the Year in the "Broadband Internet" category. Building on more streamlined customer journeys and better customer insight, the Group is aiming to have nine out of ten customers recommend Orange in all its countries by 2025. It also hopes to double the number of users of the My Orange app by 2023, bringing the number of users to nearly 50 million.

In 2020, research and innovation activities were reorganized on three pillars: guaranteeing the quality and availability of networks and services, shedding light on developments in the digital world and the Group’s vision, and creating value by prioritizing innovation choices as close as possible to its markets. Orange has accordingly revisited the development strategy for Djingo, its voice interface, by stopping the marketing of the speaker in an overly crowded market. At the same time, the Group plans to use the embedded voice recognition technology to develop new services in the world of the connected home. In July 2020, Orange and Google Cloud announced a strategic co-innovation partnership to accelerate Orange’s IT and digital transformation and develop new Cloud services, particularly in edge computing (i.e. services located as close as possible to customers’ processing needs).

In addition, in 2021, Orange strengthened its innovation in the digital ecosystem and venture capital investment by creating Orange Ventures, a new investment firm with a budget of 350 million euros that ranks as one of the ten largest corporate venture capital funds in Europe. Orange has partnered with Sanofi, Capgemini and Generali to create a unique e-health ecosystem in Europe to accelerate the development of practical solutions for patients. The Group is also teaming up with the national cybersecurity agency, Atos, Thales and Capgemini, and plans to join the Cyber Campus project initiated by the President of the French Republic to bring together the main national and international players in the field, which is scheduled to open in October 2021.

Smarter networks and improved operational efficiency

The Group uses AI and Data to optimize the rollout of new mobile and fiber sites, and to facilitate the maintenance of its networks, back office and internal processes, thereby reducing costs and improving quality of service.

To harness the full potential of new technologies, Orange keeps a close eye on the digital ecosystem, giving its venture capital entity the capacity to invest in the future champions of the digital economy in Europe, Africa and the Middle East. In December 2019, Orange Ventures invested in InterCloud, a leader in Cloud application interconnection, to support its European leadership in Cloud interconnection, then in native Cloud service provider Weaveworks to help drive the take-up of its GitOps solution in B2B and telecom markets. As global telecom operators prepare to deliver 5G applications and services reliably and on a large scale, GitOps is facilitating the shift to native Cloud Computing. Orange Digital Ventures Africa has launched the MEA Seed Challenge, a new seed investment activity aiming to fund 100 start-ups by 2025 in Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, Egypt, Jordan, Morocco, Senegal and Tunisia. In February, it invested in Ethiopian-based start-up EdTech Gebeya, a pan-African marketplace for the training and placement of African developers to help solve the tech talent shortage, and Youverify, a Lagos (Nigeria) start-up that automates identity verification for financial and telecommunication players.

Creating a future-facing company

Thanks to its size and the diversity of its business lines, the Group gives its employees the possibility of improving their skills to keep up with and anticipate market developments, in line with its "digital and caring" employer promise. To achieve the Group’s ambition to be more international, more B2B-oriented and at the cutting edge of new technologies by 2025, Orange has invested more than 1.5 billion euros in a skills enhancement program open to all employees and enhanced the company’s attractiveness for new talent while ensuring the social and human consistency of its projects.

Meeting the skills challenge

The context of the health crisis makes new digital skills more necessary than ever. Their list includes technological expertise, practice and use of data, artificial intelligence (AI) and cybersecurity, plus a broad range of soft skills. The Group plans to use Orange Campus, which has become a networked school for all employees, to train 20,000 employees in network virtualization, artificial intelligence, data, Cloud Computing, coding and cybersecurity. New forms of cooperation, methods and working environments are offered to Orange managers to foster cross-cutting approaches, promote empowerment and cultivate a sense of service. In October, Orange opened its own Apprentice Training Center. Lastly, the Group supports the Grande École du Numérique, which has trained nearly 28,000 people in the digital professions in France.

Ranking among the most attractive employers

In February 2020, Orange featured in the Top Employers Global 2020 rankings for the fifth consecutive year. This certification recognizes the best human resources practices worldwide. The Group is also certified HappyTrainees, a label which rewards the quality and interest of the tasks assigned to interns and work-study students.

The Group’s challenge is reinforced by the scarcity of tech profiles on the job market. In September, Orange launched a recruitment campaign in nine countries under the slogan "At Orange you can", focusing on the diversity of its jobs and career paths, and on reconciling employees’ personal and professional aspirations.

Supporting everyone in a sustainable and responsible transformation

Against a backdrop of upheaval in everyday life due to the health crisis, which is prompting us to rethink the meaning of the collective approach and teamwork, as well as the role of telework, the Group is implementing internal initiatives to better support the transformation and ensure a better quality of life at work, and is committed to a more inclusive society.

The policy and initiatives dating back many years to promote gender equality in the workplace have made Orange a benchmark in this area. Women account for 36% of the Group’s overall workforce, and 31% of the network of managers and senior executives are women. In both France and Poland, Orange promotes access to scientific and technical jobs for women, including in cybersecurity with the Cercle des Femmes de la Cybersecurité (Cefcys). The Group is involved with the Women’s Forum on digital tools for economic development in the MEA region. Lastly, Orange was the first company to receive the GEEIS-AI (Gender Equality European & International Standard-Artificial Intelligence) label, created by the Arborus Endowment Fund, confirming its commitment to Artificial Intelligence designed and developed both responsibly and inclusively. In France, Orange employs more than 4,800 people with disabilities, who are supported when they join the company and in ensuring the accessibility of their work environment by more than 120 correspondents.

A growth ambition accompanied by an operational efficiency program

To secure the achievement of its objectives, Orange has launched the Scale-Up operational efficiency program, undertaking to achieve net savings of 1 billion euros by 2023 on an indirect cost base at end-2019 of nearly 14 billion euros in telecom activities excluding high revenue growth areas (MEA and IS/IT services at OBS) at the end of 2019. This commitment is based on a combination of targeted initiatives and various measures focused on the levers of digitization, simplification and pooling:

−    the transformation plans undertaken by all relevant Group entities, and in particular the support functions, since 2019;

−    targeted cross-functional initiatives, such as:

-     the optimization of the real estate master plan,

-     the digitization of the customer relationship with the rollout of robotic process automation (RPA) at Group level,

-     the automation of network management and maintenance,

-     smart spend for the optimization of certain expenses, including a plan to rein in energy costs, which is a real challenge for the future.

Financial objectives

See Section 3.2.2 Outlook.

1.2.3    Business model

A business model focused on creating and sharing value

Our purpose, guiding us in everything we do

"As a trusted partner, Orange gives everyone the keys to a responsible digital world." Such is our purpose, which was integrated into the company’s Bylaws in 2020. It resonates particularly strongly in the telecommunications industry as it puts people before technology. Everything we do is framed by this purpose, which illustrates how we take account of the social and environmental priorities we share with our stakeholders. Our purpose feeds into the four ambitions of the Engage 2025 strategic plan and our commitment to promote digital equality and protect the planet. This drive and determination were plain to see in our efforts to maintain network availability and service continuity for our customers in France and around the world throughout the Covid-19 pandemic.

Our business model

Our infrastructure provides enhanced connectivity for our retail, business and wholesale customers. Indeed, we are offering faster speeds by rolling out fiber-optic broadband and 5G while also developing new home offers (content, at-home services and remote surveillance). Alongside Orange Business Services, our unique expertise as both a network operator and digital services integrator means we combine the full range of skills required to support businesses all along the digital value chain, with on-demand networks (software-defined networking and network functions virtualization), multi-cloud services, data analysis, artificial intelligence, smart mobility services and cybersecurity. Orange Cyberdefense represents the Group’s frontline force to anticipate cyber threats, develop preventive measures and take action. Through Orange Money and Orange Bank, we design mobile financial services that are innovative, secure and well-suited to people’s needs and uses in each of our operating countries. At the same time, we optimize and capitalize on our infrastructure by setting up FiberCos in association with long-term investors in Europe to share future fiber roll-outs, and by putting in place network sharing agreements and TowerCos to manage tower sites, facilitating new mobile network management.

Helping to create value for everyone

The following pages present the ways in which Orange is able to harness its assets to create value for its stakeholders. Our greatest strength comes from our employees. Their unwavering commitment means we can continue to provide essential services whatever the circumstances. One of the defining changes that occurred in 2020 was the exponential increase of traffic on our networks - a 29% surge in IP traffic - to support the widespread implementation of remote working. Furthermore, Orange bolstered its Open Innovation strategy by creating Orange Ventures, which has a budget of €350 million to support start-ups through every stage of their development. Our financial solidity, unaffected by the crisis, enabled us to maintain the trust of our lenders, investors and shareholders. Our suppliers and partners are the first to benefit from what we do, which is why we carefully choose who we work with on the basis of strict environmental, social and governance criteria. We collaborate with them in a responsible and ethical manner, for example by processing payments faster during the pandemic in an effort to support small suppliers. Reducing digital inequality in terms of both access and usage remains one of our top priorities, as is minimizing our carbon footprint. On average, our 4G network covers nearly 99% of the population in our eight operating countries in Europe and is expanding in our 17 countries in the Middle East and Africa. Meanwhile, we reduced our CO₂ emissions by 2.3% between 2019 and 2020.

 

Our assets		Value created
People	−     142,000 employees across the world −     31.1% of women in management networks −    17.7 hours of training per Group employee	A major and responsible employer		−    8,000 recruitments on unlimited contracts across the Group, including 2,000 in France −    3,500 Orange Business Services employees in France working to help customers maintain essential services during the first lockdown −    3,000 employees have taken part in skills sponsorships since 2010
Industrial and commercial assets	−    A mobile network of 40,000 towers in Europe and 450,000 km of submarine cable owned or co-owned −    Networks structured to satisfy growing demand: 29% surge in IP traffic, 61% increase in voice data traffic in BtoB and 50% more mobile data traffic than in 2019 −    A powerful brand: ranked 66th in the BrandZ Top 100 most valuable global brands	Providing an essential service and leading the field		−     259 million customers, including 3,000 multinationals −    21.9 million active Orange Money customers and almost 1.2 million Orange Bank customers −    No.1 in convergence in Europe with 11.1 million customers −    No.1 in mobile network quality for the 10th year running (Arcep) −    Orange Cyberdefense, the leading cybersecurity provider in Europe
Intellectual assets	−     €643 million invested in Research & Innovation −    Operator with the most patents filed in Europe, developing 225 patent-protected inventions in 2020 −    An approach to innovation bolstered by the creation of Orange Ventures, allocated a budget of €350 million to support the development of start-ups	Responsible and open innovation		−    5G rolled out in five countries (Romania, Poland, Spain, France and Luxembourg) −    5G collaborative innovation with businesses and local authorities in Europe −    60 research contracts between 2018 and 2020 with leading university laboratories in the world −    Accessibility: a unique approach with a range of products and services to boost autonomy, with an adapted retail network and hotline
Financial assets	−     Significant equity of €37 billion −    Satisfactory debt ratio: net debt/EBITDAaL of telecoms activities = 1.83x −    A stable and long-term shareholder base: 23% public sector, 6.14% employees and former employees	Solid financial performance		−     EBITDAal: €12.7 billion −     Operating income: €5.5 billion −    Organic cash-flow from telecoms activities: €2.5 billion
Our ecosystem
Suppliers and partners	−    94.5% of contracts signed include a CSR clause −    610 action plans carried out following the CSR audits conducted under the Joint Audit Cooperation (JAC)	Responsible and ethical working relationships		−    Responsible supplier relations and procurement label in France, which integrates ISO 20400 guidelines −    665 corrective action plans processed by the JAC (regarding health and safety in the workplace, other work-related conditions, business ethics and the environment)
Regions	−    26 countries for consumer services and a global presence with Orange Business Services −    5,088 stores across the world and 900,000 resellers in Africa −    Creation of Orange Concessions to continue expanding fiber networks in rural areas of France (January 2021)	A major driver of regional development		−    4G network covers on average nearly 99% of the population in Orange’s eight operating countries in Europe and 17 countries (including two minority shareholdings) in Africa and the Middle East −     Fiber network: 47.2 million connectable homes −    Service continuity: 13.8 million operations carried out on the ground in France (deployment, maintenance, customer service, etc.) −    Contribution to wealth creation, such as 10% of GDP in Senegal and 2% in Moldova
Society	−    16 countries offering affordable smartphones with internet access −    Network of 17 Orange Fabs, 131 Solidarity FabLabs and 3 Orange Digital Centers, Orange Foundation present in 27 countries	A commitment to digital equality		−    24,000 participants in Orange digital workshops in France −    Over 500,000 beneficiaries of digital education programs run by the Orange Foundation
Environment	−    Energy consumption (Scopes 1 & 2): 5.5 TWh −    1.27 million tons of CO2 generated (Scopes 1 & 2) −    31% of electricity from renewable sources (Scope 2)	Toward Net Zero Carbon and a circular economy		−    1.8% reduction in energy consumption and 2.3% reduction in CO2 emissions between 2019 and 2020 −    169,000 tonnes of CO2 emissions avoided by using energy from renewable sources −    Collection rate of unwanted mobiles: 15.1% of devices sold directly by Orange across Europe

 

 

2020 data

For calculation methods and definitions, see Chapter 4, Note on methodology - employment data and Note on methodology - Environment.

 

1.3    Significant events

In June 2020, Stéphane Richard, Chairman and CEO of Orange, announced the reorganization of the Group’s Executive Committee in order to accelerate the implementation of Engage 2025, the Group’s new strategic plan. This reorganization has been effective since September 1, 2020 (see Section 5.1 Composition of management and supervisory bodies).

Impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic on the Group’s activities and financial position

The Covid-19 pandemic that affected France and the rest of the world in 2020 had an impact on the Group’s activities and financial position, as well as its employees, suppliers, subcontractors, customers and all its stakeholders. Against this backdrop, Orange’s priorities were, and still are, to ensure the safety of its employees and to support its customers by providing telecommunication services, which have become more essential than ever. At the start of the pandemic, the Group swiftly put in place a number of actions to adapt to the crisis situation, ensure business continuity and reduce the risks posed by the pandemic. In particular, Orange focused its actions on:

−    business continuity. In countries that have been severely affected by the pandemic, Orange had to, and must continue, as a provider of essential business services, to ensure the continuity of its electronic communications services, in particular its critical activities. In accordance with government requirements, Orange has implemented, particularly in France, a business continuity plan and then a business recovery plan essentially covering network and information system supervision and operation teams, security teams, technical support, data center employees and field-work teams. Neither Orange SA nor most of its subsidiaries in France and worldwide have made use of the special furlough schemes in place during the health crisis.

Moreover, the Group enhanced the capacity of its networks and put in place supervision and security measures to cope with the additional load caused by the increase in traffic linked to the crisis and the potential increase in cyberattacks. The quality and resilience of Orange’s networks absorbed the sharp growth in traffic and usage. The combination of fiber, 4G and fixed service-based WiFi networks proved effective in allowing the Group’s customers to receive a reliable, efficient service, thus demonstrating the relevance of Orange’s strategy concerning large-scale investment in high-quality fixed and mobile broadband networks;

−    health and human safety. Orange puts the health and safety of its employees first. A coordinator was appointed to report directly to the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer on global developments. Local correspondents were also appointed in the Group’s different geographical regions. Orange’s activity in the various countries was adapted to comply with the health guidance issued by each government, while ensuring business continuity. Teleworking was widely adopted throughout the Group (around 100,000 employees during the first lockdown), all locations combined. Orange also encouraged shielding measures as early as possible in its instructions to employees and provided suitable personal protective equipment and hygiene supplies;

−    the launch of specific actions to show solidarity with customers, health workers, teaching professionals and public authorities, and heightened internal and external communication.

The consequences of the Covid-19 pandemic on the Group’s business and financial position are not easily quantifiable, as these effects are difficult to separate from other development factors (see Note 3 to the Consolidated Financial Statements). However, in 2020, the main effects of the Covid-19 pandemic were as follows:

−    on the Group’s revenue:

-     a widespread and significant decline in revenues from international roaming (customers and visitors), in all countries and particularly for B2B services, due to travel restrictions and border closures,

-     a sharp fall in equipment sales (B2C and B2B customers), mainly in France and in Europe, due to the closure of Orange stores during the lockdown in spring 2020 and the lower footfall due to mobility restrictions,

-     lower-than-expected growth in revenues from fixed services to carriers, due to the slowdown in the construction of public initiative networks marketed, rolled out and operated by Orange in France, despite the partial catch-up in the second half of 2020,

-     a slowdown in the B2B services activity, with a decline in revenues from IT & integration services in the second and third quarters of 2020 and, on an ancillary basis, of some data services (satellite TV broadcasting) not offset by the growth of some voice services (audioconferencing), and

-     a general decline in sales activity, due in particular to the closure of Orange stores, and in some countries, to a restriction on portability and a ban on advertising campaigns, partially offset by lower churn rates overall;

−    on the operating expenses included in the calculation of the Group’s EBITDAaL:

-     an increase of 144 million euros in impairments and losses on trade receivables (see Notes 5.3 and 6.2 to the Consolidated Financial Statements), of which 129 million euros related to telecom activities (mainly in France and Spain and for B2B services) and 15 million euros related to Orange Bank. It should be noted that the Covid-19 health crisis has resulted in the provision of economic support measures for companies and individuals in a number of countries. Such measures have helped to partially reduce the risk of non-recovery of trade receivables at December 31, 2020, but reduce visibility as to the magnitude of the expected deterioration of the economic environment (including the risk of corporate default),

-     an increase in external purchases (mainly other external purchases) primarily related to (i) the costs of health measures for 72 million euros, (ii) the additional costs of support measures for some network service providers in France (in order to maintain the activity and offset a portion of their fixed costs) for 19 million euros (see also the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic on investments below), and (iii) donations and philanthropic activities for 9 million euros,

-     a 10 million euro increase in labor expenses with the payment to some employees of specific bonuses in connection with the health crisis, including bonuses for committed employees who continued working on site (internal or external to Orange), and

-     conversely, (i) a significant decline in commercial expenses and equipment costs, with the decrease in purchases of handsets and other products sold, the fall in advertising and promotion expenses, and lower distribution commission caused by the downturn in sales activity, and (ii) a reduction in overheads, mainly due to travel savings and the cancellation of various events.

In fiscal year 2020, an amount of 253 million euros was recognized for the main specific additional costs generated by management of the Covid-19 health crisis (see Note 3 to the Consolidated Financial Statements).

−    on the Group’s investments:

-     a significant inflection in investments in the first half of 2020 due to the slowdown in fixed (FTTH) and mobile network rollout during lockdown periods. This continued after each lockdown had been lifted owing to the measures and restrictions imposed by the health crisis and the shutdown of several economic sectors. However, in view of the Group’s initial forecasts, some of the delays in rollout were made up for in the second half of 2020, particularly in France (see Investments in networks below),

-     a delay in some structural projects for the Group, such as Orange Concessions, which aims to (i) consolidate the FTTH connections of public initiative networks (PIN) belonging to local authorities in France and for which Orange is the concession holder, and (ii) take advantage of potential development or consolidation opportunities in this market (see below and section 3.1.2.5.3 Investment projects),

-     the recognition of additional costs related to support measures for some network providers in France for 24 million euros (see also the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic on external purchases above), and

-     modifications or temporary delays in the 5G licensing process, particularly in France, Spain and Poland;

−    on organic cash flow from telecom activities:

In 2020, organic cash flow from telecom activities was impacted by (i) changes in EBITDAaL and economic CAPEX in the context of the Covid-19 health crisis (see above), (ii) the favorable effect of the increase in the level of investments at the end of 2020 (compared to the end of 2019) on economic CAPEX trade payables, in particular due to efforts made to catch up on rollout delays caused by the Covid-19 health crisis, and (iii) conversely, the unfavorable effect of the change in working capital (increase in gross trade receivables, decrease in trade payables for other goods and services. See Notes 5.3 and 6.6 to the Consolidated Financial Statements).

−    on cash flow and financial debt management:

In 2020, the Covid-19 health crisis had no impact on the risk management policy relating to financial instruments. The Group therefore continued to put in place and manage hedging instruments in order to limit its exposure to operational and financial interest rate and foreign exchange risks. Existing cash flow hedges, in particular, were not affected by the crisis. In addition, the Group maintained a diversified financing policy (see Notes 13.5 and 13.6 to the Consolidated Financial Statements). The financing transactions carried out in 2020 are part of the Orange group’s active refinancing policy, aimed at the prudent and forward-looking management of its liquidity by optimizing the cost of its resources and maintaining a high level of cash. As of December 31, 2020, the liquidity position of the telecom activities amounted to 17,243 million euros (see Note 14.3 to the Consolidated Financial Statements).

−    on the value of the Group’s goodwill and fixed assets:

At December 31, 2020, the Group reviewed the key assumptions used to determine the recoverable amounts of cash-generating units (CGUs). Those assumptions include the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on discount rates and perpetual growth rates, as well as on business plan trajectories. As a result of this work, the Group did not recognize any impairment losses at December 31, 2020 (see Note 8 to the Consolidated Financial Statements).

−    on the Orange dividend:

Due to the uncertainties generated by the Covid-19 health crisis, the Orange Shareholders’ Meeting of May 19, 2020 decided, on the proposal of the Board of Directors, to distribute a dividend for the 2019 fiscal year of 0.50 euros per share, instead of the previously announced 0.70 euros per share. In view of the interim dividend of 0.30 euros per share paid in December 2019, the balance of the cash dividend paid in June 2020 was 0.20 euros per share (see Note 15.3 to the Consolidated Financial Statements and section 6.3 Dividend distribution policy).

Beyond the health crisis, the Group launched a plan to prioritize digital inclusion, with the aim of continual improvement in networks and acceleration of digitalization. Fixed and mobile networks, network access sharing agreements and optimized network management, which were already part of Orange’s core strategy, are and remain major priorities for the Group. Moreover, Orange is keen to help accelerate the digitalization of its customers and to focus on the house/home with more relevant strategic choices. In addition, the Group’s objective is to prioritize its future sales activity, secure its supply chains and, as much as possible, catch up on delivery and production delays.

Settlement of a tax dispute in France in respect of fiscal years 2005-2006 and use of the funds received

On November 13, 2020, the French Conseil d’État found in favor of Orange SA in a tax dispute in France in respect of fiscal years 2005-2006. This decision terminated the proceedings and allowed Orange to recover the sums paid in July 2013, i.e. a total amount of 2,246 million euros (including 646 million euros in interest). This amount was recognized as tax income in the Consolidated Financial Statements for fiscal year 2020 (see Note 11.2 to the Consolidated Financial Statements).

Regarding the use of these funds, the Board of Directors, at its meeting on December 2, 2020, looked favorably on the following projects:

−    accelerating the Group’s main areas of development to enhance its value creation:

-     by using nearly a quarter of the amount received to strengthen the Group’s leadership in French and international networks for the benefit of its customers, as well as projects linked to the environmental transition,

-     by allocating a quarter of the amount received to support the Group’s operational transformation, in particular to improve agility and performance, and

-     by launching a conditional voluntary public tender offer for Orange Belgium (see Changes in asset portfolio below);

−    making an additional dividend payment to shareholders of 20 euro cents per share (subject to the approval of the Shareholders’ Meeting of May 18, 2021);

−    encouraging employee shareholding through an offer reserved for employees of around 30 million shares, the aim being that employees will eventually hold 10% of the capital of Orange SA;

−    allocating a portion of the funds to the Group’s social commitments to reach Net Zero Carbon ^[6] by 2040 and to digital equality; and

−    using any residual balance to reduce the Group’s net financial debt.

Investments in networks

Fixed access networks

The Covid-19 health crisis marked a significant inflection in the rollout of FTTH networks in the first half of 2020. However, the Group accelerated the rollout of its very high-speed fixed broadband networks in 2020. Despite the health crisis, the Group will have succeeded in rolling out more fiber optic connections in 2020 than in 2019, providing an additional 9.0 million FTTH connectable households year-on-year (compared to 7.2 million in the previous year). At December 31, 2020, Orange thus had 47.2 million FTTH connectable households worldwide (and a total of 48.3 million households connectable to very high-speed broadband), up 23.4% year-on-year. This included 22.9 million in France, 14.9 million in Spain and 7.8 million in Other European countries. Whether through its own infrastructure or the use of third-party networks, in late 2019 Orange announced its aim to be able to offer its FTTH packages to more than 65 million households in Europe by 2023, to assert its leadership position in Europe in fiber.

In France, in late 2020, Orange was awarded the public service contract for the very high-speed network in Haute-Saône in the context of public initiative networks (PIN). This will enable 100% of Haute-Saône department to have fiber optic broadband by 2023. At the end of 2020, Orange was working with 23 public initiative networks as network operator, under various models, and had passed the symbolic milestone of one million connectable units across all PINs operated by Orange. Through Orange Concessions, the Group’s ambition is to provide more than 4.5 million households and businesses with fiber optic connections (FTTH) within the public initiative networks operated by Orange by 2025 (see Infrastructure optimization, development and enhancement below).

In Spain, in the case of fixed access networks providing very high-speed broadband Internet access (fiber and other very high-speed technologies), Orange wants to accelerate its rollout and has now set itself the target of connecting 18 million households to very high-speed broadband by the end of 2023 (through several channels, including its own infrastructure).

Mobile access networks

Licenses and 5G networks

Orange acquired new 5G licenses (see section 1.7 Regulation) and launched its first offers in several countries in 2020.

In France, following the auction process for 3.5 GHz frequencies in October 2020, Orange has the highest number of 5G frequencies of any carrier, with 90 MHz of spectrum. Orange has thus strengthened its number one position with the largest portfolio of frequencies in the French market (257 MHz of frequencies in total, with 90 MHz of 3.5 GHz plus 2 X 83.5 MHz in other bands, from August 2021). The acquisition of these frequencies is an essential industrial investment that will maintain and strengthen the position acquired by Orange as a leader in mobile networks and consolidate, with the rollout of a 5G network using these frequencies, its number one position for the benefit of its B2C and B2B customers (see also Digital transformation of business customers below). The total cost of the 90 MHz acquired by Orange was 875 million euros, including 854 million euros in fixed fees (with payment spread over four to 15 years, depending on the block) and 21 million euros in spectrum refarming costs relating to the allocation of new frequencies to carriers (see Notes 9.4 and 16.1 to the Consolidated Financial Statements).

After Romania at the end of 2019, Poland in July 2020 and Spain in September 2020, Orange launched its 5G network in France on December 3, 2020. At the end of 2020, nearly 160 municipalities had 5G coverage. Faced with the sharp increase in data usage in 2020, Orange has chosen to initially cover areas that already have high demand to reduce the risk of network saturation. 5G-compatible plans have been offered to B2C and B2B customers in France since October 8, 2020.

In Slovakia, Orange also acquired 5G licenses in 2020 for the planned launch of offers in 2021.

Other mobile networks

In 2020, the Group continued its efforts to roll out the 4G network. At the end of 2020, nearly 100% of its mobile sites in France offered 4G coverage.

The quality of the mobile network is a priority for Orange. The results of the annual survey by Arcep (the French electronic communications and postal regulator) on the quality of mobile services of French telecom operators, released in December 2020, confirmed for the tenth year running that Orange has the best mobile network in mainland France. Orange is ranked first or joint first for voice, SMS and mobile Internet on 244 of the 266 criteria measured. More specifically, Orange ranks first or joint first on 51 of the 57 criteria measured in rural areas and offers the best all-uses Internet speed in rural areas. In addition, with regard to the Covid-19 health crisis, which has increased the need for connectivity and seen a sharp increase in teleworking, Orange offers the best indoor quality for mobile Internet and voice calls (first or joint first on 66 of the 71 criteria measured). In mobile Internet, Orange is first or joint first when it comes to Internet speeds for sending and receiving files. Lastly, Orange is also ranked first or joint first on all 90 criteria concerning transport, video streaming, web browsing excluding transport, and file transfers.

In February 2020, Orange and Free signed an amendment extending until December 31, 2022 the termination period for Free Mobile’s national roaming on Orange’s 2G and 3G networks. Arcep approved this amendment in October 2020.

Transmission networks

In February 2020, Orange joined forces with Telxius (a subsidiary of Telefónica) on the terrestrial backhaul extensions of Google’s "Dunant" transatlantic cable. This 6,600 km cable has three times the data transfer capacity of previous generation cables. Orange and Telxius will offer and operate co-location services in their respective cable landing stations located on either side of the Atlantic Ocean. This agreement strengthens the Group’s connectivity capabilities for its international customers in Europe and America and its international positioning in the wholesale market. The Dunant cable was commissioned in 2020 for wholesale and B2B customers.

In addition, in January 2021, Orange announced the signing of a partnership agreement for the new generation AMITIE cable, which should link the United States to France and enter service in early 2022. With fiber pairs on two new generation ultra-high-speed cable systems, Orange will serve the B2C, wholesale and B2B markets in Europe and America with a single low-latency global France - US connectivity solution offering performance and redundancy.

In May 2020, Orange also announced its participation in the 2Africa project. Led by an international consortium, the project should enable a 37,000 km submarine cable to be laid around the coast of Africa to improve Internet access on the African continent and in the Middle East. The cable is due to be commissioned in 2023 or 2024.

Orange is thus continuing to invest heavily in global connectivity projects to guarantee and constantly improve the quality of service of its global network with more than 40 submarine cables worldwide. Orange’s global network, which serves its customers all over the world, connects more than 300 points of presence via 45,000 km of fiber in Europe, the United States, Africa and Asia.

Satellite transmission

In July 2020, Orange announced the purchase from Eutelsat Communications of all available capacity on the Eutelsat Konnect satellite to cover the whole of France. All Orange B2C customers, including those living in the most isolated areas, have therefore been able to benefit from very high-speed fixed broadband via satellite since January 2021. This agreement is directly in line with the Broadband/Very High-Speed Broadband France Plan adopted by the government with the aim of rolling out broadband services of at least 30 megabytes/second over the whole of France by 2022. The service is distributed by Orange’s Nordnet subsidiary, the leading French distributor of satellite Internet services since 2008.

In December 2020, Orange was selected by the European Commission to be part, along with satellite manufacturers and operators, of a consortium to study the design, development and launch of an independent European space communications system to strengthen Europe’s digital sovereignty.

Infrastructure optimization, development and enhancement (FiberCos - TowerCos)

FiberCo in France (Orange Concessions) and Poland

Orange has moved forward in its plans to share future fiber network rollouts with its partners via FiberCos.

In France, in January 2021 Orange announced that it had signed an exclusive agreement with a consortium of long-term investors including La Banque des Territoires (Caisse des dépôts), CNP Assurances and EDF Invest for the sale of 50% of the capital and joint control of Orange Concessions. Orange Concessions will allow Orange to continue the rollout of fiber in rural areas of France while sharing the investment effort, in line with the ambitions of the strategic plan Engage 2025. With 23 public initiative networks (PIN) representing nearly 4.5 million FTTH connections created or to be created by December 31, 2020, Orange Concessions will be the leading operator in France for Fiber To The Home (FTTH), deployed and operated on behalf of local authorities. Orange would have a future call option enabling it to take control of and consolidate Orange Concessions. The agreement values Orange Concessions at 2.675 billion euros. Subject to the approval of the relevant antitrust authorities and all stakeholders, the transaction is expected to be completed in the second half of 2021 (see Notes 4.3 and 19 to the Consolidated Financial Statements).

In Poland, the Group plans to sign an agreement in the first half of 2021 to establish a special purpose entity due to be operational in 2021.

Creation of the European TowerCo Totem

In terms of plans to upgrade its European mobile network, in February 2021 Orange announced the creation of Totem, a European TowerCo intended to create value (i) by operating first-class passive infrastructure assets, (ii) by focusing on revenue growth and optimization of operational efficiency, and (iii) by fostering both organic and inorganic growth.

Totem will have a portfolio of assets with proven operational excellence. It will have all the skills and functions needed to create sustainable value to make the TowerCo a leader in the growing European telecommunication tower market. Initially, it will operate a portfolio of premium towers comprising around 25,500 sites in France and Spain, the two largest countries where Orange is present. After France and Spain, the Group will study the possibility of integrating Orange’s other European passive infrastructure assets that could create value for the TowerCo. Based on this scope and under the terms of the Master Service Agreement (MSA) signed with Orange, in 2020 Totem would have generated revenue in excess of 500 million euros and EBITDAaL of almost 300 million euros, around two thirds of which from assets in France.

One of Totem’s core priorities will be organic growth. The TowerCo will benefit from significant opportunities to develop its hosting activities across its entire portfolio. In addition, the TowerCo will host and roll out new sites for Orange and other network operators.

Totem also intends to seize opportunities for inorganic growth in Europe. To support this development ambition, Orange will be able to use the flexibility of the new company’s capital structure, whether in terms of equity issuance or debt financing. Orange wants to retain control of the TowerCo to benefit from the significant source of sustainable value creation that it offers the Group.

Totem will be led by a fully independent and dedicated management team. The team will be appointed in the first half of 2021 with a view to the TowerCo becoming operational by the end of 2021.

Acceleration in growth areas

Africa & Middle East

In early January 2020, Orange inaugurated the new headquarters of its subsidiary Orange Middle East and Africa in Casablanca, Morocco. A major player in the Africa region for more than 20 years, Orange hopes to become the preferred multiservice operator for the people. To be successful, Orange must develop its new services in Africa, getting closer to its customers so that it can fulfil their needs and adapt to the local market.

In addition, in November 2020 Orange announced the entry into service and commercial launch of Djoliba, the first pan-African backbone. This infrastructure is based on a terrestrial fiber optic network of more than 10,000 km, coupled with 10,000 km of submarine cables offering secure very high-speed international connectivity from West Africa. The network will cover eight countries (Burkina Faso, Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Guinea, Liberia, Mali, Nigeria and Senegal). With Djoliba, Orange is catering for the needs of businesses and telecom players in West Africa, serving a potential 330 million inhabitants.

In January 2021, Orange announced a partnership with Côte Ouest Audiovisuel which will distribute its TV and OTT (Over-The-Top) content in West Africa via Media Delivery Boost, Orange’s CDN (Content Delivery Network) content delivery solution. This solution ensures quality, speed and reliability in content delivery without the need for satellites as used previously.

Mobile Finance Services

In Europe, in July 2020 Orange Bank announced that it had expanded its services and reached a new milestone in its cross-selling policy with Orange by integrating into its business the subsidiary Orange Courtage, which notably offered insurance for mobile devices to 549,000 B2C customers at December 31, 2020. This integration allows Orange Bank to become an insurance broker. In November 2020, Orange Bank also launched new value offers in France (including the Premium Pack for families) and new bank cards to celebrate its third anniversary. Lastly, in January 2021 Orange Bank announced the acquisition of Anytime, a neobank specializing in business banking. This acquisition will allow Orange to offer its millions of business customers financial support and digital management tools. At December 31, 2020, Orange Bank had nearly 1.2 million customers in France and Spain (this number includes customers of all products sold by Orange Bank: accounts, loans and mobile insurance).

In Africa, the Orange strategy in mobile financial services seeks to offer solutions accessible to as many people as possible, regardless of their income or where they live. In July 2020, Orange and NSIA, a leader in bancassurance, announced the launch of Orange Bank Africa’s sales activities in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire. Orange Bank Africa offers, through the Orange Money channel, a savings and micro-credit solution that allows users to borrow instantly using their mobile device. Orange Bank Africa plans to expand into Senegal, Mali and Burkina Faso. The goal of Orange Bank Africa is to become the leading player for financial inclusion in West Africa. The successful launch of Orange Bank Africa enabled it to acquire 356,000 customers by the end of December 2020 with its pico-credit and savings offers via Orange Money.

In March 2020, Orange also announced the launch of Orange Money in Morocco. This service enables Moroccans to use their telephones to make payments and transfer money, thereby facilitating trade. The Orange Money service is now available in all countries in Africa & Middle East. Moreover, since May 2020, Orange Money customers have been able to transfer money from France to Morocco or Burkina Faso, in real time and securely, directly through an Orange Money account. At December 31, 2020, Orange Money had more than 49 million customers, including 22 million active customers using the service each month, in 16 countries (excluding associates and joint ventures).

Wholesale services

In July 2020, Orange Wholesale France, the first wholesale operator to launch an e-SIM offer in France for its light mobile virtual network operator (MVNO) customers, signed a partnership agreement with Prixtel. Prixtel has thus become the first French MVNO to be able to offer its customers the option of downloading their digital SIM card (e-SIM) to their smartphones. Orange is thus capitalizing on its network and its capacity for innovation to offer the best wholesale service on the French market by supporting operators in the digitalization of the customer experience.

In January 2021, Orange announced a partnership with Côte Ouest Audiovisuel which will distribute its TV and OTT (Over-The-Top) content in West Africa via Media Delivery Boost (MDB), Orange’s CDN (Content Delivery Network) content delivery solution. This solution ensures quality, speed and reliability in content delivery without the need for satellites as used previously. For Orange, the development of CDN is a strategic opportunity for revenue growth, particularly in Africa where the operator already manages the largest network of this type on the continent, enabling audiovisual content to be delivered to 10 countries.

Digital transformation of business customers

In its Engage 2025 strategic plan, Orange has set itself the goal of making artificial intelligence (AI) and data an integral part of improving its operational efficiency and customer experience. In line with this objective, in July 2020 Orange and Google Cloud announced a strategic partnership focusing on data services, artificial intelligence and edge computing. Google will contribute its know-how in advanced Cloud technologies, its data analysis and artificial intelligence tools, and its proven approach towards supporting transformation. Orange will leverage its expertise in technology and communication services and its international network infrastructure. Thanks to this partnership, B2C and B2B customers in Europe will be offered new Cloud services and Orange Business Services will also see its offerings extended to include Google Cloud solutions in the areas of data analytics and value-added Cloud.

In November 2020, Orange Business Services also signed a strategic global agreement with Amazon Web Services (AWS) to accelerate innovation in the business Cloud. Orange and AWS will work together to provide businesses with new solutions for modernization and migration, data analytics, innovation and security. The agreement will help them accelerate their digital transformation and take advantage of the Cloud to adapt more quickly to market changes and user needs. In addition, a dedicated Cloud center of excellence will train and certify more than 3,000 experts in Cloud Computing, cybersecurity, digital & data from Orange Business Services.

The healthcare sector is also a key focus of the Engage 2025 strategic plan. With that in mind, Orange Business Services decided to combine its health business within the Enovacom subsidiary from October 1, 2020 in order to intensify synergies and support the digital transformation of healthcare players. Through Enovacom, Orange aims to become a leader in digital health in France. In this respect, in November 2020 the Orange group decided to invest, via its holding company Orange Digital Investments, in the Digital Health 2 fund managed by LBO France. In January 2021, it announced the creation of a joint venture with Sanofi, Capgemini and Generali aimed at accelerating the development of specific healthcare solutions and their placement on the market for the benefit of patients.

In 2020, Orange also launched two trials with Schneider Electric and Lacroix Group to test the applications and benefits of industrial 5G in their respective plants in Vaudreuil and Pays de la Loire. Thanks to its low latency, very high speed, and eventually, network slicing, 5G will be a competitive lever for businesses. It will yield significant improvements in industrial processes and practices, particularly through mixed reality (augmented or virtual). To support businesses more closely in their 5G projects, in February 2021 Orange announced the creation of nine Orange 5G Labs in France and worldwide. These will enable businesses to gain a better insight into the opportunities, value and benefits of 5G by testing their current solutions in a 5G environment. They will also be able to explore new applications thanks to the Orange 5G Lab ecosystem and Orange’s technical experts.

To support fast-growing companies in the areas of connectivity, cybersecurity, digital enterprise and innovative financial services, Orange has also strengthened its venture capital investment activities by creating Orange Venture in early 2021. With a budget of 350 million euros, Orange Venture seeks to identify future technology champions to facilitate the transition to a more digital and responsible world.

Lastly, in January 2021 Orange Business Services announced a partnership with BNP Paribas to implement the flexible SD-WAN (Software-Defined Wide Area Network) solution in more than 1,800 branches in France. This hybrid, flexible and Cloud-native solution will enable BNP Paribas network administrators to optimize and monitor infrastructure performance.

Exemplary social and environmental conduct

Orange, a people-oriented and digital employer

In February 2020, Orange announced that it planned to invest more than 1.5 billion euros in a skills development and professional retraining program. The Group decided to make the skills challenge a central part of the Engage 2025 plan. To address this challenge, it defined three major priorities: enhancing its technical expertise, developing data practices and applications, and offering each employee the chance to develop their soft skills.

Environmental commitment

Orange is aiming for Net Zero Carbon ^[7] by 2040, i.e. 10 years sooner than the GSMA (Global System for Mobile Communications) targets, despite the explosion in data and new technologies.

To achieve this target, Orange must use renewable energy. The Group’s aim is that by 2025, renewable energy will make up more than 50% of the electricity it uses. Accordingly, in July 2020, Orange signed a contract with Boralex, the leading independent onshore wind producer, for the supply of renewable electricity in France. From January 1, 2021 and for a period of five years, Boralex will supply Orange with 67 Gigawatt hours (GWh) per year of renewable electricity generated by 26 wind turbines. In February 2021, Orange also announced that it had partnered with ENGIE, the leading solar and wind energy developer in France, to implement a comprehensive renewable energy supply solution in France. This involves creating new solar generation capacity, managing the production of all renewable electricity capacity contracted by Orange from other producers, and supplying additional volumes to cover Orange’s actual consumption. The 15-year power purchase agreement signed by Orange and ENGIE will enable the development of two new solar projects totaling 51 Megawatt-peak (MWp).

Moreover, by 2025, Orange will strengthen its "Green Program" to reduce the energy consumption of its networks. The Group will also rely more on the circular economy with, for example, products that have been eco-designed, second-hand network equipment and more used handsets. In October 2020, Orange launched the "re" program, a circular economy program based on three pillars: recycling, recovery and reconditioning. The aim of this program is to raise public awareness on the environmental impact of mobile phones and to increase the collection of mobile devices. Over the past 10 years, the Group has collected 15 million telephones, including 8 million by Orange France.

Lastly, in order to finance environmental and social projects, in September 2020 Orange successfully completed its first sustainable bond issue for 500 million euros with a maturity of nine years and a coupon of 0.125%. Around 40% of the funds raised will be allocated to digital inclusion projects and around 60% to projects relating to energy efficiency and the circular economy (see Note 13.5 to the Consolidated Financial Statements).

Launch and progress of the Scale Up operational efficiency program

To ensure that it achieves its objectives, in late 2019 Orange committed to net savings of one billion euros by 2023 on a limited scope of indirect costs of 13.8 billion euros at end-2019 (limited scope of costs of 13.8 billion euros at end-2019 corresponding to the Group’s indirect costs excluding (i) Africa & Middle East and Mobile Finance Services, and (ii) labor expenses and other network expenses and IT expenses of Enterprise IT & integration services).

To that end, Orange launched the Scale Up operational efficiency program in 2020. At end-2020, this had resulted in a net saving of nearly 100 million euros on this cost scope. The savings will be progressively increased between now and 2023 and will mainly cover labor expenses, overheads, other network expenses, IT expenses, real estate, advertising, marketing and customer service costs, operating taxes and levies.

Changes in asset portfolio

As regards Orange Concessions (FiberCo in France) and Totem (European TowerCo), see above Infrastructure optimization, development and enhancement (FiberCos - TowerCos).

Agreement to acquire control of Telekom Romania Communications

In November 2020, Orange announced the signing of an agreement to acquire a 54% majority stake in Romanian carrier Telekom Romania Communications (TKR) and its convergent subscriber base. Orange will pay 268 million euros, net of debt and cash and subject to customary adjustments upon completion of the transaction, corresponding to a total enterprise value of 497 million euros for 100% of TKR. TKR, the second-largest fixed operator in Romania, generated revenue of 622 million euros in 2019. As of June 30, 2020, it had 881,000 convergent customers and around five million customers connected to its fixed telephony, broadband and pay television services. Around three million households are connected to its fiber optic network. This acquisition will enable Orange to accelerate its convergent operator strategy in Romania. The completion of the deal remains subject to the approval of the European Commission and the relevant authorities, and is expected in the second half of 2021 (see Note 4.3 to the Consolidated Financial Statements).

Conditional voluntary public tender offer on shares of Orange Belgium

On December 2, 2020, Orange SA announced its plans to launch a conditional voluntary public tender offer for 47.09% of the capital of Orange Belgium, corresponding to the remaining shares not currently held, at a price of 22 euros per share in cash and with no threshold requirements. It was submitted on January 21, 2021 for approval by the Financial Services and Markets Authority in Belgium (FSMA). Subject to the conditions being met, this offer could then lead to the delisting of the shares of Orange Belgium (see Note 4.3 to the Consolidated Financial Statements).

Acquisition of the remaining shares of Business & Decision

As announced in February 2020, on May 28, 2020, Orange Business Services launched a mandatory public tender offer for all the shares of Business & Decision not yet held by the Group, representing 6.38% of the capital. This offer closed on July 8, 2020 and was followed by the effective delisting of Business & Decision shares on July 13, 2020. Following this public tender offer, Orange now holds 100% of Business & Decision shares. It acquired the remaining capital in the second half of 2020 for 4 million euros (see Note 4.2 to the Consolidated Financial Statements).

1.4    Operating activities

Orange provides consumers, businesses and other telecommunication operators with a wide range of services including fixed and mobile telecommunications, data transmission and other value-added services, including mobile financial services. The Group is present as an operator in 26 countries (including two in which it holds a minority interest). In addition to its role as a supplier of connectivity, the Group provides business services, primarily solutions in the fields of digital work, security and improving business line processes.

For consistency with the segment information in the Consolidated Financial Statements, the Group’s activities are presented below by operating segment: France, Europe, Africa and Middle East, Enterprise, International Carriers & Shared Services, and Mobile Financial Services. Following the implementation of the Group Executive Committee’s new organization on September 1, 2020, Spain has joined the Europe aggregate and the Orange Bank business segment has been renamed Mobile Financial Services to take into account the gradual integration of new activities into that segment (see Section 3.3, Note 1 Definition of business segments and performance indicators).

The results of Orange’s activities in 2020 and its principal operating indicators in its various business segments are set out in Section 3.1 Analysis of the Group’s financial position and earnings.

Unless otherwise indicated, the market shares indicated in this chapter relate to market shares in terms of volume, and the data related to customers does not include SIM cards dedicated to connected devices (M2M).

1.4.1    France

Orange is France’s incumbent telecommunication operator (see Section 1.1 Overview). The bulk of its business is carried by Orange SA, which is also the parent company of the Orange group.

The France business segment includes all fixed and mobile communication services to consumers and companies with fewer than 50 employees ^[8] in France ^[9] as well as services to carriers. Activities developed for companies with more than 50 employees, content activities and mobile financial services are covered in Sections 1.4.4, 1.4.5.2 and 1.4.6 of this document respectively.

In 2020, the France business segment generated 42.1% of the Group’s consolidated revenue.

The market

The Covid-19 pandemic that hit France in 2020 affected the business and financial position of telecommunication operators despite the sector’s considerable resilience. At September 30, 2020, the revenue of French telecommunication operators was stable year-on-year, down just 0.3% over 12 rolling months (source: Arcep, Q3 2020). While fixed narrowband telephony revenue continued its downward trend as a result of the steady decline in the number of lines, fixed broadband revenue continued its growth due to the increasing number of accesses. Despite intense competition, mobile services revenue was up, driven by sustained growth in access numbers.

The French broadband and very high-speed broadband Internet market is dominated by four main operators, which account for over 99% of broadband customers. With market share of 40.0%, down 4 points compared with end-2019, Orange remains market leader, ahead of Free, Altice-SFR and Bouygues Telecom (ranked second, third and fourth respectively by number of customers) (source: Orange estimates).

The French mobile market is dominated by the same four operators as the fixed market, which account for 89% of mobile customers (excluding M2M). With market share of 34.8% in 2020, compared with 35.1% in 2019, Orange also remains leader here, ahead of competitors Altice-SFR, Free Mobile and Bouygues Telecom (ranked second, third and fourth respectively by number of mobile customers excluding M2M respectively) and all MVNOs ⁽³⁾.

Orange’s business activities

The Covid-19 pandemic has affected Orange’s activities in France, but also all of its stakeholders. As such, Orange’s priorities have been to ensure the safety of its employees and to support its customers by providing telecommunication services, which have become more essential than ever. See Section 1.3 Significant events.

Orange France’s core business involves the provision of fixed-line telephony, broadband and very high-speed broadband Internet and mobile telephony services for the B2C and Pro-SME markets. Its strategy is based on improving speeds in fixed (fiber) and mobile networks (4G and 5G), promoting the take-up of new services and conquering new areas of growth, while continuing to propel its customer relations to a new level of excellence (see Section 1.2.2 The Orange group strategy).

Mobile

In the B2C mobile market, Orange segments its offers into four main ranges covering all customers, from those looking for just the essentials in terms of communications or Internet connectivity to those wanting the best smartphones and who have very intense connectivity uses in France and internationally. In October 2020, Orange launched its first range of 5G-compatible plans.

Orange is present in all market segments, including the entry-level market, where it offers several types of mobile plans at affordable rates under the Sosh brand, only available online, with no commitment and no handset. At the end of December 2020, Sosh had 4.2 million mobile customers.

Since 2015, all offers marketed by Orange have been 4G offers, including so-called entry-level offers, and some have been 5G-compatible since 2020. Orange is continuing its family-focused strategy with the development of multi-line plans through its flagship Open offer. Open mobile offers are available in the same ranges as conventional mobile offers and include the same levels of service.

Segmenting offers on the B2C and Pro-SME markets allows Orange to continue to grow its subscriber base while the decline in prepaid offers continues. At the same time, the MVNO customer base hosted on the Orange network is contracting. See Section 3.1.3.1.6 Additional information - France.

Fixed telephony and Internet

In the B2C broadband Internet market, Orange segments its offers into two main categories: Livebox, aimed at customers looking for Internet and TV essentials, and Livebox Up, which meets the needs of those wanting the best speeds and a premium TV experience. In terms of equipment, in October 2019 Orange launched a new Livebox 5, designed to have a lower carbon footprint and vastly improved speeds to meet customers’ growing needs, and to incorporate the fact that many households share bandwidth.

Sosh has also been present on the broadband Internet market since 2018, with affordable offers, available exclusively online and with no commitment.

The Orange and Sosh broadband Internet access offers are marketed using FTTH technology in eligible areas, or ADSL otherwise. Orange is the leader in terms of the number of FTTH accesses sold, with a customer base of more than 4.5 million subscribers at the end of 2020.

With the steady growth in full unbundling, as well as the wholesale of contracts and naked ADSL access to third-party Internet service providers, the decline in revenue generated by the conventional telephony service business continues. When it unveiled its new strategic plan, Orange announced the imminent start of an initial experimental phase of copper decommissioning, with full implementation planned between 2023 and 2030.

Up until November 27, 2020 Orange has been the operator responsible for the provision of universal services including connection to a fixed network and telephone service. See Section 1.7.1.2.4 Regulation of fixed telephony, broadband and very high-speed broadband Internet.

Orange also pursues advertising network activities through its websites, which have nearly 28 million unique visitors each month (source: Médiamétrie/NetRatings - Audience Internet Global, October 2020).

Against a backdrop of intense competition, Orange also continues to innovate, notably with the enhancement of its "Maison Connectée" home automation offering.

Wholesale

Orange also offers services to carriers, an activity that includes the interconnection of competing operators, as well as unbundling and wholesale services (ADSL and fiber optic), regulated by Arcep, and construction and marketing services for very high-speed fiber optic networks.

For unbundling, Arcep has slightly increased regulated prices for the 2021-2023 period compared with their 2020 level (see Section 1.7.1.2.3 Regulation of fixed telephony, broadband and very high-speed broadband Internet - Rate framework for access to the copper local loop). Revenues from services to carriers for access to the copper network are nevertheless in structural decline.

Access to the Orange fiber network is marketed to operators in two ways: line leasing or co-financing. Co-financing requires a basic investment for third-party operators, plus recurring maintenance fees. Revenues from line co-financing increased significantly in 2020. The increase reflects a fundamental trend among Orange’s competitors, which are increasingly opting to convert their fiber line leases into co-financing by creating special-purpose financing vehicles. At the end of 2020, all third-party operators had co-financed the equivalent of their fiber market share in the private sector. However, the cumulative amount of fiber network co-financing received by Orange since 2009 represents less than half of the fixed broadband market share of those operators, as estimated by Orange, which means that it also represents less than half of total long-term co-financing potential. The timing of co-financing payments due is highly dependent on the purchasing strategies of third-party operators in connection with the development of fiber and the investment policies of financing vehicles. Orange expects this revenue to be spread mainly over the period from 2020 to 2025.

Lastly, since 2011, Orange has been providing Free Mobile with a nationwide roaming service on its 2G and 3G networks. That service was extended until the end of 2022 by an addendum signed in February 2020. See Section 1.7.1.2.2 Regulation of mobile telephony - Infrastructure sharing.

Distribution

In 2020, the health crisis profoundly disrupted the sales channel mix.

Orange is pressing ahead with its digital development strategy, with a fully digital customer experience in Orange online stores (available on Orange.fr) and Sosh (via Sosh.fr), with Sosh offers only available on the digital channel. In 2020, a third of sales were digital, an increase of 21% compared with 2019. Orange’s My Orange mobile contract management app continued to attract visitors, with 5.6 million unique visitors in 2020.

The dedicated customer call centers, based on the type of services marketed, accounted for 21.2% of sales (+1%).

The network of retail stores spread across France continues to roll out the Smart Store concept. At the end of 2020, it consisted of 361 stores owned by Orange (including 17 Megastores and 312 Smart Stores) and 196 Générale de Telephone stores (including 160 Smart Stores) and accounted for 40.4% of sales (down 30% due to the health crisis).

Lastly, the other channels, which include direct marketing, door-to-door and the multi-operator network, accounted for 5.7% of sales (+37%).

The network

Orange’s commercial leadership is built partly on its leadership in fixed and mobile networks.

On the fixed network, Orange continued to ramp up its rollout of very high-speed broadband on its own and third-party networks in 2020. In the space of a year, Orange made 6.6 million households connectable to FTTH (up from 4.5 million in 2019), a new record in France. 63% of fiber optic installations were rolled out by Orange in 2020 (source: Arcep, Q3 2020). At end-2020, Orange had 22.9 million households connectable to FTTH.

Actions continued to improve the fixed network speed with a view to significantly improving the Internet experience of households and professional customers in rural areas, with fiber rolled out in town centers (subscriber connection node opticalization, fiber to sub-distribution frames), and participation in FTTH Public Initiative Networks (PIN) of local and regional authorities. Orange has enjoyed considerable success regarding its expertise in PIN deployment.

In addition, 2020 saw Orange continue to work on its subsidiary Orange Concessions, which will eventually combine over 4.5 million FTTH connections from PINs entrusted to Orange, combining its industrial power with that of leading financial partners. In January 2021, the Group announced that it had signed an agreement with long-term investors (see Section 1.3 Significant events).

For the mobile network, the rollout of 4G continued, with an unchanged coverage rate of 99% of the French population, still the best 4G rate in the country (source: Orange estimates). By the end of 2020, Orange had installed 25,029 4G sites in France ^[10] (source: Observatoire ANFr, January 7, 2021).

For the tenth consecutive year, Orange’s mobile network was ranked number one by Arcep in 2020 (see Section 1.3 Significant events).

This deployment involves the continued extension of coverage in tourist areas, stadiums, trains (LGV and TER), subways and on the motorway network. The health crisis resulted in production delays during the first period of lockdown, but the massive resumption of work in the second half made it possible to clear most of the backlog.

In 2020, Orange continued its work with a view to creating a French TowerCo to manage the directly-owned portfolio of towers in its mobile network (see Section 1.3 Significant events - Optimization, development and valorization of infrastructure).

As regards 5G, the allocation of the blocks of spectrum in the 3.4 GHz-3.8 GHz band was delayed due to the health crisis, and the results of the auctions enabled Orange to acquire the largest share of the blocks available for a total of 854 million euros in October 2020. The rollout of 5G has begun, with more than 160 municipalities covered by the end of 2020. See Section 1.3 Significant events.

As regards the cluster, transmission, and transport network, Orange carried on with (i) the simplification of fixed broadband access engineering (vDSL and FTTH) to accommodate the high growth in traffic, and (ii) works aimed at the transition from conventional telephony services to IP telephony.

1.4.2    Europe

Outside France, the Group operates in seven countries in Europe, where it is implementing its convergence strategy through the rollout of very high-speed fixed and mobile broadband, and the launch of new offers. After launching its Love convergence offers in all countries in the Europe business segment in 2018, Orange is now developing its convergence strategy in each country, based on the local context and the strengths of each of its subsidiaries:

−    in Spain, where the Group is number two in the fixed and mobile markets, and operates a multi-brand strategy;

−    in Poland, where the Group is the incumbent operator, leader in fixed and number two in mobile;

−    in Belgium and Luxembourg, where the Group launched its convergence offers via partnerships; and

−    in other Central European countries (Romania, Slovakia and Moldova), where the Group, leader in the mobile segment, is also a convergent player via the rollout of fiber optic, the use of 4G for the development of fixed telephony via LTE, and its partnerships.

In 2020, the Europe segment represented 24.8% of the Group’s consolidated revenue.

Spain

The Group has been present in Spain since the deregulation of the telecom market in 1998. Initially operating in the fixed telephony market, it acquired mobile telephony operator Amena in 2005 before adopting the Orange brand in 2006. The acquisition of fixed telephony operator Jazztel in 2015 enabled Orange to consolidate its position in terms of convergence thanks to Jazztel’s fiber coverage. The Group has also strengthened its presence in the low-cost market with the acquisitions of MVNO Simyo in 2012 and República Móvil in 2018, thereby consolidating a multi-brand strategy designed to cover all market segments. In 2020, the Group generated 11.6% of its consolidated revenue in Spain.

The market

Since the consolidation dating back to 2014, four operators have dominated the telecom market: Telefónica, the incumbent, which acquired D+ in 2014 and operates under the Movistar brand; Orange; Vodafone, which acquired ONO in 2014; and MásMóvil Ibercom, initially an MVNO, which acquired Yoigo in 2016 and then signed a commercial agreement for access to Orange’s fixed and mobile networks.

In addition to competing in the B2B and B2C segments through their main brands, these four operators also compete via other brands in the low-cost market: Orange with Jazztel, Amena, Simyo and República Móvil; Telefónica with Tuenti and O2; Vodafone with Lowi; and MásMóvil with Pepephone.

Together, the four convergent operators hold more than 90% of the market, with Telefónica ranked first, followed by Orange (whose market share in the third quarter of 2020 was 24.6% for broadband Internet and 24% for mobile), then Vodafone (source: CNMC).

The Spanish market was down in 2020, impacted by the health crisis and a very competitive environment, with a shift towards low-cost offers driving growth in this market segment and prompting a proliferation of new brands.

Orange’s activities in Spain

In the Spanish B2C market, Orange is pursuing a multi-brand and multi-service strategy aimed at offering quality services at the best price, including for entry-level offers. In 2020, Orange fine-tuned its offers to meet growing demand for data and services, and developed a multi-service approach to differentiate itself from its competitors and create value. Within this strategy, 2020 saw Orange:

−    enrich its TV offering with the broadcasting of football matches and other additional content, including exclusive content, via premium packages, and a constant improvement of functionalities, resulting in an increase in TV usage. The Orange TV offer continued to grow, reaching a penetration rate of 18%;

−    position its brands at the right price for the most price-sensitive customers. In a competitive environment such as the Spanish market, where the low-cost segment is growing rapidly, all Orange brands, including República Móvil and Simyo, already offer fiber-only and convergent offers;

−    continue work to improve its operational efficiency, through simplification and digitization, in order to improve the customer experience;

−    join the insurance market through the launch of Orange Seguros, in partnership with Zurich, which will initially offer products to Orange customers, freelancers and SMEs, ahead of the planned launch in the coming months of a range of products and services for the residential and business markets.

In the B2B market, Orange focused on the launch of a unified portfolio of simple price-oriented offers as well as 5G offers for the small and medium-sized business segment, including value-added services to meet their digitization needs (vpbx, office365, antivirus, etc.). Orange has also continued to demonstrate its commitment to the digitization of public administrations and large companies by helping them improve their processes through technology and by creating innovative business models that enrich their offering to the public at large and customers. Orange also provides data analysis services on travel flows and supports the society with Big Data projects, thereby promoting the development of new applications for the digital society.

In line with the Group’s strategy, in 2020, Orange Spain was the first operator to launch a subsidized offer known as Tarifa Social de Orange, the first rate for convergent offers adapted to the needs and financial capacity of low-income households in Spain.

The network

In 2020, Orange continued to roll out its FTTH network, adding nearly 0.6 million connectable households by the end of the year. At the end of 2020, Orange was able to offer an FTTH connection to nearly 15 million Spanish households.

New agreements and the improvement of existing agreements have given Orange one of the market’s most efficient and profitable networks thanks to the optimization of its infrastructure, and prepared it for the launch of 5G. By the end of 2020, the company had rolled out 5G in 121 cities, thanks to the combination of non-standalone (NSA) 3.5GHz and dynamic spectrum sharing (DSS) technologies.

Poland

The Group has been present in Poland since 2000, when it acquired an interest in the incumbent operator, Telekomunikacja Polska (renamed Orange Polska). In 2006, Orange became the single brand for mobile activities, in accordance with the Group’s brand policy. In 2012, it also became the single brand for all fixed telephony services offered by the Group in Poland. Orange owns 50.67% of the shares of Orange Polska, which is listed on the Warsaw Stock Exchange. In 2020, the Group generated 6.0% of its consolidated revenue in Poland.

Poland has four main mobile operators: Orange, T-Mobile (owned by Deutsche Telekom), Polkomtel (operating under the Plus brand, owned by the Cyfrowy Polsat group) and P4 (operating under the Play brand). In the second half of 2020, Iliad acquired 96.7% of the shares of Play via a public tender offer. At the end of 2020, these four mobile telephony operators accounted for 98% of the total number of SIM cards in Poland, and Orange was the leading operator with market share of 28.4% at end-December 2020. ^[11].

In the broadband Internet market, Orange ranks first, with market share of 28.3% in the fourth quarter of 2020. ^[12] Its principal competition comes from cable TV operators (mainly UPC Polska and Vectra), as well as from Netia (part of the Cyfrowy Polsat group), a conventional telecommunication operator.

The Polish telecommunication market remains fragmented, despite recent consolidation. The Cyfrowy Polsat group acquired Netia in 2018. In 2020, Vectra acquired Multimedia Polska, creating the country’s leader in the cable market, and Play completed the acquisition of Virgin Mobile, Poland’s biggest MVNO.

The major development in the competitive landscape in 2020 was the arrival of Iliad in the Polish market. Iliad has expressed the aim of transforming Play into a convergent operator by bringing it into the broadband Internet and convergence market. This confirms the trend observed among a growing number of operators that have opted to adopt a convergent offer strategy in the B2C market. While these developments underscore the merits of Orange’s convergent strategy in Poland, they are likely to boost competition.

The Covid-19 pandemic in 2020 highlighted the importance of telecommunication services. Demand for telecommunication services, particularly broadband Internet, has been relatively strong, while voice and data connectivity has become even more essential for consumers and businesses. As the 5G auction was delayed, all operators have launched 5G on their existing spectrum using dynamic spectrum sharing (DSS) technology; all of them except Plus have included 5G in their premium offers.

Orange’s activities in Poland

In 2020, Orange Poland finalized the implementation of its Orange.one plan, which was in its final year and was central to its strategic vision as a convergent operator.

Convergence has enabled Orange to differentiate itself from its competitors and gain a larger share of households’ media and telecommunication budgets. It is also an effective retention tool. In 2020, Orange continued to focus its efforts on its Love convergent offer. Love is a package that includes both fixed and mobile services in its basic formula at an affordable price, and can be extended for higher fixed broadband speed, additional SIM cards, additional TV content and other value-added services.

The number of convergent customers continued to grow in 2020, reaching 1.48 million and now accounting for 65% of the total number of residential broadband customers. This growth was supported by strong sales for the fiber offer, with fiber customers now accounting for 27% of the base, an increase of 7 points compared with 2019. This good performance was driven by strong demand for fixed broadband, as well as the continued rollout of the FTTH network, particularly in small and medium-sized towns and cities, where competition from cable operators is more muted.

In the B2B market, after the acquisition of BlueSoft in 2019, at the end of 2020 Orange Polska acquired Craftware, Poland’s leader in the integration of SalesForce CRM solutions. The deal rounds out Orange Polska’s know-how in ICT, enabling it to offer its customers end-to-end solutions. As part of its value strategy, Orange has also introduced new price plans that include various value-added services.

The number of fixed voice lines continued to decline in 2020, with a net loss of voice customers (conventional PSTN or VoIP) due to structural demographic factors, as well as the growing appeal of mobile telephony services offering unlimited calls across all networks.

The network

In 2020, Orange Polska continued to roll out its FTTH network, and by the end of the year had reached its Orange.one plan target of 5 million connectable homes. As part of its strategy of sharing future fiber network rollouts with partners via FiberCos, the Group plans to create a dedicated structure in Poland that should be operational in 2021 (see Section 1.2.2 The Orange group strategy).

With regard to the 4G network, Orange is responding to strong growth in traffic by increasing the spectrum allocated to 4G (to the detriment of that allocated to 2G and 3G) and the number of sites allowing the grouping of spectrum. At end-2020, Orange’s 4G network covered 99.9% of the population. ^[13]

Belgium & Luxembourg

In Belgium and Luxembourg, Orange operates via Orange Belgium and its subsidiary Orange Communications Luxembourg. Orange Belgium is listed on the Brussels Stock Exchange. The Orange group holds 52.9% of the capital. In December 2020, Orange SA announced that it was planning to launch a conditional voluntary public tender offer for all the shares of Orange Belgium that it does not yet hold (see Section 1.3 Significant events).

A long-standing player in the mobile segment in Belgium, Orange launched convergent offers across the entire country based on the regulation of wholesale access to cable in 2016. In 2020, Orange Belgium generated 3.0% of the Group’s consolidated revenue.

Belgium

In 2020, the telecommunication industry was marked by the Covid-19 health crisis, with the government implementing measures to stem the spread of the pandemic, including lockdown restrictions, store closures, telework and other measures throughout the year. The slowdown in commercial activity during lockdown was followed by a period of intense competition through promotions, innovative multi-card packages, attractive subsidies and the launch of new fixed and convergent offers.

Like the other Group subsidiaries, Orange Belgium announced several initiatives in response to the Covid-19 pandemic (see Section 1.3 Significant events).

In the mobile market, Orange has two main competitors, namely Proximus (the incumbent, 53.5% owned by the Belgian State) and Telenet (57.9% owned by the Liberty Global Group), which acquired Base in 2016. With market share of 29.5% in the third quarter of 2020, Orange ranks second behind Proximus. ^[14]

The competitive structure of the fixed telephony market remained relatively stable in 2020, with the predominance of incumbent operator Proximus and regional cable operators Telenet and VOO. New wholesale rates came into effect on July 1, 2020. Fiber also became a major issue in 2020, with Telenet and Proximus both announcing agreements with third parties to roll it out in Belgium.

In 2020, Orange Belgium continued to offer more value to its customers by bringing new offers to the market. As such, the company:

−    launched its new "GO" mobile portfolio in March, the first family offering in Belgium. Multi-card discounts were also launched to increase the appeal of the convergent Love plan;

−    increased the speed of its "Boost" fixed Internet option from 200Mbps to 400Mbps;

−    reviewed and improved its offers to business customers, with a download speed of 400Mbps, a doubling of data allowances and TV;

−    launched an option giving all customers access to Belgian football channels at a competitive price;

−    launched an Internet only offer;

−    continued to improve the customer experience at home, with the launch of WiFi Mesh and its portfolio of Smart Home services.

Orange Belgium also continued its preparations for the implementation of its mobile access sharing agreement with Proximus, announced in 2019. On April 1, 2020, the employees of Proximus and Orange Belgium impacted by the agreement were transferred to MWingz, the 50:50 joint venture.

During the third quarter of 2020, Orange Belgium announced that it had selected Nokia for its future mobile network, following a tender process based on technological, operational and financial criteria. Orange Belgium aims to replace its entire existing 2G/3G/4G radio network by 2023. Orange Belgium is also set to start rolling out 5G, depending on the availability of spectrum and restrictions on electromagnetic fields, in order to offer the best possible connectivity.

Less than a year after the announcement of its Industry 4.0 campus in the port of Antwerp, Orange Belgium and its industrial partners unveiled the practical consequences of this co-innovation on Orange Belgium’s unique 5G network. These new practical applications, tailor-made for businesses, demonstrate the power of Orange Belgium’s 5G network and the array of possibilities it creates for the Belgian economy.

In 2020, Orange Belgium also made commitments on the environment. Several initiatives were announced, such as the launch of Half ID SIM cards and SIM cards made from 100% recycled plastic, and the expansion of the mobile return program, which promotes responsible smartphones and the sale of refurbished mobiles.

Luxembourg

Orange started its operations in Luxembourg in 2007 via the acquisition of Voxmobile. The company adopted the Orange brand in 2009.

In the mobile segment, Orange Communications Luxembourg, with market share of approximately 15%, ranks third behind incumbent operator Post Luxembourg, the market leader, and Proximus Luxembourg, a subsidiary of Belgian operator Proximus, with its Tango brand (source: ILR, June 2020). Post Luxembourg also has the largest market share in the fixed and Internet market.

In 2020, Orange continued to adapt its portfolio in line with its positioning as a challenger, with the launch of the new Feel, Like and Love Essential Duo offers. Orange was also the first operator in Luxembourg to launch an eSIM card in Luxembourg.

In 2020, Orange Luxembourg successfully acquired two sets of 10 MHz in the 700 MHz band, and 110 MHz in the 3.5 GHz band. The company launched its 5G network in November, and 5G offers without raising prices.

Central Europe

Romania

Orange Romania was founded in 1997 and adopted the Orange brand in 2002. A long-standing player in the mobile segment, Orange launched its satellite TV offers in 2013, then its fiber offer in 2016, following a wholesale agreement with Telekom. In 2020, the Group generated 2.5% of its consolidated revenue in Romania.

The Romanian telecommunication market is dominated by four operators: Orange, Vodafone, Telekom (the incumbent in fixed telephony, which also operates in the mobile segment, co-owned by the Romanian government and OTE, itself jointly controlled by Deutsche Telekom and the Greek government) and RCS & RDS (operating under the Digi brand, owned by Digi Communications).

In the mobile market, Orange’s market share was estimated at 38% at the end of the first half of 2020, compared with 39% in 2019. Orange maintained its leading position, followed by Vodafone, Telekom and Digi (Source: ANCOM, H1 2020).

Following the launch of its fixed offers and its proprietary fiber network, Orange’s fixed market share continued to firm in 2020, in a market dominated by Digi, followed by Telekom, the incumbent, and Vodafone.

In November 2020, Orange announced the signing of an agreement for the takeover of Telekom. The deal will enable the Group to accelerate its strategy as a convergent operator in Romania (see Section 1.3 Significant events).

Orange’s activities in Romania

Against the backdrop of the Covid-19 pandemic, 2020 was another pivotal year for Orange Romania, which is in the process of transitioning from an exclusively mobile operator model to that of an integrated, multi-service operator focusing on its core priorities while transforming itself.

In 2020, Orange launched a new portfolio of plans as part of the commercial transformation of its core mobile business, introducing unlimited voice offers. The company continued to integrate more data into its offers, enabling the rapid adoption of smartphones and significant growth in traffic and revenue from data services, thereby reinforcing its leadership in 4G.

While facing the challenges related to the Covid-19 pandemic, Orange continued to ramp up its 4G operations, the most extensive in Romania, with population coverage now reaching 98.27% nationwide and 100% in urban areas (source: ANCOM). In 2020, Orange Romania was once again confirmed as a leader in connectivity following tests carried out by Ookla, Systemics PAB (DSBO test) and LCC. Romania was the first of the Group’s host countries to see 5G come to market, and Orange Romania continued to roll out its 5G network, which was available in six cities (15 localities) at the end of 2020 and boasted coverage of 100% in Bucharest.

Orange Romania also continued to adapt its strategy to a constantly shifting environment by stepping up the pace of the digital transformation of its sales channels, developing its e-shop to enable online transactions, and launching Yoxo, the Romanian market’s first all-digital brand.

In the public sector, Orange won two tenders for education services, including the supply of 140 thousand tablets, to support the transition to online education.

Orange Money extended its offer by launching a currency exchange and transfer platform and enabling online registration to facilitate digitization. Moreover, as part of its multi-service strategy, Orange Romania’s ICT services continued to deliver growth, driven by its Cloud and cybersecurity solutions.

Slovakia

Orange Slovensko started operating in 1996 and adopted the Orange brand in 2002. A long-standing player in the mobile segment, Orange reinforced its position in convergent offers thanks to the rollout of its own fiber program and the launch of fixed solutions via LTE in 2017. In 2020, the Group generated 1.3% of its consolidated revenue in Slovakia.

Slovakia’s fixed broadband market is dominated by the incumbent operator Slovak Telekom (owned by the Deutsche Telekom group), whose infrastructure covers the entire country. Orange ranks second, with market share of 15.6%. ^[15] Nevertheless, the rollout of its proprietary fiber optic network and regulated access to Slovak Telekom’s fixed network allow Orange to provide fixed broadband services to a large number of potential customers.

In the mobile market, Orange is competing with three other operators: O2 (owned by Czech group PPF), Slovak Telekom (owned by Deutsche Telekom) and Swan (national operator). 4ka began offering mobile services in October 2015, but to date has remained a marginal player. Its services are available in all post offices and focus chiefly on the market’s entry level. With market share of 33.2%, Orange remains the market leader. ^[16] Slovak Telecom ranks second, closely followed by O2.

Orange’s activities in Slovakia

In 2020, Orange continued to implement its strategy of strengthening its position in the convergence market, backed up by its substantial market share in mobile telephony combined with growing market share in fixed telephony and TV.

Orange markets a number of innovative offers, particularly its Love convergent offer. At the same time, it has radically simplified its mobile plan portfolios while bringing innovations to the fixed-line market, such as the Internet Backup service, which enables customers to stay connected even if their fixed-line access is down. Orange has also launched a new offer for students, Go Yoxo, which allows unused data to be traded on the Yoxo Market.

Orange continued to extend its 4G network in 2020. It now covers 99% of the Slovak population, and has also extended its FTTH network, which covered 556,000 connectable households at the end of 2020. In December 2020, OSK and Slovak Telekom signed an agreement for a new optical network sharing model based on GPON technology. Orange can now provide fiber optic services even in localities where it does not have a proprietary network. After a recent upgrade, Orange’s mobile network was recognized as the best in Slovakia, according to the certification issued by Polish company Systemics PAB.

Moldova

Orange Moldova started operating in 1998 and adopted the Orange brand in 2007. A long-standing player in the mobile segment, Orange launched its fixed and convergent telephony offers in 2017, following the 2016 acquisition of SUN Communications, Moldova’s main cable operator. In 2020, the Group generated 0.3% of its consolidated revenue in Moldova.

Moldova’s main telecommunication operators are Orange, Moldcell (only available in the mobile segment, part of a Nepal-based conglomerate since 2020) and Moldtelecom. Moldtelecom is the incumbent; its infrastructure provides both fixed and mobile services. It is the leader in the Internet and fixed telephony, and also operates under the Unite brand in mobile. In 2020, with market share of 55.5%, Orange maintained its number one position in the mobile telephony market, followed by Moldcell and Unite (source: Ancreti, Q3 2020).

Orange’s activities in Moldova

2020 was marked by the Covid-19 pandemic. While maintaining its leadership in the mobile market, Orange Moldova continued to implement its convergence strategy by rapidly rolling out fiber to homes in major towns and cities, and improved its positioning with the addition of HD channels to its TV offer, as well as Moldova’s first 4K channel. Orange Moldova also focused on the B2C segment with the launch of a convergent offer for businesses (Love Business), the business TV service, and services such as Virtual PBX, Business Internet Security and new Microsoft 365 subscriptions.

As part of its digitization strategy, Orange Moldova has successfully increased its online sales activities through the launch of a new e-shop and a chatbot, plus the increasingly popular MyOrange app.

Orange Moldova also continued to invest in the country’s infrastructure. The company operates the most extensive and fastest 2G/3G/4G network, with 4G population coverage of 99%. For the eighth consecutive year, Orange Moldova’s network was rated "Best Moldovan mobile network in the test" by Polish company Systemics PAB.

1.4.3    Africa and Middle East

The Orange group is present in 18 countries in Africa and the Middle East, including 16 where it has controlling interests and two (Tunisia and Mauritius) where it has minority interests. Part of the activities of the business segment are structured into sub-groups (Sonatel and Côte d’Ivoire). In Africa and the Middle East, Orange primarily operates in mobile markets, with the exception of countries where the Group is the incumbent operator (Senegal, Côte d’Ivoire, Jordan and Mauritius) and Morocco, where it also provides fixed telephony and Internet services. These markets are mainly prepaid markets, largely driven by the accelerated development of voice and data usage.

Orange is pursuing a 4G rollout strategy in Africa and the Middle East, and is investing in all countries to upgrade and extend their access networks. The Group has also seen rapid development in mobile financial services. Orange Money has increased its reach, and at December 31, 2020 had 49 million customers, including 22 million active customers who use the service each month.

Countries in the Africa and Middle East business segment are generally tightening regulations covering service quality and environmental standards, while the tax burden is rising.

In 2020, Africa and the Middle East accounted for 13.4% of the Group’s consolidated revenue.

As part of its Engage 2025 strategic plan, Orange aims to become the benchmark digital operator in Africa and the Middle East (see Section 1.2.2 The Orange group strategy).

1.4.3.1    Sonatel sub-group

The Sonatel sub-group operates under the Orange brand in five countries. With operations in Senegal dating back to 1997, it began its international development in Mali in 2002. It generates 72% of its revenue in those two countries. The Sonatel sub-group also operates in Guinea, Guinea-Bissau (operations launched in 2007) and Sierra Leone, where it acquired Airtel Sierra Leone in 2016. In 2020, it generated 4.2% of the Group’s revenue.

With mobile market share of 55.6% in Senegal, 58.7% in Guinea, 55.3% in Mali, 48.0% in Guinea-Bissau and 52.2% in Sierra Leone (source: Orange estimates), the Sonatel sub-group is leader in Senegal, Mali, Guinea and Sierra Leone, and ranks second in Guinea-Bissau.

Depending on the country, it has two or three competitors: Free (whose brand was launched on October 1, 2019 to replace Tigo) and Expresso (Sudatel group) in Senegal; Sotelma/Malitel (Maroc Telecom group) and Alpha Telecom (Planor-Monaco Telecom International consortium) in Mali; MTN and Cellcom in Guinea; MTN in Guinea-Bissau; Sierratel (the incumbent operator), Africell and QCell in Sierra Leone.

The Sonatel sub-group is continuing the development of very high-speed fixed and mobile broadband based on 4G/4G+, FDD/TDD and fiber.

Orange Money enjoyed good momentum in 2020, marked by growth in the active base and the development of uses. Data services also achieved double-digit growth in all countries.

Sonatel demonstrated resilience by improving its results compared with 2019, despite the global health crisis, political instability in certain geographies, the tightening of regulatory measures and increasingly aggressive competition.

The Sonatel group implements a Corporate Social Responsibility policy in line with the Orange group strategy and the guidelines on sustainable development defined with stakeholders in each host country. Numerous initiatives were taken in the fight against Covid-19 in all host countries. The need for more people to have access to dematerialized means of payment prompted several measures to provide free financial services, reduce prices and ease subscription conditions.

1.4.3.2    Côte d’Ivoire sub-group

The Côte d’Ivoire sub-group operates under the Orange brand in three countries. The activity covers Côte d’Ivoire, where the Group has operated since 1996 and which accounts for 68% of its revenue, and Burkina Faso and Liberia, where it acquired Cellcom Liberia and Airtel Burkina Faso in 2016. That represents an area with a population of more than 50 million. In 2020, it generated 3% of the Group’s revenue.

The markets in which the Côte d’Ivoire sub-group operates experienced contrasting trends in 2020, against the backdrop of the health crisis, the continued deterioration of the security situation in Burkina Faso and elections in all three countries during the final quarter of the year.

The Côte d’Ivoire sub-group is the leader in Côte d’Ivoire and Burkina Faso, with mobile market share of 40.1% (source: Artci, Q3 2020) and 43.9% (source: Arcep BF, Q3 2020) respectively. In Liberia, where its market share now stands at 48.2% (source: GSMA, Q4 2020), it ranks second behind MTN. In Côte d’Ivoire, the sub-group is also the leader in the mobile financial services market.

The three entities face the following main competitors in their respective geographies: MTN and Moov in Côte d’Ivoire; Onatel and Telecel in Burkina Faso; and MTN in Liberia.

The sub-group’s activity was characterized by strong resilience in 2020, against the backdrop of health, economic and political climates that largely impacted revenues from mobile financial and B2B services. In Liberia, the authorities increased the tax burden in the final quarter of 2020.

The Côte d’Ivoire sub-group continued the development of FTTH, tripling the size of its customer base to more than 60,000 active customers at the end of 2020 (out of approximately 215,000 available connections). It also strengthened its international connectivity through the Djoliba network, West Africa’s leading pan-African fiber optic network, launched in November 2020 (see Section 1.3 Significant events).

1.4.3.3    Countries in North Africa and the Middle East

Egypt

The Orange group entered the Egyptian telecom market in 1998 through a partnership with Orascom and Motorola in the operator Mobinil. It gradually increased its stake following the withdrawal of Motorola in 2000 and Orascom in 2015. Since 2016, all services have been marketed under the Orange brand. In 2018, Orange Egypt was delisted from the Egyptian Exchange. In 2020, the Group generated 2.1% of its consolidated revenue in Egypt.

Since the end of 2017, market momentum by value has been driven by the launch of 4G services by all operators and customers’ great appetite for mobile Internet services. At the same time, Telecom Egypt, the incumbent, previously operating only in the fixed market, launched a new mobile operator under the WE brand as part of a roaming agreement with Etisalat. The markets also saw a considerable slowdown following the introduction of a tax on each new sale.

With mobile market share of 28.4% (source: GSMA, Q4 2020), Orange is still the country’s second-largest retail operator, behind Vodafone but ahead of Etisalat.

Among significant events in 2020, Orange notably:

−    strengthened its commercial operations through its #012 promotional platform, co-marketing initiatives and the signing of several content distribution agreements with major players in the market;

−    continued to expand its network across the country, maintaining its leading position in terms of quality of service in mobile Internet;

−    expanded its transformation plan aimed at increasing its profitability.

Morocco

The Orange group entered the Moroccan telecom market in 2010 through a partnership with Médi Telecom. The company, which was operating under the Méditel brand, became a consolidated subsidiary of the Group in July 2015 after Orange increased its interest to 49% of the capital. Since the end of 2016, all services have been marketed under the Orange brand. In 2020, the Group generated 1.4% of its consolidated revenue in Morocco.

With 33.9% of the mobile market (source: preliminary data ANRT, Q3 2020), Orange is the country’s second-largest mobile operator (behind the incumbent, Maroc Telecom, but ahead of Inwi).

In a Moroccan market heavily impacted by the Covid crisis, Orange maintained its commercial momentum in 2020 by accelerating the digitization of its offers and launching Orange Money. At the same time, prepaid mobile revenues continued their gradual decline in favor of monthly billing offers. Unlimited Internet plans are enjoying strong growth, with successful fiber optic and 4G (LTE-TDD box) offers.

Jordan

The Orange group entered the Jordanian telecom market in 2000 through a partnership with the incumbent operator Jordan Telecom. The company became a consolidated subsidiary of the Group in 2006 after Orange increased its interest to 51% of the capital. Since the end of 2007, all services have been marketed under the Orange brand. In 2020, the Group generated 0.9% of its consolidated revenue in Jordan.

With mobile market share of 27% at the end of 2020 (source: GSMA, Q4 2020), Orange is the country’s third-largest mobile operator, behind Zain and Umniah.

Orange is also present in the fixed market through its ADSL Internet offers, together with FTTH, launched in 2016. Zain and Umniah are also competitors in this segment.

In 2020, Orange continued its large-scale rollout of fiber optic to all of the country’s major towns and cities.

Orange has also signed an agreement with the European Union to launch innovation projects in the country. It continued to develop initiatives in favor of the country’s digital transformation through its Coding Academy, whose first graduates have now completed their training with an excellent hiring rate after graduating.

Lastly, Orange supported the country in its fight against Covid-19 through multiple actions on the ground, as well as several charitable initiatives.

Tunisia

Orange Tunisie launched its activity in May 2010 after acquiring its license in July 2009. The Orange group is a partner, with 49% of the capital.

Orange’s mobile market share is 23.6% (source: INT, Q3 2020), placing it in third position behind Ooredoo, which maintains its leading position, and Tunisie Telecom.

In 2020, against the unfavorable backdrop of the Covid crisis, Orange Tunisia accelerated its digital transformation (chatbot) and extended its footprint by optimizing its network of distributors and franchisees.

In addition, the Fixbox (an unlimited Internet service launched in June 2019, based on 4G LTE-TDD technology) has been a great commercial success.

1.4.3.4    Countries of Central and Southern Africa

Democratic Republic of the Congo

The Orange group entered the Congolese telecom market in 2011 through the acquisition of Congo Chine Telecom. In 2016, Orange acquired the Congolese subsidiary of the Millicom group, which operated under the Tigo brand. In 2020, Orange RDC generated 0.6% of the Group’s consolidated revenue.

With a mobile voice traffic market share of 29.16%, Orange is the country’s second-largest mobile operator, behind Vodacom but ahead of Airtel and Africell (source: ARPTC, Q2 2020).

In 2020, despite the health crisis linked to Covid-19, Orange DRC showed relative resilience, with growth in revenues from data services and Orange Money.

Orange was the first operator to launch 4G, and in 2020 continued to roll out its mobile broadband network to DRC’s main towns and cities.

2020 was also marked by the intensification of regulatory and tax-related investigations by the various Congolese authorities.

Cameroon

The Orange group has been present in Cameroon since the liberalization of the telecom sector in 1999. All services, initially launched under the Mobilis brand, have been marketed under the Orange brand since 2002. In 2020, the Group generated 0.7% of its consolidated revenue in Cameroon.

With market share of 34.9% in 2020 (Source: GSMA, Q4 2020), Orange is the country’s second-largest mobile operator, behind MTN but ahead of Nexttel. In 2021, fixed-line operator Camtel will launch a mobile business.

While the Covid crisis severely impacted the Cameroonian economy in 2020, Orange maintained strong commercial activity thanks to the sustained development of Orange Money and the mobile data business, as well as good performance from outgoing voice. The regulatory and tax-related issues investigated by the various Cameroonian authorities once again marked the year.

Botswana

The Orange group has been present in Botswana since 1998 and since 2003 under the Orange brand. In 2020, the Group generated 0.2% of its consolidated revenue there.

In a saturated market with a penetration rate of 164%, Orange is the second-largest mobile operator, with market share of 33.7%, behind Mascom but ahead of Be Mobile (source: GSMA, Q4 2020).

The health crisis has severely impacted the economy in Botswana. However, Orange enjoyed good commercial momentum in 2020 thanks to the success of its abundance voice and data offers. Its strong growth is also attributable to significant investments in the network to improve quality of service.

Madagascar

The Orange group has been present in Madagascar since 1998 and since 2003 under the Orange brand. In 2020, the Group generated 0.2% of its consolidated revenue there.

Orange is the country’s second-largest mobile operator, with market share of 25.2% (source: GSMA, Q4 2020), behind the incumbent Telma, but ahead of Airtel and Blueline, an MVNO.

In 2020, despite the health crisis linked to Covid-19, Orange Madagascar maintained revenue growth thanks to the development of mobile data services, which more than made up for the underperformance of voice services. Orange’s business in Madagascar was also marked in 2020 by the development of connectivity offers in the B2B market. Orange also strengthened its innovative positioning in Orange Money financial services by stepping up the development of its pico- and micro-credit solutions with the M-kajy offer.

Central African Republic

The Orange group entered the telecom market in the Central African Republic in 2007 as the fourth entrant. In 2020, the Group generated 0.1% of its consolidated revenue there.

With revenue growth of nearly 25%, Orange consolidated its leading position in the Central African Republic market in 2020, ahead of Telecel and Moov, with market share of 50.0% by value (source: Arcep RCA, Q2 2020). 2020 saw the demise of the fourth operator, Azur.

The strong growth in 2020 is attributable to continuous improvement in the quality of service and strong sales momentum. The development of B2B and Orange Money activities also accelerated in 2020.

Mauritius

The Orange group has been present in Mauritius since 2000 through a partnership with the incumbent operator, Mauritius Telecom, in which it holds 40% of the capital.

Mauritius Telecom is the leader in Internet and fixed telecom services in Mauritius, ahead of DCL, and in mobile services ahead of Emtel and MTML, with market share of 50.5% at end-2020 (source: GSMA).

The operator offers a comprehensive range of fixed and mobile data and voice services. It also offers convergence packages (voice, IP and TV) through its MyT service. The first operator to launch 4G and a mobile payment service in 2012, Mauritius Telecom launched its fiber optic network (FTTH) in 2013 and now covers almost all of the country’s households.

The main growth drivers for Mauritius Telecom lie in content, in particular with a strategy of investing in premium content, enabling Mauritius Telecom to strengthen its position as the market leader.

The company also offers international connectivity via fiber optic submarine cables.

1.4.4    Enterprise

The Enterprise business segment includes all services to key accounts, local authorities and companies with over 50 employees in France, as well as multinationals around the world. Operating under the Orange Business Services brand, Orange is one of the world leaders in supporting the digital transformation of businesses. As an infrastructure operator, technology integrator and value-added services provider, Orange Business Services has a complete portfolio of offers designed to assist its customers to carry out their digital transformation projects and implement their communication projects. Orange provides its customers with a high level of expertise in terms of protecting, collecting, transporting, storing, processing, analyzing and sharing their data and creating value. Under the Orange Cyberdefense brand, it also offers its customers enhanced data protection during all these stages.

Business services (connectivity and IT integration services) are one of the three growth drivers identified by the Group and are key to the new Group strategy, Engage 2025 (see Section 1.2.2 The Orange group strategy).

Moreover, in the face of increasingly sophisticated and global threats, cybersecurity has become a critical challenge for companies and institutions. It is a growth market that requires both critical mass to respond to the complexity of the attacks, and closer contact with customers. Orange is pursuing its development strategy with the aim of extending its international footprint and expertise in this field.

In 2020, the Enterprise sector generated 17.5% of the Group’s consolidated revenue.

The market

The unprecedented global health crisis resulting from the Covid-19 pandemic had a major impact on 2020. Political decisions and protective measures implemented in countries across the world had a major impact on economic activity. In business sectors across the board, companies and their employees had to adapt quickly and change the way they work, prompting a review of processes and IT infrastructure in a bid to rise to new challenges such as the widespread rollout of telework.

The year’s new challenges and the resulting changes in usage had a significant impact on the communications and IT services market for businesses. While the use of networks, the Cloud and collaborative tools increased significantly, companies’ economic circumstances encouraged them to prioritize and reduce their expenses, particularly through project postponements and cancellations in the field of IT. The business communication and IT services market totaled approximately 1,240 billion euros worldwide in 2020, down 4.3% in constant currency (source: Gartner, Q3 2020). The decline affected all services, both telecom services (-6.8%) and IT services (-3.2%), across all geographies.

The provision of telecommunication and IT services to companies is a highly competitive market. It is shared by many players, notably telecommunication operators, network integrators, managed IT service providers, and Internet or digital players. Given the large number of players, no reliable or pertinent information is available on market shares.

In the specific cybersecurity services market, Orange now ranks as a major player, with one of the deepest footprints in Europe. Orange Cyberdefense ranked fourth in the Europe, Middle East and Africa region in 2020, and twelfth worldwide (source: Teknowlogy Group study, December 2020).

Orange Business Services activities

Orange offers a wide range of products and services, including those that are packaged or tailor-made and using different methods such as integrated, managed or Cloud, aimed at guiding businesses in their digital transformation, and structured around their main challenges (connectivity, mobility, streamlining of processes, smoothness of exchanges with customers and support for their projects).

Orange has structured its portfolio of offers around four main types of products and services:

−    fixed telephony (conventional and IP) and audio conference services;

−    mobile telephony offers;

−    network offers, including certain service guarantee levels (mobile and fixed connectivity, data transfer, hybrid networks, fixed and mobile convergence offers);

−    IT and integration service offers, including Cloud solutions, digital & data solutions, cyberdefense solutions, intelligent mobility solutions, unified communication and collaboration services, and customer services and consulting:

-     Cloud solutions include virtualization and the development of "aaS" (as a Service) solutions and business models that business customers are embracing. Orange is particularly well placed in terms of the multi-cloud solutions that its customers are increasingly demanding and for which it can share its experience in the construction, management and orchestration of large-scale complex structures,

-     Digital & data solutions, including the Business & Decision subsidiary, enable the design of digital solutions for customers in the fields of Big Data, data analytics and artificial intelligence, in addition to the integration and supply of systems, business applications and application programming interface (API). Through its Enovacom subsidiary, Orange also offers healthcare players tailored solutions to meet the challenges of digital transformation,

-     Cyberdefense solutions covering infrastructure and users, in managed and integrated or Cloud mode (safe work environments and infrastructure, cyberdefense, management and governance), supervised from a security operations center (see Section 4.1.1.2 Business opportunity: Orange Cyberdefense),

-     Smart mobility solutions are based not only on mobile technologies, but also on the IoT (Internet of Things),

-     Unified communication and collaboration services include interoperability between telephony, messaging and video conference solutions, in triple or quadruple play,

-     Lastly, advice and services to customers include needs analysis, solution architecture, support from rollout to implementation, user training and administration of services and solutions in a range of areas: transition to all-IP, adopting Machine to Machine and the Internet of Things, supervising and managing quality of service, switching to Cloud infrastructure solutions, and the digital transformation of companies.

These offers are also used to develop cross-sector business solutions (finance, transport, energy, government and public sector, geolocation and fleet management, etc.).

As regards its core business as an operator, Orange relies on international partners to supplement its offer and geographical coverage in areas where its customers operate and where its presence does not offer a comprehensive solution. The Group is working to build this type of partnership in the most developed markets, preferably with the leading operator or its direct competitor, like NTT Communications in Japan or AT&T in the United States.

Orange also works in close collaboration with an ecosystem of international technological partners, who are leaders in their respective fields of connectivity, unified communication, Cloud infrastructure, effective data use or cybersecurity. In 2020, two strategic partnerships were announced: the first with Google Cloud (around data services, artificial intelligence, the Cloud and edge computing) and the second with Amazon Web Services (around innovation in the Enterprise Cloud and digital transformation). For more information on these two partnerships, see Section 1.3 Significant events. In addition, Orange is a founding member of the Gaia-X European sovereign Cloud project launched in November, which comes at a key moment in the multi-cloud digital transformation of companies.

Lastly, Orange is developing partnerships with service operators to develop a common business approach to offer innovative solutions for its customers. For example, in November 2020, this approach prompted Orange to invest in LBO France’s Digital Health 2 (DH2) fund to speed up the development of e-health in France and Europe.

The health sector is a key focus of the Engage 2025 strategic plan. With that in mind, Orange Business Services decided to combine its health business within the Enovacom subsidiary from October 1, 2020 in order to intensify synergies and support the digital transformation of healthcare players. Through Enovacom, Orange aims to become a leader in digital health in France.

In 2020, Orange signed a series of major contracts to support its customers around the world, notably with AkzoNobel to drive its digital transformation through secure end-to-end global connectivity services, and with KDDI, a Japanese telecommunication service provider, to equip more than 1 million Toyota and Mazda vehicles with connected device services. Orange also co-innovated with Schneider Electric by launching the first indoor rollout of 5G in the industrial sector in France on experimental spectrum allocated by Arcep as part of a pilot project (see Section 1.3 Significant events).

Meanwhile, Orange Cyberdefense continued the integration of SecureData and SecureLink, two companies acquired in 2019. Its integrated model makes for global presence and local support enabling it to tailor solutions to the needs of its customers.

1.4.5    International Carriers & Shared Services

The operating activities of the International Carriers & Shared Services segment include:

−    international carrier activities undertaken by the Wholesale International Networks Division (rollout of the international and long-haul network, sales of international telephony and services to international carriers, and installation and maintenance of submarine cables); and

−    the activities of OCS and Orange Studio in content.

The segment also includes other cross-cutting activities of the Group, in particular research and innovation (see Section 1.6), or real-estate, as well as support and shared activities including corporate functions at the headquarters.

The operating activities of the segment accounted for 2.2% of the Group’s consolidated revenue in 2020.

1.4.5.1    International Carrier activities

The wholesale operator market comprises three categories of players: global wholesalers, multinational retail operators (including Orange) and regional or specialist players.

The wholesale market’s customer base comprises voice market specialists (call-shop, prepaid cards), fixed and mobile domestic retail carriers (including MVNOs), Internet access and content providers and OTT players. International carriers also sell wholesale traffic to each other.

Wholesale International Networks (WIN) offers a broad range of solutions on the international market. Its business is structured on a large infrastructure of long-haul networks. Its presence in both the retail and wholesale markets means it can develop solutions that are particularly well adapted to the needs of the retail operators.

The Group is notable for being heavily involved in the design, construction and operation of submarine cables. With its ownership or co-ownership of several cable systems, Orange ranks among the world’s largest owners of submarine links. This has enabled it to satisfy the increase in transatlantic traffic.

The Group’s wholesale activity is based on:

−    a seamless global network ^[17] and an IPX protocol network ^[18] supporting voice and data with points of presence throughout the world;

−    a global network of dedicated IP routes with end users in more than 220 countries, connections to more than 200 Internet service providers, and connectivity in over 100 countries in a single IP network hop;

−    99.99% network availability, and centralized network supervision 24/7.

In 2020, IP data traffic increased by 29%, very sustained growth intensified by the health crisis.

Offers

Voice services

Voice service solutions enable operators worldwide to transit their customers’ calls internationally to over 1,200 destinations with 24/7 technical support.

Services to mobile operators

With mobile services solutions, Orange offers roaming as a result of direct connections with over 200 mobile operators as well as broad connectivity enabling it to offer messaging services.

Internet and transmission services

Orange’s data and IP network includes terrestrial, submarine and satellite systems which combine to create a vast global network. With its Internet network, Orange offers adjustable solutions to meet the needs of Internet service or content providers.

Convergence services

Orange provides operators with a multiservice offer to enable them to manage their voice and mobile data services over a single connection.

Security and anti-fraud services

To protect the value of its customers’ business, Orange Wholesale International Networks offers solutions covering the protection of identity and privacy and that of its networks, mobile traffic and voice traffic.

The portfolio of anti-fraud and security services relies on voice, Internet and mobile service solutions. These offers include audit, detection and protection functions as well as the provision of analysis reports. The portfolio also contains offers that focus on the fight against the dangers of cybercrime. Orange Wholesale International Networks’ customers can resell some of these offers to their own customers.

Orange Marine

Orange Marine is a major player in submarine cables, from the early research and engineering stage through to the setting up of intercontinental connections and the maintenance of existing cables. In total, Orange Marine has installed more than 265,000 kilometers of submarine cables (including over 30,000 kilometers of buried cables) across all oceans and carried out surveys on over 80,000 kilometers of seabed. Its vessels carried out more than 850 repairs on defective cables, some of which were performed at a depth of 5,000 meters. Orange Marine has a cable-laying fleet of seven vessels (six cable ships and one submarine research ship). It represents 15% of the global fleet and is one of the most experienced worldwide.

In 2020, Orange Marine operated without significant interruption despite the global health crisis, with vessels in operation in the Atlantic and Pacific, as well as in the Mediterranean and Indian Ocean. For more information on the announcements made by Orange regarding submarine cables, see Section 1.3 Significant events.

1.4.5.2    Content activities

Content distribution activities (TV, video-on-demand, music, video games) are a key component of Orange’s strategy as a multi-service operator, with over 10 million households in Europe connected to its TV universe at the end of 2020. These activities help promote the Group’s very high-speed broadband offers.

Orange’s content strategy is primarily based on developing partnerships with rights holders and service publishers. Orange is focused on its role of aggregator and distributor by referencing the best entertainment services available in order to offer them to its customers through its broadband networks.

In France, Orange is also developing an ambitious policy of producing and co-producing films and series, and broadcasting them via its Orange Studio subsidiary and its premium service, OCS. All OCS programs are available via scheduled programming and on-demand. Most distributors offer OCS and it can be accessed directly online. At end-2020, OCS had nearly 3 million subscribers.

Orange Studio’s business was heavily impacted by the Covid-19 health crisis. 2021 was a shortened year, as movie theaters were open for less than seven months, and barely two and a half months under normal operating conditions. Against that backdrop, Orange Studio reduced the number of releases of its films in theaters and turned to platforms. Amazon thus acquired the rights to Kheiron’s "Brutus vs. César", and Netflix started screening "Cuban Network" by Olivier Assayas. Among series, the critically acclaimed début original production "Cheyenne and Lola" has been available on OCS since November 2020. Furthermore, "La Belle Epoque" by Nicolas Bedos picked up three César awards out of its eight nominations at the ceremony held on February 28, 2020.

In Romania, the acquisition of Telekom Romania, announced in November 2020, will strengthen Orange’s position, making it number two in TV in 2021.

In addition, Deezer, an Orange partner since 2010, continues to grow. Its services, available in France, Romania, Luxembourg and Côte d’Ivoire, have been extended more recently to Egypt and Morocco, and will be rolled out by other subsidiaries in the Africa and Middle East region in 2021. At the same time, Orange continues to roll out Orange Radio, its radio and podcast service available in 18 European and African countries, on mobile, web, TV and connected devices.

On the strength of its social commitment for Africa, Orange has innovated in the field of digital reading by opening a digital book and press service in partnership with French player YouScribe. Lastly, the video game market continues its double-digit growth, boosted by multiple periods of lockdown in 2020. In this segment, Orange has strengthened its Cloud Gaming offering on Orange TV in France and its unlimited mobile gaming subscriptions in more than 15 countries.

1.4.6    Mobile financial services

Mobile financial services are a key component of Orange’s Engage 2025 strategy. With the expansion of its multiservice activities on the African continent, B2B and IT services, mobile financial services are one of the Group’s three growth drivers. The Mobile Financial Services business segment accordingly includes the activities of Orange Bank and Orange Bank Africa. Orange Money’s business continues to be driven by geographical segments.

The banking market

The European banking sector is currently undergoing far-reaching change, marked by:

−    the emergence of unforeseen risks, such as the Covid-19 pandemic, and an uncertain economic climate weighing on both revenue and cost of risk;

−    an enduring environment of low interest rates, which undermines the profitability of banks’ lending activity by narrowing their margins, despite the European Central Bank’s accommodating monetary policy;

−    the need to adapt to regulatory developments (DSP2, GDPR, etc.) in the face of more vigilant regulatory authorities (ACPR, CNIL, etc.);

−    increased competition and fragmentation of supply (online trading, account aggregators, open banking, etc.);

−    a boom in digital uses that is reshaping customer behavior (autonomous, distant, volatile, demanding) towards banks and prompting the integration of new technologies (instant payment, data and AI, blockchain, etc.) for greater innovation and performance.

The very intense competition in this market comes from players in several major categories:

−    the large conventional banking networks, which are gradually adapting their offering, structure and workforce to the new environment (7.6% of bank branches were closed between 2010 and 2019);

−    online banks, some of which are part of the large incumbent banking networks, which mainly emerged in the 2000s (Boursorama Banque, ING Direct, etc.);

−    neobanks (such as Orange Bank), which appeared in the 2010s and are based on a mobile application and a simplified customer experience. In competition with online and conventional banks, innovation is their key means of capturing market share: the number of current accounts opened in neobanks has increased by 150% in the space of two years and there are just over 3.5 million active accounts in France (source: ACPR 2020 study, "Neobanks in search of profitability");

−    fintechs (financing platforms, means of payment and account aggregators);

−    tech giants offering mobile payment solutions, including Apple Pay, the Facebook Messenger payment function, Samsung Pay, Android Pay, etc. They can offer financial services directly thanks to their banking licenses;

−    large retailers (Leclerc, Fnac-Darty, etc.), which are aiming to become links in the mobile financial services value chain, and new players from all backgrounds that continue to emerge in the banking market (MafrenchBank, Uber Money, Free, Starling Bank).

In the West African Economic and Monetary Union, the banking sector experienced an increase in activity indicators (total balance sheet, resources, uses of funds, portfolio quality, etc.) in the first half of 2020, despite the unfavorable economic climate resulting from the pandemic.

The sector was marked by the cut in the BCEAO key interest rates in June 2020, the postponement of the transitional provisions of the Basel II/III reform on capital ratios and increased competition in digital technology. In addition, the BCEAO has announced the launch of its interoperability project in 2021, which will impact the entire mobile money and banking ecosystem.

The very intense competition in this market comes from:

−    aggregators offering interoperable payment solutions (KKiaPay, Intouch, etc.);

−    mobile money operators such as MTN with MomoCash; and

−    conventional banks: all banking institutions are developing their digital channels via mobile applications.

Mobile Financial Services activities

Orange Bank

Orange Bank is positioned at the frontier of the banking and telecom sectors.

Modeled originally on the mobile uses of customers, in France, the offer carries no conditions related to income, savings or minimum balance. There are no bank charges attached to accounts and their associated bank cards (subject to certain terms and conditions of use). All basic banking services are offered: bank account, bank card, checkbook, authorized overdraft, savings account, à la carte insurance and personal loans. Customers can perform all their banking operations on a mobile handset. Moreover, when opening a bank account, customers have access to a network of nearly 300 Orange stores approved as banking operation and payment service intermediaries.

Relying heavily on telecom functions, Orange Bank’s innovations offer customers the ability to make contactless payments with credit cards or via mobile handsets, immediate access to their bank account balance, temporary blocking and unblocking of their credit card from the application, and to request and send money by text message. Customer relationships are managed by a virtual advisor, available 24/7, with the possibility of using the customer relationship center located in France.

2019 was dedicated to the launch of a premium bank card (which comes with a price advantage in the form of cashback for purchases in Orange stores) and a financing offer available in Orange stores enabling customers to finance their equipment purchases (smartphones, phones, tablets, connected devices and accessories). At the same time, significant investments in the continuous improvement of the app resulted in a 1 point increase in the app’s rating on stores year-on-year, giving the bank one of the best NPSs in the market (Source: Bain/Dynata global retail banking survey 2019).

In 2020, Orange Bank consolidated its development with insurance offers that can be taken out on mobile devices 24/7. This change is the result of the integration in the first half-year of Orange Courtage, which in particular sells insurance for mobile devices and had 549,000 individual customers at December 31, 2020. The bank has thus reached a new milestone in its cross-selling policy with Orange by becoming an insurance broker, while at the same time increasing the scope to assist its customer base with their equipment purchases.

At the end of 2020, Orange Bank also launched new-generation bank cards developed with Mastercard and a Premium Pack dedicated to families, which enables parents to create accounts for their children and provide them with a Premium card in a protective environment.

In addition, Orange Bank continues to offer car loans sold in the Groupama network alongside vehicle insurance, and a home loan offer distributed by Groupama, Meilleurtaux and (since 2019) Nexity.

On the international stage, Orange Bank was launched in Spain at the end of 2019. This bank, which is 100% mobile, offers Orange customers a selection of savings accounts, checking accounts, Mastercard credit cards, and group management as well as numerous discounts on Orange phone bills. Innovations include the Group management function, which enables funds and expenses to be shared or transferred between several people, giving customers the option to manage joint subscriptions such as water bills or Netflix accounts. Since the summer of 2020, Orange Bank Spain has also been offering consumer credit and a solution for financing purchases of mobile phones in stores. The app is currently rated 4.9 on stores, making it the best-rated in Spain (Source: xxx).

At December 31, 2020, Orange Bank had nearly 1.2 million customers in France and Spain. This number includes customers who have opened an account with Orange Bank, as well as customers of credit and mobile insurance offers.

Orange Bank Africa

In July 2020, Orange and NSIA, a leading bancassurance provider, announced the launch of Orange Bank Africa’s commercial activities in Côte d’Ivoire after obtaining a banking license from the Central Bank of West African States (BCEAO) in 2019. Orange Bank Africa aims to meet the needs of a large part of the population excluded from the conventional banking world by enabling them to borrow or save small amounts essential for their daily lives. Orange Bank Africa plans to expand into Senegal, Mali and Burkina Faso.

Orange Bank Africa offers an innovative service:

−    instantly accessible to everyone, regardless of location, time, mobile phone generation or the level of income or savings;

−    easy to use; and

−    offering attractive borrowing and savings terms for low-income people.

The successful launch of Orange Bank Africa resulted in the acquisition of 356,000 customers by the end of December 2020 with its pico-credit and savings offers via Orange Money. More than 467,000 loans were granted in a total amount of 15.5 billion CFA francs, thereby contributing to the economic and social development of the populations concerned. Orange Bank Africa enables the Group to participate more fully in the economic activity of its host countries and thus remains in perfect harmony with the regional financial inclusion strategy promoted by the BCEAO.

1.5    Orange’s networks

For Orange group, the networks are a strategic asset and, as such, are subject to constant supervision, maintenance and modernization. Orange’s strategic plan, Engage 2025, launched in December 2019, is based on four key ambitions, including reinventing its operator model by capitalizing on its network advances (see Section 1.2.2 The Orange group strategy).

At end-2020, the Orange group operated networks in 26 countries to serve its B2C customers and in nearly 200 countries or territories to serve its B2B customers. Orange is continuing to modernize its networks to provide its customers with ever greater and more enhanced connectivity in all its locations.

The Group’s investments in its networks, other than those to maintain their quality (pole, cable and mast replacement) are designed to improve these networks in a number of respects:

−    the development of very high-speed fixed and mobile broadband (FTTH and 4G/5G), increased data transfer volumes and reduced connection latency. These investments concern all networks, from the mobile radio network and household Internet connectivity to submarine cables;

−    user migration from old technologies (analog telephony, copper networks, 2G, 3G) to new technologies;

−    gradual virtualization of network control functions ("programmability" of networks so that they can be adapted more quickly to new services and uses);

−    automation of network operation, which improves the quality of service for customers.

The networks are very extensive. In each country, they break down into (i) access networks (fixed or mobile), (ii) IP transmission and transport networks and (iii) control and service networks, supplemented by (v) international networks.

Access networks connect each customer - individual or business customers - and provide a first level of customer data aggregation. IP transmission and transport networks connect access networks with each other and with the networks of other operators in the relevant country, as well as with international networks. Service control networks, which drive access, transmission and IP transport networks, provide the connection between people and manage the services (voice, TV, Internet access, data). International terrestrial and submarine networks provide global connectivity for all services, voice and data, for which servers are often located on a different continent.

A glossary defining several of the technical terms used in this Section may be found in Section 7.2.2 at the end of this Registration Document.

A common feature of all these networks is the continual increase in their capacity. Usage continues to expand, and traffic volumes are increasing across all Group networks. To anticipate this growth, which will continue over the coming years, the Group is investing in its networks to increase their capabilities and performance.

1.5.1    Access networks

Fixed access networks

Analog access and ADSL/vDSL broadband access

Copper access is made up of a pair of copper wires that connect each customer to a concentration point and give the latter access, via the distribution and transport network, to a local switch. It is used to deliver analog voice services and broadband access services.

Orange operates copper access networks in France and Poland, and in various countries in Africa and the Middle East (Côte d’Ivoire, Jordan, Senegal), to provide analog voice access services and data in the B2C, B2B and wholesale markets.

Fixed broadband ADSL/vDSL access (for voice applications, Internet access and television) is available in:

−    France and Poland, with coverage approaching 100% on the incumbent local loop;

−    countries in the Africa and Middle East region, where Orange is the operator of the copper local loop;

−    other countries (including Egypt, Spain and Slovakia), where Orange uses the local loop of incumbent operators, either unbundled or via bitstream-type offers;

−    Belgium and Romania, where broadband offers are marketed using the network of third-party operators;

−    Moldova, where, following the acquisition of Sun Communications, Orange operates a cable network.

Networks and services based on copper access are used less and less as users move to very high-speed broadband. They are therefore constantly being optimized and, in France, a timetable has been drawn up for the gradual discontinuation of the analog voice telephone service, and the removal of the copper network:

−    since the end of 2018: end of the marketing of new analog voice telephony lines;

−    from the end of 2023: technical discontinuation of the analog voice telephony service, by geographical area;

−    phasing out of the copper access network from 2023, with an estimated completion date of 2030.

Very high-speed broadband fiber optic access

FTTH (Fiber To The Home) network access extends the available broadband ADSL/vDSL service offer to include upstream and downstream very high-speed broadband (up to 1 Gbit/s and more), with improved performance, in particular in terms of response time.

In France, Orange has been deploying FTTH access for over ten years using GPON technology, which can pool several very high-speed broadband accesses on a single fiber without impairing the capacity of each access point’s capacity to increase speed. The rollout of the FTTH network started in 2007 in a few major French cities and was then expanded to all large cities. During the years 2011 and 2012, Orange entered into sharing arrangements with other telecom operators to speed up fiber optic rollout. In 2020, the rollout continued at a steady pace despite the health crisis, and Orange consolidated its leadership in France: a total of 22.9 million homes were connectable to Orange fiber at the end of 2020 (see Section 1.3 Significant events).

Orange is also rolling out fiber in Spain, where its FTTH network covered 14.9 million connectable households at end-2020. An FTTH fiber network has also been rolled out in Poland, with connectivity offered to some 5.0 million households, as well as in Slovakia, with 600,000 connectable households. The rollout of FTTH networks is also underway in Jordan, Côte d’Ivoire, Morocco and Senegal.

Orange shares its fixed access network in its three main countries, France, Spain and Poland, and intends to share certain future FTTH rollouts with other operators via FiberCos, possibly involving third parties. See Section 1.2.2 The Orange group strategy - Monetization of the networks and execution of the infrastructure strategy.

Radio and satellite access

In various African countries and in Eastern Europe, fixed services are provided through 4G/LTE in addition to copper and fiber optic networks.

Other than copper, fiber and radio access, fixed residential access and satellite television services are marketed via space capacity rental.

Mobile access networks

The GSM (2G), UMTS (3G), LTE (4G) and now 5G access networks support voice and data communication services that reach average speeds of several tens of Mbit/s and up to several hundred in optimal conditions, which makes it easier to send and receive voluminous content (audio, photo and video). The Group operates a mobile network in each of the countries where it offers consumer telecommunication services. The network supports GSM, UMTS and LTE technologies in all countries; in Europe, it also supports 5G technology.

To reduce its environmental impact and operating costs, Orange shares more than half of its radio sites with a competitor. Sharing can be either "passive" (confined to masts only), or "active" (masts and active equipment). Sharing of this nature, which previously concerned 2G/3G/4G technologies, now includes 5G. Passive sharing is in place in almost all of the Group’s host countries. Active sharing, which is more effective, has mainly been adopted in the following countries:

−    Poland, for nearly all of the mobile access network;

−    Spain, where the mobile access network is shared outside major cities (those with more than 175,000 inhabitants);

−    France, for 4G coverage of dead zones including the 2,000 new sites of the New Deal program;

−    Belgium, where an active mobile access network sharing agreement was signed with a competitor in 2019. Work to consolidate the two networks, which was underway at the end of 2020, will span several years; and

−    Romania, for sites in rural areas.

2020 was marked by:

−    5G rollouts in European countries, allowing commercial launches to go ahead in Poland, Spain, Luxembourg and France;

−    the implementation of sharing agreements in Spain and Belgium, and the New Deal agreement in France between the government, Arcep and the four mobile operators to ensure better mobile coverage in rural areas (see section 1.7.1.2.2 Regulation of mobile telephony).

1.5.2    National transmission and IP transport and control networks

In each country where it has consumer customers, Orange operates a layered network:

−    transmission networks;

−    iP transport network;

−    control network;

−    voice service network.

The transmission network consists primarily of fiber optics, but also radio links, especially for alternative or purely mobile networks in MEA countries. These networks support voice and data traffic, for fixed and mobile retail (B2C and B2B) and wholesale services. Optical links offer bandwidth of up to 400 Gbit/s per wavelength, and Dense Wavelength Division Multiplexing (DWDM) technology makes it possible to have up to 80 wavelengths per fiber. Orange is one of the world leaders in the use of advanced optical functions to obtain a more flexible transmission network.

The IP network consists of routers connected to the transmission network. In France, an IP network dedicated to businesses is also in operation, in addition to the network managing data for B2C customers. The main purpose of this network is to connect a company’s French sites for internal data exchange on a Virtual Private Network (VPN) and provide it with Internet connectivity. It also provides Voice over IP transport for companies.

The control network (also known as the signaling network) manages calls and data connections, updates of location data for mobile phones, roaming and SMS. This network is being upgraded to new standards, for example to manage 5G.

In the countries in which it has fixed operations, Orange operates a switched telephone network (STN) to deliver analog voice and ISDN digital services. These networks are continually being optimized because of declining usage. In France, Orange stopped marketing its analog voice services at the end of 2018, and announced the first zones where voice services will only be available using IP technology from the end of 2023.

Orange has also rolled out fixed VoIP networks using IMS technology (IP Multimedia Subsystem) in many countries for B2C and B2B uses.

Until 2015, all mobile voice traffic was managed in switch mode by the mobile network in each country. In 2015, Orange rolled out mobile IMS infrastructure in European countries to offer VoLTE services (VoIP over LTE) and VoWiFi (mobile Voice over WiFi). At end-2020, VoLTE and VoWiFi had been rolled out in all of the Group’s European networks and were used by millions of customers.

1.5.3    International networks

Terrestrial network

The international terrestrial network comprises four main networks, connected via submarine cables:

−    the European network, whose rollout began in April 2012 in France, and which has been extended to include services in Frankfurt, London, Barcelona and Madrid, as well as submarine cable stations;

−    the North American backbone served by the two arms of the TAT-14 transatlantic cable system;

−    the Asian backbone in Singapore served by the SEA-ME-WE3 and SEA-ME-WE4 submarine cables; and

−    Djoliba, the first pan-African backbone, brought into service in November 2020. This infrastructure is based on a terrestrial fiber optic network coupled with submarine cables, thereby offering secure international connectivity from West Africa. The new backbone covers eight countries, Burkina Faso, Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Guinea, Liberia, Mali, Nigeria and Senegal.

Satellites

Orange uses satellite communications to provide VSAT (Very Small Aperture Terminal) services to Orange Business Services’ terrestrial or maritime B2B customers and to ensure connection with isolated mobile sites in Africa and IP or voice connectivity to other operators. To provide those services, Orange uses rented space capacity from satellite operators (such as Eutelsat, Intelsat, SES and Arabsat).

Submarine cables

To address the strong growth in international telecommunication traffic and in a highly competitive market, Orange is maintaining its level of investment in submarine cables and is continuing to develop its network in order to meet the needs of its customers. Due to the high cost of investments required in the construction of cables, such investments are carried out with the different players involved (operators, private companies, GAFAM) and in various forms (consortiums, purchase of user rights, transmission-capacity rental, etc.).

Orange is a partner in some 50 consortiums covering various routes: North Atlantic, Caribbean, Europe-Asia, Europe-Africa. In 2019, the PEACE project was confirmed with the signing of an agreement to lay a new cable linking France with East Africa and Pakistan and to bring it into service in 2021.

International service control networks

Orange operates an international control network to manage the signaling associated with the voice traffic, roaming and text messaging of its mobile networks and those of its operator customers. This network is evolving to handle new standards such as 5G.

Orange also operates a network for the supply of voice services for international businesses, based on the international IP MPLS network.

In addition, several centralized platforms were rolled out on the international transit points to provide value-added services to mobile operators.

1.6    Research and development

In the information and communication technology (ICT) sector, which is undergoing major change in its value chain with the increase in the number of players and the creation of new economic models, innovation is a major growth engine for the Orange group. In 2020, the Group devoted 643 million euros (i.e. 1.5% of revenue) to furthering its research and innovation activities, including employee costs and operating and capital expenditure related to research and innovation for new products and services.

1.6.1    Research and innovation

Orange is currently a leading private player involved in digital research in France. In a rapidly changing world, Orange aims to be a committed player in current and future transformations including connectivity, especially with 5G and 6G, responsible artificial intelligence, the Internet of Things on a large scale, and digital technology with low environmental impact, synonymous with trust and sovereignty. The Group is developing open research that differentiates Orange from its competitors and offers inclusive innovation that is both accessible to all and focused on a positive vision of progress. Bringing together its activities around the creation of strategic innovation, research and the implementation of technical and data policies for the Orange group, the Technology and Global Innovation (TGI) Division is the driving force behind this innovation. Against the backdrop of rapid changes in our customers’ uses and expectations, the TGI Division is building competitive and value-creating assets for the Group. Its mission, "Prepare the future, build the present", is part of the Group’s strategy.

Orange is convinced that using data and artificial intelligence (AI) in a responsible, useful and accessible way will open new prospects for individuals, society and the planet. The Group invests in the French and European research and innovation ecosystem, joins forces with many start-ups and industrial partners and participates in the European AI agenda. Its research teams provide support in three priority areas: making networks smarter, improving operational efficiency and reinventing the customer experience. Orange offers a host of skills development systems in AI and Data: for people retraining with the "Microsoft AI School" created in association with Microsoft and Simplon, for apprentices with the Orange Apprentice Training Center and its "Data" program, and for young people and Group employees. Orange also supports initiatives to promote responsible and inclusive use of AI. In 2020, for instance, the Group strengthened its support for Impact AI, a think and do tank devoted to the social challenges of AI, and launched an International Charter for Inclusive AI with the Arborus fund. Orange was also the first company to obtain the GEEIS-IA label for its initiatives in the design, development and use of inclusive AI.

Supplying its customers with the best connectivity is key to Orange’s strategy. 5G technology enables improved connection speed to mobile services, with average speeds 3 to 4 times faster than 4G thanks to smart antennas installed on existing 4G sites. It is initially being rolled out in urban areas where 4G is in high demand and in areas with high levels of economic activity to ease the load on other networks. After an initial commercial launch in Romania at the end of 2019, Orange successively launched 5G in Poland, Spain, Luxembourg and France in 2020. Rollouts will continue gradually in those countries over the 2021-2023 period, as well as in other countries where the Group operates in Europe, Africa and the Middle East, depending on the availability of spectrum. From 2023, when the core networks move to 5G, Orange will be in a position to offer lower latency and network slicing by allocating certain network slices to cover critical usage or specific needs.

5G is an essential lever for the Group to achieve its commitment to be "Net Zero Carbon by 2040". It will progressively be more energy efficient than 4G, and up to 10 times more efficient by 2025. For the general public, 5G will promote the development of even more interactive, immersive and contextualized experiences for learning, working, communicating, playing and improving daily lives.

Its technical performance will also make 5G a lever for business competitiveness and regional development. Combined with other technologies like edge computing, artificial intelligence and the Internet of Things, 5G will open up a host of opportunities including the optimization of production processes and better support for isolated workers during maintenance operations. It will make it possible for the environmental impact of activities in a wide range of sectors including water, energy, waste, transport, buildings and smart cities to be managed with very high accuracy. Advances are also slated for telehealth, thanks to videoconferencing and the real-time transmission of high-definition medical imagery. In 2020, Orange conducted a number of case studies on the future use of 5G with companies in Europe, notably as part of co-innovation projects. The Group is also continuing its initiatives to stimulate innovation and enable start-ups and SMEs to test their existing and future solutions with 5G coverage.

Orange is continuing to roll out dedicated IoT networks in Europe: its LoRaWAN^® network is steadily being extended in Romania and Slovakia, and Orange now offers nationwide LTE-M coverage in Poland. In the B2B market, Orange has developed its customer base with the "Smart Operations" offer, which includes the supply of sensors and secure connectivity to the LoRaWAN^® network and the business line management interface. In the B2C market, Orange has enhanced its Maison Connectée home automation offering in France by signing a partnership with Somfy and launched a comprehensive range of smart objects that can be controlled via a mobile app under the "Smart Home" label in Belgium.

Orange is also focusing its connectivity innovation on the virtualization of network control functions (which allows for the emergence of new services and offers greater flexibility), and their automation. Artificial intelligence algorithms make it possible to automate and optimize various actions such as detecting the cause in the event of a failure on a fiber customer’s line or adapting mobile capacity in real time in line with change in traffic volumes during the day. In 2020, Orange signed a strategic partnership with Google to intensify its IT and digital transformation and develop new Cloud services, particularly in edge computing (see Section 1.3 Significant events).

For the environment, Orange is one of the sector’s pioneers, with its green network approach already going back several years. The Green program, which has already reduced the Group’s energy consumption linked to network and information system operations (see Section 4.4.2.1 Network energy consumption), continues under the Engage 2025 strategic plan. It will build notably on the energy efficiency of 5G and the eco-design of Data centers, as well as the use of data and AI, to further reduce energy consumption caused by network elements. Orange’s commitment to green networks is also reflected in the purchase of renewable energy. In 2020, Orange signed several power purchase agreements (PPA), multi-year contracts for the purchase of electricity produced by solar or wind farms, in Spain, France and Poland.

For sustainable innovation, Orange reduced the environmental impact of SIM cards by releasing a new version in 2020. Used Group-wide, it requires half the volume of plastic backing of previous cards and can accommodate two chips rather than just one. This approach is further illustrated by the use of fully recycled plastic for the manufacture of Eco-SIM cards.

In Africa and the Middle East, September 2020 saw Orange announce the launch of the Sanza Touch, the first Orange 4G Android smartphone (Go edition) at GSMA Thrive Africa 2020. It rounds out the Sanza range that Orange was marketing in 16 countries in the region at year-end 2020. Sanza Touch ranks as one of the most affordable 4G smartphones on the market, enabling Orange to reaffirm its goal of providing more people with mobile Internet access and promoting digital inclusion. Brought out since October 2020, it was already sold in 4 countries at the end of 2020.

Orange’s research and innovation activities are conducted within the framework of an Open Innovation strategy to capture trends, find original solutions and benefit from partners’ skills and contributions.

This is reflected in a number of developments:

−    Orange signed nearly 60 research contracts with the world’s top University research centers between 2018 and 2020, and has also set up two joint laboratories: one with INRIA on the virtualization of network functions, and the other on antennas with the University of Nice. It is also closely involved in the b<>com Institut de Recherche Technologique, and is contributing to some 60 national and European cooperative projects, including through its involvement in eight competitiveness clusters (including the chair of the Images & Réseaux cluster) as part of a network of more than 3,000 industrial and academic stakeholders. Orange also funds five research chairs, including one with Institut Mines-Télécom on the values and policies of personal data;

−    many start-ups benefit from Orange’s support through a number of schemes including the Orange Fab program, which by the end of 2020 has helped accelerate the development of more than 500 start-ups in 18 countries spanning four continents. Orange is also developing its support for women start-up creators, with #FemmesEntrepreneuses and Women Start, as well as the best positive impact technological projects in Africa and the Middle East with the Orange Award for Social Entrepreneurship in Africa and the Middle East (known by its French acronym, POESAM), which is now in its eleventh year. It is also part of various global networks and events, including the Business France and French Tech networks;

−    lastly, Orange has an active policy of forming strategic partnerships with leading industrial players worldwide, which allows it to enhance its portfolio of products and services and open itself to new ecosystems.

1.6.2    Intellectual Property and Licensing

The Intellectual Property and Licensing Department protects, manages and adds value to Orange’s patent portfolio, which is one of the Group’s intangible assets. It also adds value to software. It is an asset that sets Orange apart from its academic and industry partners. Its role is also to defend the Group’s interests in the event of disputes involving intellectual property.

At December 31, 2020, the Orange group had a portfolio of 8,770 patents or patent applications in France and abroad protecting its innovations. To maximize their value, some patents are licensed through patent pools for patents pertaining to industry standards (e.g. NFC, MPEG Audio, WiFi, HEVC). Value maximization also concerns software such as engineering tools for the mobile network.

In 2020, 225 new inventions were patented, including major technical contributions to standardization (5G, coding, video, etc.). The Orange Labs network in France and abroad accounts for the bulk of the Group’s inventions. Orange ranks seventeenth among the top 30 French applicants with the European Patent Office, and eleventh in the National Industrial Property Institute’s ranking of French applicants published in 2020.

1.6.3    Capital investment

The Orange group plays an important role in financing innovation in the IT industry, drawing on various investment vehicles:

−    first, Orange Ventures, wholly owned by the Group: at the end of 2020, Orange strengthened its venture capital activity by creating Orange Ventures, a new company with a budget of 350 million euros. That makes it one of Europe’s 10 largest corporate venture capital funds. Orange Ventures invests in fast-growing companies in Orange’s established business areas such as connectivity, cybersecurity, digital enterprise and innovative financial services, as well as in new areas that the Group is exploring, such as e-health;

With offices in Paris and Dakar, Orange Ventures supports start-ups at all stages of their development, from the seed stage in Africa and the Middle East, to more mature phases in Europe and the United States, with unit investments of up to 20 million euros per round of fundraising.

For Orange, Orange Ventures serves to promote the emergence of future technological champions helping drive the transition to an increasingly digital and responsible world in the service of the greatest number in order to share their innovation capabilities with the Group’s 259 million customers worldwide.

To that end, Orange Ventures innovates by envisioning flexible and optional, but nevertheless highly structured processes for creating synergies between Orange and start-ups. Orange Ventures aims to match the financial performance of the best venture capitalists, and will make its investment decisions independently. The 20-strong Orange Ventures team has been strengthened with acknowledged experts from the world of venture capital. It has assumed the management of the Orange Digital Ventures portfolio, launched in 2015.

−    external investment funds with holdings in unlisted companies and managed by independent management companies, in which Orange has generally invested with other investors, mostly industrial companies, but occasionally also involving purely financial firms, include:

-     the Iris Next fund and the three Orange Publicis Ventures funds (Growth, Global and Early-Stage), created within the framework of a partnership with the Publicis group, and managed by Iris Capital Management in which the Group is also involved at governance level,

-     two funds that invest mainly in Africa: Partech Africa, managed by Partech Partners, and the Franco-African Fund, managed by AfricInvest,

-     several other "thematic" funds, including Robolution Capital, managed by 360 Capital Partners and focused on robotics, Ecomobility Ventures, managed by Idinvest Partners and focused on digital and sustainable mobility, and Digital Health 2, managed by LBO France and focused on digital health,

-     two venture capital funds, Raise Investissement and Raise Ventures, managed by private equity company Raise, which also conducts philanthropic activities,

-     two seed capital funds, Paris-Saclay Seed Fund and Seedcamp IV, investing in very young start-ups, and

-     as an exception, the LAC 1 fund managed by Bpifrance, a fund of listed assets whose main decision-making centers are located in France.

The two new investments made by the Orange group in 2020 were the Digital Health 2 and LAC 1 funds mentioned above.

In total, the Group has made financial investment commitments (via direct or indirect equity investments) totaling nearly 650 million euros over the last 15 years as part of its private equity activity, including the 350 million euros assigned to Orange Ventures.

 

1.7    Regulation of activities

1.7.1    Regulation of telecommunication activities

In the countries where it operates, the Orange group must comply with various regulatory obligations governing the provision of its products and services, primarily relating to obtaining and renewing telecommunication licenses, as well as oversight by authorities seeking to maintain effective competition in electronic communications markets. Orange also faces specific regulatory constraints in some countries due to its dominant position in the relevant markets. The risks linked to the regulation of the electronic communications sector are described in Section 2.1.2 Legal risks.

1.7.1.1    European Union

1.7.1.1.1 Legal and regulatory framework

The European Union has laid down a common legal framework aimed at harmonizing the regulation of electronic communications. It is binding on the member states and must be implemented by the National Regulatory Authorities.

The general legal framework of the European Union has been amended by the European Electronic Communications Code, which came into force on December 20, 2018. It revises and combines four main directives deriving from the 2002 Telecom Package on:

−    a common regulatory framework for electronic communications networks and services;

−    the authorization of electronic communications networks and services;

−    access to and interconnection of electronic communications networks and associated facilities;

−    universal service and users’ rights relating to electronic communications networks and services.

Furthermore, Regulation (EC) 1211/2009 of November 25, 2009, canceled and replaced by Regulation (EU) 2018/1971 of December 11, 2018, implemented the Body of European Regulators for Electronic Communications (BEREC).

This legal framework is supplemented by sector-based texts (international roaming, open Internet, etc.) as well as broader texts aimed at the European digital ecosystem (protection of privacy, etc.).

1.7.1.1.2 Main community texts in force

The European Electronic Communications Code

The European Electronic Communications Code (Directive (EU) 2018/1972) came into force on December 20, 2018. The Member States then had 24 months to transpose it into national law. However, due to the health crisis, the transposition has not yet been completed in certain countries, particularly in Orange’s European countries.

The Code includes a regulatory objective to support the deployment and adoption of very high-connectivity networks - in line with Orange’s wish to see regulatory objectives redirected toward support for investment.

In addition, the rules governing access obligations imposed on operators with significant market power have been positively adjusted in relation to the previous framework:

−    access obligations should better target only the relevant fixed access infrastructure so as to address competition issues in the retail market;

−    emphasis is placed on promoting co-investment in very high-connectivity networks. If an operator in a dominant position makes a co-investment offer that complies with certain provisions, it could be exempted from remedies related to its dominant status. Only co-investors will have access to the full capacity of these networks. The other operators will be able to enjoy the same quality of wholesale access as they did before the rollout of these networks. National regulators will need to secure approval from the European Commission for such measures;

−    the Code also favors the wholesale operator model - not present in the retail market - by exempting it from certain remedies, even in cases of market dominance.

In addition, obligations for access to fixed access infrastructure serving subscribers may be imposed symmetrically on all operators when it is not technically feasible or economically reasonable to replicate such infrastructure. These obligations are subject to a joint veto by the Commission and BEREC.

Concerning the allocation of radio spectrum needed for mobile services, the Code reinforces European rules aimed at improved harmonization and cooperation between Member States, including the minimum 20-year visibility of spectrum licenses. The implementation and in particular the allocation of spectral capacity remains a national affair with only light supervision from Europe. Provisions facilitating the deployment of "small-area wireless access points" and the availability schedule of the 5G spectrum were also adopted.

With respect to the regulation of communication services, most of the obligations intended to protect end-users are for Internet access service and services using public numbering plan resources, independently of the service provider. Other services, such as interpersonal communication services independent of the numbering plan and signal transport services are only subject to a limited number of obligations.

However, regulation of the competitive markets for intra-European calls and SMS has been introduced with the Code through Regulation (EU) 2018-1971 of December 11, 2018, imposing a cap of 19 euro cents/minute and 6 euro cents/SMS, applicable since May 15, 2019.

Concerning universal service obligations, the Code abandons the principle of telephone service provision and calls on Member States to ensure the availability of affordable Internet access service, upholding the principle of potential designation should Member States consider that the market does not provide such services under said conditions, but increasing the burden of proof for Member States. The system of financing the universal service remains in the hands of the Member States, with coverage from public funds or from a fund financed by the sector. In addition, the Code opens the door to an extension of universal service obligations to include the supply of affordable mobile services.

The Code and its associated regulation on changes in BEREC’s responsibilities and governance do not create a European regulator. However, the Code does adopt the principle of full standardization of the rights of end-users, subject to exceptions, and strengthens the control exercised by the European Commission over access regulation and over the spectrum.

To help national regulators implement the Code, and as provided for within it, BEREC has put most of its guidelines out for consultation and published some of them in 2020.

Harmonization of analyses of relevant markets

On December 18, 2020, the European Commission published a new recommendation identifying two relevant product and service markets for which National Regulatory Authorities should carry out market analyses that may lead to the implementation of ex-ante regulation:

−    market 1: wholesale provision of local access at a fixed location (formerly market 3a/2014 of recommendation 2014/710/EC);

−    market 2: wholesale provision of high-quality access at a fixed location (formerly market 4/2014 of recommendation 2014/710/EC).

Call termination rates

The Code provides that fixed and mobile call termination rates will cease to be determined by National Regulatory Authorities but will be determined by the European Commission for all countries of the European Economic Area. This provision concerns European operators for calls terminating in a European country.

To that end, on December 21, 2020 the European Commission published a Delegated Act determining call termination rates:

−    fixed call termination is set at 0.07 euro cents per minute. As exceptions, a certain number of countries have the possibility of charging higher prices until the end of December 2021 (notably Poland, Belgium, Luxembourg, Romania and Slovakia);

−    mobile call termination is set at 0.2 euro cents per minute. However, a glide path is planned until the end of 2023: the maximum call termination rate for countries with rates above 0.2 euro cents per minute is 0.7 euro cents per minute in 2021, 0.55 euro cents per minute in 2022 and 0.4 euro cents per minute in 2023. Spain will be able to maintain its mobile call termination rate of 0.64 euro cents per minute in 2021, as it is below the cap of 0.7 euro cents per minute.

The Delegated Act will come into force the day after its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union, and termination rates will be applied from the first day of the third month after its entry into force, i.e. in principle no earlier than July 1st, 2021.

• Change in Orange’s mobile voice call termination rates in Europe (in euro cents per minute)

	2020	2021(1)	2022	2023	from 2022 on
France	0.74	0.70	0.55	0.40	0.20
Spain	0.64	0.64
Poland	0.94	0.70
Belgium	0.99
Romania	0.76
Slovakia	0.82

 

 

Sources : Cullen International December 2020 and Delegated act (EU).

(1)   rates will enter into force no earlier than July 1st 2021.

• Change in Orange’s fixed voice call termination rates in Europe (in euro cents per minute)

	31/12/2020	2021(1)	from 2022 on
France	0.077	0.070	0.070
Spain	0.059	0.070
Poland	0.599	0.111
Belgium	0.116	0.093
Romania	0.098	0.078
Slovakia	0.098	0.078

 

 

Sources : Cullen International December 2020 and Delegated act (EU).

(1)   rates will enter into force no earlier than July 1st 2021.

International roaming

Regulation (EU) 2015-2120 of November 25, 2015 ^[19], which aims to eliminate surcharges for international roaming within the European Union, and Regulation (EU) 2017/920 of May 17, 2017, which lays down the rules for wholesale roaming markets ^[20].

−    impose, in the context of fair usage, the alignment of international roaming retail prices with national prices for intra-European communications (voice, SMS and data) from June 15, 2017;

−    expand, for customers using their cellphones outside the EU, pricing transparency requirements and bill shock prevention measures for European operators;

−    grant a regulated right of access to European roaming services for MVNOs and resellers, and sets new caps on wholesale markets:

-     voice: 0.032 euros excl. VAT per minute,

-     SMS: 0.01 euros excl. VAT per SMS,

-     data (price excl. VAT): 3.5 euros per GB in 2020, 3.0 euros per GB in 2021 and 2.5 euros per GB in 2022.

Suppliers of mobile services subject to the regulation on the pricing of intra-European roaming may apply a reasonable usage policy to their customers in terms of the consumption of these services in order to prevent abnormal or excessive use. Despite this option, in special and exceptional circumstances, when the supply of intra-European roaming at the national price threatens the viability of the supplier’s national pricing model, they can ask the national regulator for authorization to bill additional charges for the use of intra-European roaming, which are limited to the caps on wholesale roaming prices.

On February 24, 2021, the European Commission presented a draft new roaming regulation which envisages a further gradual reduction in wholesale prices until 2032. The current regulation, adopted in 2017, will expire on June 30, 2022.

Regulation of the open Internet

The TSM Regulation has introduced rules to ensure an open Internet within the European Union. Article 3.3 of the TSM states that in the provision of Internet access services, providers shall treat traffic equally and without discrimination, restriction or interference, irrespective of sender and recipient, the content consulted or broadcast, the applications or services used or provided, and the terminal equipment used. It is up to the Member States to adapt their national law to comply with this provision.

On April 30, 2019, the European Commission published a report on the implementation of the net neutrality component of the TSM Regulation. The Commission, in the light of market developments, concluded that the principles of the Regulation are appropriate and that they effectively protect end-users by promoting the Internet as a driver of innovation. The Commission pointed out that operators have correctly applied the regulation governing net neutrality and that national regulators have imposed very few fines. It does not propose any amendments to this Regulation.

On the basis of that report, BEREC published a new version of its guidelines in June 2020, clarifying certain points:

−    the scope of the regulation is limited to the part between the interconnection and the customer-side network termination point, thus leaving the terminal equipment outside the scope when it is located beyond that termination point;

−    the possible compatibility of 5G slicing technologies with the regulation.

Protecting personal data

The new General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) came into effect on May 25, 2018. The GDPR, which replaces a 1995 European directive, is a general-purpose regulation intended for both public and private entities which harmonizes the management of personal data protection in Europe.

GDPR principles include:

−    single rules applicable directly in each European Union country;

−    application to all Internet users and service providers of the information society intended for the European market;

−    a single supervisory authority responsible for data protection as the contact point for Internet companies, namely that of the EU country in which they have their main establishment;

−    unambiguous consent which explicitly covers the processing of personal data;

−    definition of a pseudonymization process whose use is encouraged;

−    strengthening of the obligation to provide information to consumers;

−    the introduction of a "digital right to be forgotten".

National authorities for the protection of personal data now have greater powers. In particular, they may impose administrative penalties of up to 4% of total annual revenue on companies that infringe European rules.

On June 24, 2020, the European Commission submitted a report to the European Parliament and the Council on the assessment and review of the GDPR. It underlines the fact that European companies have generally achieved good compliance and sets out measures to facilitate the GDPR’s future application.

The entry into force of the GDPR also has indirect effects on the implementation of Directive No. 2002/58/EC of July 12, 2002 on Privacy and electronic communications, given that it changes the meaning of the notion of consent and the penalties to which the 2002 directive refers. The Commission wishes to replace the existing directive with a new regulation governing the sector, but there has been no political agreement on the new text to date.

Regulation of platforms

Regulation (EU) 2019/1150 promoting fairness and transparency for businesses using online intermediation services was adopted on June 20, 2019 and has been applicable from July 12, 2020. It aims to ensure rules for a fair, transparent and predictable trading environment for businesses and vendors on online platforms. This regulation is applicable to telecommunication operators offering Internet television services (IPTV), provided that conditions are imposed on the streaming provider.

Digital Services Act and Digital Market Act

On December 15, 2020, the European Commission published two pieces of legislation: an update of the e-Commerce Directive ^[21], known as the Digital Services Act (DSA), and a Regulation to combat the role of large online platforms, known as the Digital Market Act (DMA).

The DSA amends and updates the obligations of intermediaries connecting consumers with goods, services and content. For telecom operators, the DSA brings in very limited changes in relation to the e-Commerce Directive (introduction of a one-stop shop and a limited transparency obligations).

For its part, the DMA ushers in an ex-ante regulatory framework for online platforms acting as gatekeepers, and also gives powers to the European Commission to conduct market investigations. Telecom operators are outside the scope of the regulation.

The draft texts have to be approved under the same conditions by the two co-legislators, the European Parliament and the Council.

1.7.1.2    France

1.7.1.2.1 Legal and regulatory framework

Legal framework

The electronic communications sector is mainly governed under national law by the French Postal and Electronic Communications Code (CPCE), as well as by legal provisions relating to electronic commerce, the information society, consumer protection and the protection of personal data, which must comply with European directives.

France transposed the European Telecom Package, as amended in 2009, via a Government Order dated August 24, 2011 and a Decree dated March 12, 2012 for the implementing regulations. The transposition of the European Code is underway and is to be carried out by means of Government Orders within six months from December 3, 2020, the date of enactment of the law on various provisions to adapt to European Union law in economic and financial matters, except for the provisions concerning the universal service (see below) and the obligations related to geographical network coverage surveys, set out in this law.

The audiovisual communication services produced or distributed by the Orange group come under the specific regulations governing this sector and are governed by Law No. 86/1067 of September 30, 1986 on the Freedom of Communication.

Regulatory Authorities

The Postal, Electronic Communications and Media Distribution Regulatory Authority (Arcep) is an independent administrative body created by the Act of July 26, 1996 and is in charge of the nationwide regulation of the electronic communications and postal sectors. Within the electronic communications sector, Arcep’s main missions are to define regulations for operators present in the markets in question. It has powers to sanction non-compliant operators and can rule in particular on disputes between operators over technical and pricing conditions for network access and interconnection. Arcep also allocates spectrum and numbering resources. Finally, it determines the size of contributions to fund the universal service obligation and oversees the mechanisms for delivering this funding.

The French Competition Authority is an independent administrative authority responsible for ensuring open market competition and compliance with public economic policy. It has jurisdiction over all business segments, including the electronic communications sector. It has sanction powers for anti-competitive practices, as well as consultative powers. It is also responsible for overseeing mergers and acquisitions.

The ANFr (Agence nationale des fréquences - French national frequency agency) is responsible for planning, managing and controlling the usage of radio spectrum and for coordinating the establishment of certain radio transmission facilities. The frequency spectrum is divided between eleven controlling authorities: public administrations, Arcep and the French Broadcasting Authority (CSA). Arcep and the CSA are in turn responsible for allotting to users the spectrum they control.

The CSA (Conseil Supérieur de l’Audiovisuel) is an independent administrative body created by the law of January 17, 1989. It is tasked with protecting the freedom of audiovisual communication in accordance with the law of September 30, 1986.

1.7.1.2.2 Regulation of mobile telephony

Spectrum

Main Orange spectrum allocations in mainland France

700 MHz	Authorization granted in December 2015 for 10 MHz duplex for 20 years.
800 MHz	Authorization granted in January 2012 for 10 MHz duplex for 20 years for the deployment of very high-speed mobile broadband (4G).
900 MHz	Renewal in March 2006 of the 2G authorizations granted for 10 MHz duplex for 15 years. The 8.7 MHz duplex was reallocated under the New Deal for a period of 10 years through March 2031.
1800 MHz	Renewal in March 2006 of the 20 MHz duplex authorizations for 15 years. Under the New Deal, the authorization linked to this spectrum was amended, then the same quantity was reallocated for 10 years through 2031.
2.1 GHz	3G authorization granted in August 2001 for 20 years for 14.8 MHz duplex;
	3G authorization granted in June 2010 for 20 years for 4.8 MHz duplex;
	With respect to 14.8 MHz duplex, which expires in August 2021, 10 MHz duplex was reallocated until August 2031 as part of the New Deal.
2.6 GHz	Authorization granted in October 2011 for 4G services for 20 MHz duplex for 20 years for the deployment of very high-speed mobile broadband (4G).
3.4-3.8 GHz	Authorization issued on November 12, 2020 to use a 90 MHz spectrum block (3710-3800 MHz) in time-division duplexing (TDD) mode for a period of 15 years, with a possible extension of 5 years.

 

 

NB: this spectrum is technologically neutral for those granted since May 2011, or since May 2016 for those granted earlier, and Arcep may not oppose any request for neutralization.

The New Deal

The agreement signed on January 14, 2018 between the government, Arcep and the four mobile operators (Orange, SFR, Bouygues Telecom and Free Mobile) to ensure better mobile coverage of the country, and particularly rural areas, resulted in the modification, at the request of operators, of authorizations for 900 MHz, 1800 MHz and 2.1 GHz spectrum bands to include commitments for better coverage in the form of obligations, and the launch of a 10-year reassignment procedure of those spectrum bands, without auctions and with stable fees.

By decision of Arcep of July 3, 2018 (Decision No. 2018-0682), the coverage commitments under the New Deal (see below) for the period prior to 2021 apply with immediate effect under the amended authorizations. The obligations and commitments made by the operators beyond 2021 were included into the new authorizations granted in December 2018 (Decision No. 2018-1392) for 10 years from the expiry of the previous authorizations.

5G

On July 16, 2018, the Government and Arcep issued France’s roadmap for 5G, in particular for the three spectrum bands concerned: 3.4-3.8 GHz, 26 GHz and 1.4 GHz. A first consultation was launched on October 26, 2018 on the allocation of new spectrum for 5G in these three bands.

Following the issue of spectrum authorizations for the 3.4-3.8 GHz band in mainland France (see below), Arcep published a public consultation on December 18, 2020, proposing procedures for allocating spectrum in the 700 MHz and 3.4-3.8 GHz bands in Reunion and the 700 MHz and 900 MHz bands in Mayotte.

3.4-3.8 GHz band in metropolitan France

The procedure for allocating 5G spectrum in the 3490-3800 MHz band (i.e. 310 MHz) was conducted by Arcep, on the basis of the auction rules published on November 21, 2019 (Decision No. 2019-1386). Qualifying applicants were able to acquire a quantity of spectrum between a minimum of 40 MHz and a maximum of 100 MHz in a three-stage procedure:

stage 1: applicants were allocated a quantity of 50 MHz at the reserve price of 350 million euros in exchange for the subscription to optional commitments (see below).

stage 2: the remaining spectrum was allocated using purely financial multi-round auctions.

stage 3: the spectrum obtained was assigned after a further auction.

Following the three stages of the procedure, Arcep issued spectrum use authorizations on November 12, 2020. They came into force on November 18, 2020. The spectrum allocated to Orange is in the 3710-3800 MHz band, i.e. a block of 90 MHz in time-division duplexing (TDD) mode. The spectrum is allocated for 15 years, with the possibility of a five-year extension if the licensee agrees to the terms of the extension. The total price of the spectrum allocated to Orange is 854 million euros. Its payment is spread over 15 years for the 350 million euros in respect of the 50 MHz block and over four years for the 504 million euros in respect of the block obtained during the main auction phase.

With the exception of the obligation to open services in at least two cities with populations of over 150,000 before the end of 2020, canceled due to the date of granting of the authorization, all the obligations contained in the specifications are included in the authorization.

The obligations are as follows:

−    the rollout of sites (3,000 sites by the end of 2022, 8,000 by the end of 2024 and 10,500 by the end of 2025), of which 25% of those rolled out by the end of 2024 and the end of 2025 must be located in rural areas or industrial areas outside of very densely populated areas;

−    widespread availability of a 5G service at all sites by the end of 2030, an obligation that may be met either with the 3.4-3.8 GHz band or another band;

−    the provision of a speed of at least 240 Mbps per sector from 75% of sites by the end of 2022, 85% of sites by the end of 2024, 90% of sites by the end of 2025, and 100% of sites by the end of 2030;

−    coverage of the main highways by the end of 2025, major roads by the end of 2027;

−    the provision of differentiated services and the activation of the IPv6 (Internet Protocol version 6) network protocol.

In addition, the commitments made by Orange to participate in the first stage of the procedure, which allowed it to obtain 50 MHz at a reserve price became obligations in the authorization issued:

−    from the end of 2023, Orange will have to provide a fixed offer from sites using the 3.5 GHz band and a fixed offer to cover premises that benefit from fixed access radio network services;

−    Orange will have to meet reasonable requests for the provision of services from private sector companies and public sector structures, provide indoor coverage, offer hosting for mobile virtual network operators (MVNOs) and be transparent about network failures and planned rollouts.

26 GHz band

The government and Arcep called for the creation of experimentation platforms by way of an open window in January 2019. Named in October 2019, the ten or so winners of authorizations will be able to experiment with 5G in this spectrum band for a period of three years. Orange has obtained two temporary authorizations, one for the Chatillon campus and the other for a project with the SNCF (French Rail) at Rennes station.

Extension of spectrum authorizations for Reunion and Mayotte

In its Decision No. 2019/1753, Arcep extended authorizations to use spectrum allocated to Orange in the 900 MHz band in Mayotte and the 900 MHz and 1800 MHz bands in Reunion. This extension brought the expiry dates of both authorizations into line with those of the other operators in those two areas.

Mobile coverage

The New Deal

Under the New Deal, operators are committed to:

−    expanding the coverage of metropolitan France by way of the "targeted coverage" scheme, making it possible for each operator to cover 5,000 new areas (most of which are shared between operators), replacing the existing programs ("town center dead zones", "800 strategic sites" and the "France Mobile" program), which will now be fully paid for by the operators;

−    generalizing access to very high-speed broadband by introducing 4G with a power rating in excess of 5W to all their own mobile sites by the end of 2020, and to 75% of the sites in the "town center dead zones" program by the end of 2020, upping this to 100% by the end of 2022;

−    accelerating the coverage of transport routes, so that the main highway and rail routes have 4G coverage. The agreement also includes provisions on coverage in regional trains;

−    improving coverage inside buildings, with two components: progressive availability of voice and SMS services via WiFi with the goal of enabling 80% of our customers who own a compatible handset to benefit from these services by the end of 2019; and marketing of an offering allowing public companies and individuals who so request to obtain improved multi-operator indoor coverage of their buildings at a reasonable rate;

−    improving reception quality throughout the country, and particularly in rural areas. The new performance standard applied to operator obligations will be that of "good coverage" defined as the "ability to be able to call and text SMS outside of buildings in most cases and within buildings in some cases".

These obligations have been written into their current authorizations and in the newly allocated 900 MHz, 1800 MHz and 2.1 GHz band authorizations for ten years.

Obligations to deploy and provide 4G coverage in metropolitan areas including that resulting from the New Deal

(as a % of the population)	Jan-17	Oct-19	Dec-20	Jan-22	Dec-22	Oct-23	Jan-24	Dec-25	Jan-27	End-2030
Regional rail network (coverage inside trains in each region as a % of track)									60%	80%
Regional rail network (national coverage inside trains as a % of track)				60%					80%	90%
Regional rail network (national coverage alongside tracks as a % of track)								90%
Priority highways (as a % of highways out of car)			100%
Priority highways (as a % of highways from inside vehicles)				100%
Town centers in the "dead zones" program (1)			75%		100%
In the priority rollout areas (2) in very high-speed mobile broadband (3)	40% (800 MHz)			90% (800 MHz) 50% (700 MHz)					92% (700 MHz)	97.70% (700 MHz)
In each French department							90%		95%
Across the entire mainland France area		60%				75%			98%	99.60%

 

 

(1)   1% of the population and 3,300 town centers.

(2)   18% of the population, 63% of the country.

(3)   An operator has met its obligation to provide a very high-speed mobile broadband service when the equipment deployed enables a theoretical peak speed of 60 Mbps.

Additionally, operators are obliged to provide a mobile radiotelephone service under the "good coverage" conditions set out by Arcep to 99.6% of the population by March 2024 at the latest, and to 99.8% by March 2028.

In June 2019, Arcep opened a sanctions procedure against Orange, covering all the obligations laid down in the New Deal. On July 27, 2019, it issued Orange with formal notice to comply with the first deadline of the "targeted coverage" scheme relating to the order of July 4, 2018, which requires new sites to be brought into service by June 27, 2020.

Pursuant to the provisions of Government Order No. 2020/306 of March 25, 2020 relating to the Covid-19 health crisis, the first deadline for the targeted coverage scheme has been postponed to October 9, 2020. Then, on November 10, 2020, Arcep published new maps showing the progression of 4G mobile phone coverage for each of the 96 departments in mainland France. On this occasion, "Arcep welcomed the good progress of the Mobile New Deal, thanks to the mobilization of operators, local players and public authorities." At end-December 2020, Orange’s 4G coverage was 99% of the population and 92% of the country.

Infrastructure sharing

The New Deal agreement contains clauses relating to the pooling of networks, including active sharing where all four operators are present on a site as part of the targeted coverage arrangements. A mobile site sharing contract was signed in July 2019 between the four network operators for the deployment of 4G on sites destined to be actively shared. This agreement is gradually being implemented for the sites of the "Town center dead zones" program and the new sites to be deployed as part of the New Deal’s targeted coverage scheme.

In this context, operators are subject to an obligation to comply with the requests of other operators to ensure passive ex-ante pooling in the priority rollout area. However, the agreement provides that this obligation may be waived if an offer of access to a sufficient number of sites and at a reasonable price, deemed satisfactory by Arcep, proves to be available to significantly improve the coverage of one or more other spectrum holders in rural areas. In this context, Orange and Free signed a pylon co-construction agreement on January 15, 2020, and Orange has asked Arcep to lift the sharing obligations for the new sites in priority rollout areas. Arcep has granted Orange’s request and has lifted the network sharing obligation in such areas (Decision No. 2020/1485).

In addition, Arcep has issued its opinion on the extension of the roaming agreement between Free Mobile and Orange in mainland France, finding that it does not appear necessary to ask the two companies to amend their contract. This amendment extends the national roaming termination period until December 31, 2022, while maintaining the maximum uplink and downlink speeds that roaming customers can reach at 384 Kbps.

Orange’s obligations regarding cost accounting and accounting separation for the mobile business

The accounting and cost recovery obligations imposed on mobile operators are set out in Arcep Decision No. 2018/0685, published on June 19, 2018. This decision applies to Orange, SFR, Bouygues Telecom, Free Mobile, SRR and Orange Caraïbe.

Analysis of the wholesale mobile call termination markets

The fixed and mobile termination markets are regulated by Arcep Decision No. 2017/1453 for the 2017-2020 cycle. The decision confirms the cost-orientation obligation for call termination rates. The cap levels for call termination were eliminated in the final decision. Mobile operators, including Orange, have left their rates unchanged since 2017.

Pursuant to the European Code, the European Commission has published a Delegated Act setting the level of mobile termination from 2021 (see Section 1.7.1.1 European Union).

1.7.1.2.3 Regulation of fixed telephony, broadband and very high-speed broadband Internet

Regulation of fixed broadband and very high-speed broadband networks

Adoption by Arcep of the new fixed broadband and very high-speed broadband market analysis framework for the 2021-2023 period

On December 17, 2020, Arcep adopted new decisions within the framework of analyses of the fixed broadband and very high-speed broadband markets for the 2021-2023 period.

They define, on the one hand, the asymmetric regulation ^[22] of the fixed broadband and very high-speed fixed broadband markets:

−    a separate civil engineering contract;

−    market "3a", passive offers;

−    market "3b" for activated mass market offers;

−    market "4" for specific activated B2B offers.

Arcep has also adopted a decision aimed at completing the framework for symmetrical fiber regulation applicable to all operators operating FTTH networks, as well as a recommendation clarifying the application of this framework. Lastly, Arcep has adopted a decision setting a price framework for access to Orange’s local copper loop.

The regulatory changes focus on three key objectives: support the switch from the existing copper network to fiber, continue pro-investment regulation to make the FTTH network the new benchmark for fixed infrastructure, and boost the B2B market.

Existing regulatory framework for the regulation of wholesale offers for the 2021-2023 period

"Civil engineering" market analysis Decision No. 2020/1445 defines a new relevant market for all civil engineering infrastructure for network rollout, and designates Orange as the operator exercising significant influence. As such, Orange must grant reasonable requests for access to its civil engineering infrastructure (optical local loop offer) and associated resources and services (SAN/OAN hosting offer and LFO offer).

"3a" market analysis Decision No. 2020/1446 redefines the relevant market for access to copper and fiber local loop networks (to take into account the new "civil engineering" market) and designates Orange as the operator exercising significant influence. As such, Orange must grant reasonable requests for access to its copper local loop network and the associated resources and services (unbundling offer). Orange must also grant, in very dense areas, reasonable requests for connection to its FTTH network from companies located in buildings not yet covered by FTTH. This obligation only applies to Orange, unlike the rest of the regulatory framework for the pooling of FTTH networks.

"3b" market analysis Decision No. 2020/1447 maintains the relevant market for activated access ("bitstream") to copper and fiber networks for mass market customers and designates Orange as the operator exercising significant influence. As such, Orange must grant reasonable requests for activated access to its copper network (DSL access and bitstream offer).

"4" market analysis Decision No. 2020/1448 maintains the relevant market for high-quality activated access to copper and fiber networks for the B2B market and designates Orange as the operator exercising significant influence. As such, Orange must grant reasonable requests for high-quality activated access to its copper and fiber networks (DSLE offer/FTTO offers).

These decisions impose on Orange obligations of transparency, non-discrimination, quality of service, publication of reference offers, price control and accounting separation.

Changes in the current regulatory framework for the regulation of FTTH networks

Decision No. 2020-1432 supplements the symmetrical regulatory framework for the pooling of FTTH networks, notably by extending obligations that until now only applied to Orange to all infrastructure operators. Under the new decision, infrastructure operators must notably offer on their FTTH networks an offer with a recovery time guarantee (RTG) of ten hours and an RTG offer for the B2B market, possibly including an adapted architecture (FTTE). This new decision also specifies the obligations related to rollout (in particular for new buildings or buildings that can be connected on request and buildings without an address), reinforces the non-discrimination obligation (particularly with regard to information systems) and imposes an accounting reporting obligation.

The recommendation of December 8, 2020 clarifies a few additional points, in particular with regard to FTTE and the conditions for the renewal of co-funded usage rights.

Management of FTTH rollouts

Commitments made by Orange in the AMII zone under Article L. 33-13

In early 2018, Orange formalized its proposed FTTH rollout commitments in nearly 3,000 municipalities under Article L. 33-13 of the French Postal and Electronic Communications Code. Orange proposed that it commits to ensuring that, within its FTTH deployment scope in the AMII area: (i) by the end of 2020, 100% of homes and professional premises would have access to FTTH sales offers (including a maximum 8% of premises connectable on demand, excluding refusals by third parties), and (ii) by the end of 2022, 100% of homes and professional premises would be made connectable (excluding refusals by third parties). These commitment proposals took into account the agreement reached at the end of May 2018 by Orange and SFR which led to Orange withdrawing from 236 municipalities to SFR’s benefit.

Commitments proposed by Orange (and by SFR) were accepted by the French government on July 26, 2018 ^[23]

Calls for expressions of local commitments (AMEL) and "equity" deployments

In December 2017, the Government announced the launch of a procedure calling for shows of local commitments (AMEL) through which to identify operators wishing to deploy privately-funded FTTH connections beyond the current AMII zone.

Orange proposed to make commitments with respect to Article L. 33-13 under AMEL for the French departments of Lot-et-Garonne, Vienne, Deux-Sèvres and Haute-Vienne. Arcep has issued a favorable opinion on Orange’s proposed commitments in these four departments.

Lastly, Orange has offered the government commitments under Article L. 33-13 in the context of rollout projects using its own funds in other areas. These commitments are currently being examined by the authorities.

Completeness of FTTH networks

Under the obligation of completeness imposed in Decision No. 2010/1312, all infrastructure operators must have made all housing and professional premises in the rear area of a pooling point connectable (except in cases of refusal) within a reasonable period (between two and five years depending on the reasons for the decision) from the deployment of the pooling point.

At the end of 2018, then again at the end of 2020, Arcep issued Orange with formal notice to comply within one year with the completeness obligation for a list of pooling points (PPs) that had been in service for more than five years but had not reached the required completeness rate.

Price framework for access to the copper local loop

On December 17, 2020, Arcep adopted Decision No. 2020/1493, which defines a price framework for full unbundling and bitstream DSL access for the years 2021 to 2023. It sets maximum rates:

−    for fully unbundled access, the monthly recurring rate is capped at 9.65 euros from 2021 to 2023;

−    for bitstream DSL access, the monthly recurring rate is capped at 13.13 euros in 2021, 13.37 euros in 2022 and 13.53 euros in 2023.

Regulation of fixed telephony

New round of market analysis

As part of its fifth round of analysis of the relevant fixed markets for non-residential customers for the 2018-2020 period, on December 21, 2017, Arcep adopted Decision No. 2017/1568, which restricts the obligation to formalize a wholesale offer for access to telephone service to the non-residential market only. Wholesale non-residential line rental rates are now governed by Decision No. 2018/1523 of December 5, 2018. Contract caps were stable in 2020 compared with previous caps (12.32 euros per month for analog and 18.57 euros per month for digital). The cap for call origination collected at the Operator Connection Point associated with these contracts was 0.6958 euro cents per minute in 2020.

In July 2020, Arcep published a public consultation on the results of this market analysis and the outlook for the sixth round, for which it plans to set the proportion of the intensity of regulation in line with the challenges of a shrinking market, prioritize the migration of the switched telephone network (STN) directly to FTTH networks, and maintain a level playing field between Orange and alternative operators when the STN is closed. A decision on the sixth round is expected in mid-2021.

Fixed voice call termination

Following its Decision No. 2017/1453 of December 2017, Arcep removed the rate caps for the 2018-2020 period. Rates must be based on costs. Operators have left their rates unchanged since 2017.

Pursuant to the European Code, the European Commission has published a Delegated Act setting the level of mobile termination from 2021 (see Section 1.7.1.1 European Union).

Universal telephony service

The end of the period of Orange’s designation as Universal Service Operator on November 27, 2020 coincides with the transposition into national law of part of the new European Code. With regard to the Universal Service, the transposition was achieved through the promulgation on December 3, 2020 of the law on various provisions for adaptation to European Union economic and financial law.

The transposition of the European Code should lead to significant changes in the implementation of universal service by the Member States:

−    the Code extends the scope of universal service to include adequate broadband Internet access at a fixed location in addition to voice communications;

−    this service must be available and affordable, including for people on low incomes or with special social needs;

−    the designation of one or more operators as Universal Service Operator in all or part of the country becomes the exception. Such designation may only be made after analysis based on a geographical survey ^[24], which must demonstrate that there is evidence of market failure and that other public policy instruments implemented are ineffective.

Following the opening of a penalty procedure (L. 36-11 of the French Postal and Electronic Communications Code) by Arcep in June 2018, Orange was given notice in October 2018 regarding its compliance with universal service quality of service obligations. Arcep set intermediate obligations for the months of November and December 2018, for each quarter of 2019 and for the full year in 2020.

Additionally, by its Decision No. 2020/0355 of April 23, 2020, Arcep set the definitive assessment of the net cost of universal service and operators’ contributions for 2018.

Quality of service of wholesale offers for B2C and B2B markets

Following the opening of a sanctions procedure (Article L. 36-11 of the French Postal and Electronic Communications Code) in September 2018, Arcep issued Orange with formal notice in December 2018 requiring it to comply, from the first quarter of 2019, with certain indicators relating to production processes and after-sales service for all of the following offers:

−    mass market: unbundling, offers activated without a service reinstatement time guarantee (DSL access);

−    B2B market: LPT, copper access (DSLE, C2E, CELAN), optical access (CE2O, C2E, CELAN).

As part of the new market analyses for the 2021-2023 period, provisions concerning compliance with quality of service indicators have been adopted.

1.7.1.3    Spain

1.7.1.3.1 Legal and regulatory framework

The 2009 Telecom Package was implemented into Spanish law by Royal Decree No. 726/2011 on universal service provision in May 2011 and Royal Decree No. 13/2012 of March 31, 2012.

The transposition of the European Electronic Communications Code (EU Directive 2018-1972) by a new law on telecommunications was the subject of a public consultation in September and October 2020.

The telecommunication sector is also covered by Law No. 15/2007 of July 3, 2007 relating to the implementation of competition rules.

The National Commission for Markets and Competition (CNMC), established by Law No. 3/2013 of June 4, 2013, brings together regulatory authorities from different economic sectors, including telecommunications, and the antitrust authority.

The Ministry of the Economy and the Digital Transition ^[25] is in charge of managing authorizations, spectrum allocation, numbering, approval of the cost of universal service, quality of service, as well as the settlement of disputes between consumers and operators that do not hold a dominant position.

1.7.1.3.2 Regulation of mobile telephony

Spectrum

• Summary of national spectrum allocated to Orange and their expiration year

	800 MHz	900 MHz	1800 MHz	2.1 GHz	2.6 GHz	3.5 GHz
	10 MHz duplex (2031)	10 MHz duplex (2030)	20 MHz duplex (2030)	15 MHz duplex +5 MHz (2030)	20 MHz duplex 2030	20 MHz duplex (2030) 70 MHz (2038)

 

 

Internal source.

5G

On July 21, 2020, the Ministry approved the modification of the national spectrum plan. The modification includes the setting of a maximum limit of 2x35 MHz that the same operator may use in the 700 MHz band for the provision of mobile broadband services.

On December 16, 2020, the Ministry of the Economy and the Digital Transition launched a consultation on the auction of spectrum in the 700 MHz band, with 2x30 MHz and 15 MHz SDL auctioned for a period of twenty years, and a total reserve price of 1.17 billion euros.

Mobile coverage

All operators holding 4G spectrum in the 800 MHz band must, by Ministerial Order ECE/1166-2018 of October 29, 2018, offer speeds of at least 30 Mbps in 2020. This obligation benefits 90% of the population in municipalities with fewer than 5,000 inhabitants.

Fourth round of analysis of the mobile call termination market (market 2/2014)

By its Decision No. 02/17/m²-2014 of January 18, 2018, the CNMC set price caps for traffic originating in the European Economic Area. The caps adopted show a glide path in mobile call termination rates.

 

(in euro cents/minute)	Until 01/30/2018	01/31/2018 -12/31/2018	01/01/2019-12/31/2019	From 01/01/2020
MNO, Full MVNO	1.09	0.70	0.67	0.64

 

 

This decision also introduced new transparency rules: the notification to the CNMC of all interconnection agreements entered into by Spanish operators, including for companies within the same group, and the notification of agreements for the termination of mobile calls from countries outside the European Economic Area, if the rates are different from those applied in Spain.

Pursuant to the European Electronic Communications Code, the European Commission published a Delegated Act on December 21, 2020, setting the level of mobile call termination rates from 2021 (see Section 1.7.1.1 European Union).

1.7.1.3.3 Regulation of fixed telephony, broadband and very high-speed broadband Internet

Wholesale broadband access markets

The CNMC adopted its third round of analysis of the 3a/2014 and 3b/2014 and 4/2014 markets on February 25, 2016, by which it decided:

−    for market 3a:

-     to retain the copper network unbundling obligations introduced in the previous 2009 market analysis and to retain access to Telefónica civil engineering infrastructure,

-     to not impose ex ante asymmetrical obligations on Telefónica for the fiber network in 66 cities considered effectively competitive, representing 35% of the Spanish population, given that a Virtual Unbundled Local Access (VULA) offer must be made available for the rest of Spain;

−    for market 3b:

-     to progressively lift the ex-ante regulatory obligations in that part of Spain deemed competitive, and covering 58% of the existing broadband lines; and in the rest of Spain deemed non-competitive, to maintain an access obligation to Telefónica’s network, with the NEBA-copper offer, without limitation on bandwidth, and charged on a cost basis,

-     in the area declared competitive for new-generation networks (NGA), corresponding to 66 municipalities (approximately one-third of the population), to lift the obligation to provide a fiber bitstream offer (known as the NEBA offer) from September 2016,

-     in the zone declared non-competitive for NGAs, but deemed competitive for copper (approximately one-third of the population), to impose NEBA Fiber offer at rates meeting the economic replicability test until March 2018,

-     in the remaining area declared non-competitive, including for copper, to impose a NEBA fiber offer at rates that satisfy the economic replicability test with no time limit;

−    and for market 4, to maintain, throughout Spain, the NEBA-business offer obligation, concerning costs for copper and the economic replicability test for fiber.

On November 18, 2020, the CNMC launched a public consultation on the review of the very high-speed broadband market analysis (3a and 3b/2014). The regulator proposes to increase from 66 to 592 the number of municipalities deregulated for fiber access. These 592 municipalities represent approximately two-thirds of the Spanish population. The CNMC also proposes maintaining Telefónica’s obligations regarding access to civil engineering infrastructure as well as the obligations for unbundled access to the copper pair. However, the consultation does not include wholesale access obligations to Telefónica’s fiber network.

As regards the copper network, it is also proposed to deregulate bitstream access in all of these 526 new municipalities, notwithstanding the fact that unbundling (LLU) is no longer available. The final decision is expected in the second half of 2021.

NEBA reference offers (bitstream)

Since 2018, the CNMC has revised the "economic replicability test" (ERT) of Telefónica’s offers, which is used to set the wholesale price of fiber. This test should confirm that the prices of Telefónica’s wholesale fiber offers (NEBA-local and NEBA-fiber) allow alternative operators to replicate the main fiber offers offered by the incumbent.

In this context, on April 25, 2018, the CNMC published the first results of the ERT test of Telefónica’s offers, which resulted in the monthly fee for the NEBA local offer (local activated offer) and the access part of the NEBA fiber offer (activated offer) being set at 17.57 euros.

On December 2, 2020, the CNMC published the results of the third ERT review. As a result, Telefónica had to lower its access prices to the NEBA and VULA offers to 16.86 euros.

Fixed voice call termination rates

As part of its fourth round of fixed call termination market analysis (Market 1/2014), on July 25, 2019, the CNMC published the ANME/DTSA/003/18/M1-2014 decision gradually reducing fixed call termination rates. These prices apply only to traffic coming from the European Economic Area.

The caps decided on are:

(in euro cents/minute)	Until 07/31/2019	08/01/2019-12/31/2019	01/01/2020-12/31/2020	From 01/01/2021
	0.0817	0.0643	0.0593	0.0545

 

 

Pursuant to the Code, on December 21, 2020, the European Commission published a Delegated Act setting the level of fixed call termination from 2021 (see Section 1.7.1.1 European Union).

1.7.1.4    Poland

1.7.1.4.1 Legal and regulatory framework

Orange’s businesses are governed by the law of July 16, 2004 on telecommunications, transposing the 2002 European Telecom Package concerning electronic communications into Polish law, and by the law of February 16, 2007 concerning competition and consumer protection. The law of December 2012, transposing EU directives issued in 2009, came into force on January 21, 2013. The law of May 7, 2010, on developing telecommunication networks and services, provides access to telecommunications and other technical infrastructures funded by public funds. This law was revised and amended on August 30, 2019 by transposing Directive 2014/61/EU on broadband cost reduction.

The transposition of the Code by a new law on electronic communications was the subject of a public consultation opened on July 29, 2020. Legislative work is ongoing.

The Ministry of Digitization, created in November 2015, was incorporated into the Prime Minister’s Office on November 6, 2020, as a result of the government reshuffle.

The Office of Electronic Communications (UKE) is responsible, in particular, for telecommunication regulation and spectrum management, as well as certain functions related to broadcasting services.

The Office of Competition and Consumer Protection (UOKiK) is responsible for the application of competition law, merger control and consumer protection.

1.7.1.4.2 Regulation of mobile telephony

Spectrum

• Summary of spectrum allocated to Orange and their expiration year

	800 MHz	900 MHz	1800 MHz	2.1 GHz	2.6 GHz
	10 MHz duplex (2030)	7 MHz duplex (2029)	10 MHz duplex (2027)	15 MHz duplex +5 MHz (2022)	15 MHz duplex (2030)

 

 

Internal source.

5G

700 MHz band: as part of the deregulation of 700 MHz spectrum for mobile networks, the UKE has initiated a coordination process with neighboring countries, including Russia. On January 11, 2019, Poland asked the European Commission to extend the deadline to June 2022 due to spectrum coordination problems at borders.

3.4-3 8 GHz spectrum band: on March 15, 2019, Parliament adopted, then published on April 5, 2019 amendments to the Telecommunications Act allowing operators to use the 3.4-3 8 GHz spectrum bands free of charge for the testing of new technologies or for the reallocation of spectrum. Auctions began on March 6, 2020, but were canceled on May 20, 2020 following the entry into force on May 16, 2020 of the law on the Covid-19 health crisis, which introduced security obligations regarding the spectrum allocation procedure. The new security constraints forced the UKE to start the procedure again from scratch.

Mobile voice call termination rates

The mobile voice call termination rate has been 0.0429 zloty per minute since July 1, 2013.

Pursuant to the European Code, on December 21, 2020 the European Commission published a Delegated Act setting the level of mobile termination from 2021 (see Section 1.7.1.1 European Union).

Infrastructure sharing

The network sharing agreement between Orange and T-Mobile Polska, which dates from 2011, was extended to 4G in December 2016. On May 22, 2018, Orange and T-Mobile decided to end spectrum sharing in the 900 MHz and 1800 MHz bands.

Application of Roaming Like at Home regulation

To cope with a massive increase in traffic volumes for certain categories of customers, the UKE has granted Orange an exemption, as allowed by the TSM regulation ^[26], enabling it to charge its roaming customers a surcharge. This exemption authorization, granted in April 2018 for a one-year period, was renewed in April 2019, but not in 2020. Orange ceased to apply surcharges in April 2020.

1.7.1.4.3 Regulation of fixed telephony, broadband and very high-speed broadband Internet

The ex-ante regulation of Orange’s fixed services, for the areas defined as non-competitive, relates solely to wholesale offers.

Deregulation of markets 1 and 3/2003

On June 26, 2018, the European Commission approved the decisions to deregulate markets 1 and 3/2003 (access to the public telephone network at a fixed location for residential and non-residential customers). The deregulation decision provides for a transition period of two years corresponding to the maximum duration of the contracts agreed by the operators and their private customers.

Analysis of the wholesale very high-speed broadband market (markets 3a/2014 and 3b/2014)

On October 22, 2019, the UKE published the decisions relating to markets 3a/2014 and 3b/2014.

According to the regulator, market development and increasing competition justify further market deregulation. As a result, UKE decided to increase the number of deregulated zones:

−    in market 3a/2014, to 51 municipalities;

−    in market 3b/2014, from 76 to 151 municipalities.

Under these new decisions, out of a total of approximately 14.6 million households, around six million households are deregulated on bitstream access, and around 2.3 million households are deregulated on bitstream access and unbundling.

Reference offer for fixed markets

The reference offer relates to all wholesale fixed-line services: call origination and termination, wholesale subscription, partial and total unbundling, and bitstream access.

On September 17, 2020, the European Commission approved the changes to Orange’s reference offer without comment.

Fixed call termination rates

The fixed call termination rate has been 0.0273 PLN per minute since March 2019.

Pursuant to the European Code, on December 21, 2020 the European Commission published a Delegated Act setting the level of mobile termination from 2021 (see Section 1.7.1.1 European Union).

1.7.1.5    Other EU countries where the Orange group operates

1.7.1.5.1 Belgium

Spectrum

• Summary of spectrum allocated to Orange and their expiration year

	800 MHz	900 MHz	1800 MHz	2.1 GHz	2.6 GHz
	10 MHz duplex (2033)	12 MHz duplex (2021)	25 MHz duplex (2021)	15 MHz duplex +5 MHz (2021)	20 MHz duplex (2027)

 

 

Internal source.

5G

On October 25, 2018, the Belgian Institute for Postal Services and Telecommunications (BIPT)) published the "national roadmap" for the 700 MHz band in application of the European regulation on the use of the 470-790 MHz spectrum band in the European Union.

The timetable for future allocations has not been announced, but on July 14, 2020 BIPT allocated temporary rights in the 3.6-3.8 GHz band to Orange, as well as to four other operators. These temporary rights allow the first developments in this 5G spectrum band, and are applicable until allocations by auction. These BIPT decisions have been appealed against before the Market Court by associations opposed to 5G.

On January 21, 2021, the government approved the Royal Decree and the draft law establishing the framework for 5G allocations (700 MHz, 1400 MHz and 3.4-3.8 GHz) and the renewal of licenses in the 900 MHz, 1800 MHz and 2100 MHz bands.

Mobile voice call terminations

Orange’s mobile call termination rate has been 0.99 euro cents per minute since May 2017, based on the long-term incremental cost model of an efficient generic operator.

Pursuant to the European Code, on December 21, 2020 the European Commission published a Delegated Act setting the level of mobile termination from 2021 (see Section 1.7.1.1 European Union).

Cable wholesale broadband markets

The market review consultation was launched in July 2017 by the Conference of Electronic Communications Regulators (CRC) ^[27]. The review concluded that there were different wholesale markets for central access (copper/fiber versus cable) and for television (IPTV versus cable). On May 25, 2018, the European Commission commented on the draft decisions for the wholesale broadband markets (markets 3a and 3b/2014) and on the wholesale television distribution market. The European Commission did not block the proposal to define two central access wholesale markets for the copper and fiber optic networks and for coaxial cable, despite its comments on the measure. After the filing and subsequent dismissal of various appeals in 2019, the CRC submitted its draft decision on the new wholesale cable network access rates in April 2020. It was approved with comments by the European Commission on May 5, 2020. The decision was published by the CRC on May 26, 2020 and has been applicable since July 1, 2020.

Regarding wholesale fiber prices, based on "cost plus", as well as one-time rates such as activation and installation rates (for both fiber and cable), the public consultation ended on October 30, 2020.

1.7.1.5.2 Romania

Spectrum

• Summary of spectrum allocated to Orange and their expiration year

	800 MHz	900 MHz	1800 MHz	2.1 GHz	2.6 GHz	3.4-3.8 GHz
	10 MHz duplex (2029)	10 MHz duplex (2029)	20 MHz duplex (2029)	15 MHz duplex +5 MHz (2031)	20 MHz duplex (2029)	25 MHz duplex +10 MHz duplex +45 MHz (2025)

 

 

Internal source.

Orange won additional spectrum on August 14, 2018 at a private auction organized by 2K Telecom for the allocation of 2x10 MHz blocks in the 3.5 GHz band, valid until 2025, for 3.35 million euros.

On July 29, 2019, the regulator Ancom launched a public consultation on the terms and conditions of the auction of licenses in the 700 MHz, 800 MHz, 1500 MHz, 2600 MHz and 3400-3800 MHz spectrum bands. The consultation ended on September 2, 2019. The allocation of the 5G spectrum, initially planned for the end of 2019, has been deferred until the second quarter of 2021.

Mobile voice call termination rates

The mobile call termination rate has been 0.76 euro cents per minute since January 1, 2020. It applies to national calls and calls originating from within the European Economic Area (EEA), but also to calls from outside the EEA.

Pursuant to the European Code, on December 21, 2020 the European Commission published a Delegated Act setting the level of mobile termination from 2021 (see Section 1.7.1.1 European Union).

Wholesale broadband markets

In the context of its third round of analysis of the 3a and 3b markets, on October 19, 2020, Ancom confirmed that the retail broadband market is effectively competitive, and that, as a consequence, no obligation should be imposed on the two wholesale markets. The European Commission approved the conclusions, while suggesting that the market be monitored.

1.7.1.5.3 Slovakia

Spectrum

• Summary of spectrum allocated to Orange and their expiration year

	700 MHz	800 MHz	900 MHz	1800 MHz	2.1 GHz	2.6 GHz	3.4-3.8 GHz
	10 MHz duplex (2040)	10 MHz duplex (2028)	10 MHz duplex (2025)	15 MHz duplex (2025) +5 MHz duplex (2026)	20 MHz duplex +5 MHz (2026)	30 MHz duplex (2028)	40 MHz duplex (2025)

 

 

Internal source.

3.4-3.6 GHz band

In August 2019, Orange acquired a total of 40 MHz from Slovanet in two 20 MHz coupled-spectrum blocks (3470 MHz-3490 MHz/3570 MHz-3590 MHz), with licenses valid until 2025.

5G

On November 23, 2020, the Slovak regulator (RU) announced the results of the auction for the 5G spectrum in the 700 MHz and 900 MHz bands.

A total of 82.4 MHz was offered at auction, consisting of 2x30 MHz in the 700 MHz band, 2x4.2 MHz in the 900 MHz band, and 2x9 MHz in the 1800 MHz band. Licenses in the 700 MHz band are valid for twenty years, until December 31, 2040. Licenses in the 900 MHz and 1800 MHz band will be valid until December 31, 2025. In this context, Orange acquired 2x10 MHz in the 700 MHz spectrum band for 33.6 million euros.

Mobile voice call termination rates

The mobile call termination rate of all operators has been 0.818 euro cents per minute since August 1, 2019.

Pursuant to the European Code, on December 21, 2020 the European Commission published a Delegated Act setting the level of mobile termination from 2021 (see Section 1.7.1.1 European Union).

Wholesale broadband and very high-speed fixed broadband markets

The Slovakian regulator completed its third round of analysis of the 3a, 3b and 4/2014 markets and published its decisions on markets 3a and 3b on January 19, 2018, and on market 4 on November 7, 2016. The regulator eased regulations:

−    in market 3a, by excluding unbundling of the local sub-loop, while maintaining unbundling in the local copper loop, and by limiting the regulatory obligations of NGA offers to the economic replicability test and to a technical equivalence of inputs;

−    in market 3b, by imposing a replicability test of 2P offers and multicast IPTV wholesale access offers, instead of regulated prices;

−    in market 4, by eliminating the sector-based regulatory obligations, because of the competitive nature of the market.

The RU published rate caps for access to fixed physical infrastructure (civil engineering) on October 17, 2018. The maximum monthly fees are as follows: access to ducts (0.257 euro/month/meter), HDPE tube (0.128 euro/month/meter) and micro-tube (0.116 euro/month/meter). This is a significant decrease in the access rates for the infrastructure.

1.7.1.6    Non-EU countries where the Orange group operates

The table below shows the type of licenses held by Orange and their expiration dates at December 31, 2020 in each country in which it operates in the Africa and Middle East region:

Renewal of licenses in the MEA region

	Expiration of current license	Type of license
Botswana	September 2033	Network, including
		2G-3G spectrum
Botswana	September 2033	Services and applications
Botswana	August 2025	4G spectrum
Burkina Faso	May 2035	Fixed, mobile 2G-3G-4G
		(2G - 3G - 4G)
Cameroon	January 2030	2G - 3G - 4G
Côte d’Ivoire	April 2032	Global [28](2G - 3G - 4G)
Egypt	October 2031	2G - 3G - 4G,
		virtual fixed license
Guinea-Bissau	April 2025	2G - 3G - 4G
Guinea	March 2029	2G - 3G - 4G
Jordan	May 2024	2G - 3G
Jordan	September 2030	4G
Jordan	May 2024	Fixed
Liberia	July 2030	Global (2G - 3G - 4G)
Madagascar	April 2025	2G - 3G - 4G
Mali	July 2032	Global (2G - 3G - 4G)
Morocco	August 2024	2G
Morocco	December 2031	3G
Morocco	April 2035	4G
Morocco	April 2036	Fixed
Mauritius	November 2021	2G - 3G - 4G
Mauritius	November 2025	Fixed
Central African Republic	May 2027	Global (2G - 3G)
Democratic Republic of the Congo	October 2031	2G - 3G
Democratic Republic of the Congo	May 2038	4G
Senegal	August 2034	Global (2G - 3G - 4G)
Sierra Leone	July 2031	2G - 3G
Sierra Leone	March 2034	4G
Tunisia	July 2024	Global (2G - 3G)
Tunisia	March 2031	4G

 

 

Source: data from national regulators.

1.7.2    Regulation of banking activities

The Covid-19 pandemic caused a very high level of volatility in the financial markets, which led to an increase in yields on public debt and consequently unrealized losses on the portfolios of public debt held by banks. Against that backdrop, to give banks the ability to continue financing businesses and households, the European Central Bank (ECB) adopted a set of strong measures (the "European package") in favor of bank liquidity and good financing of the economy. They include:

−    the postponement by the Basel Committee until January 1, 2023 of the revision of the requirements in terms of credit risk, operational risk and market risk (Basel III);

−    the postponement of banking stress tests across the euro zone and an easing of regulatory requirements;

−    the easing of the deadlines and procedures for submitting reporting statements to prudential supervision and resolution authorities, numerous measures relating to capital buffers, and a broad set of measures to ease guarantees;

−    recommendations to banks not to pay dividends or buy back shares.

At the same time, national governments took measures within each country to implement these decisions and ensure support for SMEs. In France, the government took, among others, the following measures:

−    implementation of a government-guarantee mechanism for loans of up to 300 billion euros granted by credit institutions (decree of March 23, 2020). The government also took measures allowing more favorable prudential treatment by banks of their exposure to SMEs and infrastructure;

−    simplification of the conditions for modifying the bank card payment limit (lifted from 30 euros to 50 euros per transaction in order to limit physical contact between customers and merchants) and use of digital channels for business credit (Government order No 2020/534 of May 7, 2020);

−    extension of deadlines and adjustment of recovery procedures during the health crisis, in particular with regard to the application of penalty payments, contractual clauses aimed at penalizing non-performance by debtors and deadlines for terminating or opposing the renewal of contracts, by a series of Government orders (March 25, 2020, April 15, 2020, May 13, 2020 and June 3, 2020), which had a significant impact on Orange Bank, in particular for its credit activity.

In addition, a series of reforms unrelated to the health context were implemented during the year, including:

−    corrigendum to Directive (EU) 2019/878 of the European Parliament and of the Council of May 20, 2019 with regard to exempted entities, financial holding companies, mixed financial holding companies, remuneration, supervisory measures and powers, and own capital conservation measures;

−    European Directive (EU) 2018/822 of the Council of May 25, 2018 on the automatic and compulsory exchange of information on cross-border arrangements that must be declared to tax authorities. French banks are therefore subject to new reporting obligations from January 31, 2021;

−    ECB guide to climate and environmental risks for banks. The ECB published the final version of the guide on November 27, 2020, and banks must conduct a self-assessment in early 2021 in relation to its expectations;

−    Decree No. 2020/889 of July 20, 2020 modifying the conditions for credit institutions’ assessment of the financial fragility of their account-holding customers;

−    Decree No. 2020-1703 of December 24, 2020 transposing Directive 2019/879 of the European Parliament and of the Council of May 20, 2019 on the loss absorbing and recapitalization capacity of credit institutions and investment firms.

Lastly, with regard to the fight against money laundering and the financing of terrorism (AML/CFT), a number of regulations were adopted during the year, in particular:

−    transposition of the fifth AML directive via the Government order and decrees of February 12, 2020 amending the French Monetary and Financial Code. The major changes relate to customer identification requirements at the start of a relationship and the strengthening of certain aspects of the AML/CFT system;

−    ACPR guidelines of March 16, 2020 specifying the organizational rules of the AML/CFT systems of banking groups, as well as the controls, procedures and risk classification to be implemented by branches and subsidiaries in order to ensure their consolidated management. In particular, they provide for the appointment of a manager responsible for overseeing the implementation of the rules and for informing managers and supervisory bodies. They also cover the exchange of information between entities and the rules governing internal control;

−    Government order No. 2020-1342 of November 4, 2020 strengthening the mechanism for freezing and prohibiting the provision of assets.

2.       Risk factors and business control framework

2.1         Risk factors

2.1.1       Operational risks

2.1.2       Legal risks

2.1.3       Financial risks

2.1.4       Non-financial risks

2.2         Activity and risk management framework

                INTENTIONNALLY OMITTED

 

2.1    Risk factors

In addition to the information contained in this Universal Registration Document, investors should carefully consider the risks outlined below before making their investment decision. Orange’s view at the date of this Universal Registration Document is that these risks could have a material adverse effect (i) on its business, financial position, earnings, reputation or outlook, or (ii) on its stakeholders. In addition, other risks and uncertainties, as yet unidentified or, at the date of this Universal Registration Document, not currently considered to be material by Orange, could have similar adverse effects. Investors could lose all or part of their investment if these risks were to materialize.

In assessing the materiality of these risks, the results of mitigation policies implemented by Orange are taken into account. Only the risks still deemed material at Group level, despite these policies, are set out below.

Risks are presented in this section under four categories:

−    for Orange:

-     operational risks relating to Orange’s business activities (see Section 2.1.1),

-     risks of a legal nature (see Section 2.1.2),

-     financial risks (see Section 2.1.3);

−    for Orange and its stakeholders: the main "non-financial" risks relating to the employee-related, social and environmental consequences of Orange’s business activities, and the effects of those activities in terms of respect for human rights, anti-corruption measures and tax evasion (see Section 2.1.4).

These categories are not presented in order of importance. However, within each category, risk factors are presented in descending order of importance as determined by Orange at the date of this Universal Registration Document. Orange may change its view of their relative importance at any time, notably in the event of external or internal developments.

Several other sections of this Universal Registration Document also discuss risks in some detail:

−    for the effects on Orange of the continuing health crisis related to the Covid-19 pandemic and its global economic and social consequences, see Section 1.3 Significant events;

−    for risks relating to the global telecommunication services market, Orange’s overall strategy and its business model, see Section 1.2;

−    for risks relating to regulation and regulatory pressure, see Section 1.7 Regulation of activities and Note 18 Litigation to the Consolidated Financial Statements (Section 3.3);

−    for risks relating to litigation involving the Group, see also Note 11 Taxes and Note 18 Litigation to the Consolidated Financial Statements and, where applicable, Section 3.2.1 Recent events;

−    for risks relating to the Group’s employee-related, social and environmental responsibility, see Section 4;

−    for financial risks, see:

-     Note 8 to the Consolidated Financial Statements for the key assumptions used to determine the recoverable amount of the main activities and specific risk factors that may affect this amount,

-     Notes 9 and 12 to the Consolidated Financial Statements for asset impairments,

-     Note 13.8 to the Consolidated Financial Statements for derivatives,

-     Note 14 to the Consolidated Financial Statements for the management of interest rate risk, foreign exchange risk, liquidity risk, covenants, credit risk and counterparty risk, and equity market risk. The policies for managing interest rate, foreign exchange and liquidity risk are set by the Treasury and Financing Committee. See Section 5.2.2.3 Executive Committee and Group governance committees;

−    for the insurance plan, see Section 2.2.3.3 Insurance;

−    more generally, risk management policies throughout the Orange group are discussed in Section 2.2 Activity and risk management framework, which is an integral part of the Management Report.

The effects of the global macroeconomic situation stemming from the international health crisis are included in the analysis below.

2.1.1      Operational risks

Operational risks mainly include risks related to the telecommunication sector, and risks related to Orange’s strategy and business. In addition, risks with potentially significant employee-related, social and environmental consequences are presented in Section 2.1.4.

A significant portion of Orange’s revenue is generated in highly competitive markets where pricing pressure is strong and regulatory decisions are decisive.

High ●●●

In France and Spain in particular, Orange is facing persistently fierce competition, mainly on prices, including in the market for new services. At the same time, the operation of national markets is subject to decisions by industry regulators and competition authorities. Against that backdrop, Orange is pursuing its policy of moving towards a multi-service operator model by offering convergent offers (very high-speed fixed and mobile broadband) and by improving the quality of its services.

If Orange were unable to implement this strategy, it could lose market share and see its margins narrow.

For further information about competition, see Section 1.4 Operating activities.

The existence of a high level of consolidation among Orange’s critical suppliers poses a risk to the Group’s business.

High ●●●

Orange’s critical suppliers, particularly in the areas of network infrastructure, information systems and mobile devices, operate in highly consolidated markets. Despite Orange’s secure purchasing policies, this consolidation poses a risk to the Group’s current or future business (for example, the supply of hardware for 5G networks) in the event that one of these suppliers were to fail or decided to change its business practices, regardless of the cause, including in the event of international economic sanctions against such critical supplier or its country of origin. Any significant change in critical suppliers or their business relationship with Orange may also impact the terms of their partnership with Orange.

If one of these situations were to occur, Orange’s business, earnings and reputation could be permanently adversely affected.

Orange is faced with constantly increasing demand for connectivity and must therefore accelerate the rollout of its networks while improving quality of service, but such investments are constrained by the availability of resources.

High ●●●

Orange must accelerate the rollout of its fixed and mobile broadband and very high-speed networks in regional areas and improve the quality of service of its networks to meet the increased needs for connectivity and prepare for the arrival of 5G. Orange has also made commitments regarding geographic coverage and quality of service to central government and local authorities in France. However, Orange’s investment capacity is constrained by the availability of human, industrial and financial resources, both its own and those of its subcontractors. Against that backdrop, Orange is ramping up its strategy of co-financing investments and pooling network infrastructure.

Failure to meet these expectations in a balanced manner could have an adverse effect on Orange’s earnings and reputation.

The shift of Orange’s ecosystem towards a more open and fragmented model enables global players to take an increasing share of the service and network value chain.

High ●●●

Competition with Over-The-Top (OTT) service providers and Internet giants in the provision of value-added services using the networks is spreading to individual access services made possible by technological changes and the growing number of connected objects. This competition could intensify with the launch of 5G, and extend to the growth in international capacity requirements. Operators such as Orange, for which the direct relationship with customers is a source of value, could be marginalized.

Moreover, the opening up and fragmentation of network ecosystems enables existing players (infrastructure managers, non-telecom networked businesses such as railways, local authorities or Cloud service providers) to offer network services, and new players (SD-WAN, etc.) to position themselves as aggregators of such services, a role traditionally filled by integrated operators such as Orange.

These two developments could adversely affect Orange’s revenue and outlook.

The development of mobile financial services activities in an increasing number of countries confronts Orange with risks specific to this sector in each of its host countries.

High ●●●

Mobile financial services, including banking, expose Orange to industry-specific risks such as money laundering, terrorist financing and non-compliance with economic sanctions programs, as well as common risks that are particularly sensitive in mobile financial services, such as fraud, cyberattacks and service disruption.

If they were to materialize, these risks could have a material adverse effect on the Group’s financial position, the success of its strategy and its reputation.

Orange’s broad geographic footprint and the scope of its activities expose it to geopolitical, macroeconomic, fiscal and regulatory risks.

High ●●●

Against the backdrop of a global macroeconomic crisis in which all countries are seeking to keep their economies functioning, political instability, and changes in the economic, regulatory, fiscal or industrial relations environment in Orange’s host countries expose Orange to a two-edged threat. First, decisions contrary to its interests could be taken by governmental or judicial authorities, such as new taxes or fines that, if contested, could lead the authorities to decide to suspend services. Second, many customers, in particular businesses, may have difficulty maintaining economic activity, pursuing a business relationship or fulfilling their financial obligations towards Orange. In addition, in the emerging countries where the Group operates, its contribution to local economic activity is often significant, whereas its image is sometimes linked to that of the French government. In this uncertain context, the value or sustainability of investments made in certain countries could be negatively impacted by international economic sanctions imposed on those countries.

Such situations could call into question the profitability outlook justifying investment decisions and adversely impact the Group’s financial position and earnings.

Orange is exposed to the risk of an interruption of its services.

High ●●●

Due to the essential nature of telecommunications, compounded by lockdown decisions and the swift and massive take-up of telework with the Covid-19 pandemic, the networks of telecommunications operators are particularly exposed to risks of service disruption linked to intentional and sometimes criminal acts.

Interruptions to the services provided to customers may occur as a result of malicious human acts (such as infrastructure sabotage) or via cyberattacks, but also at the request of government or judicial authorities.

Interruptions may also be unintentional. They can occur as a result of extreme weather events, human error, such as when subcontractors work on shared infrastructure, in conjunction with the failure of a critical supplier, or when new applications or software are rolled out. Lastly, they can occur as a result of capacity saturation resulting from the uninterrupted development of digital uses, and particularly during periods of intense traffic in the unprecedented and exceptional situation observed over recent months characterized by massive use of digital technology in economic life,

Despite the business continuity and crisis management measures taken by Orange to protect and resize its networks, the likely sustainability of massive use of telework, the high frequency of cyberattacks, the implementation of all-IP technologies, the increase in the size of service platforms and the consolidation of equipment in a reduced number of buildings mean that service interruptions could affect a larger number of customers and several countries at the same time in the future.

Such events could cause serious damage to Orange’s reputation, give rise to liability claims against it and result in a reduction in traffic and revenue, thereby adversely impacting its earnings and outlook. If they were to occur at the level of one or several countries, they could also trigger crisis situations potentially affecting the security of the countries concerned.

Orange is exposed to risks of inappropriate disclosure or modification of stakeholder data in its possession, particularly in the event of cyberattacks.

Medium ●●○

Orange’s business activities require the transmission through its networks and storage on its infrastructure of data belonging to business or government customers, suppliers, partners and all stakeholders other than natural persons (see Section 2.1.4 for information relating to risks regarding personal data). The increasing use of Cloud services and the outsourcing of digital services exposes it to risks of loss, disclosure, unauthorized communication to third parties or inappropriate modification of such data, potentially resulting from (i) the implementation of new services or applications, (ii) the development of new businesses in the field of connected objects, (iii) malicious acts (such as cyberattacks) targeting data in Orange’s possession, or (iv) negligence or errors that may be committed within Orange or by Group partners to which certain operations are outsourced.

The Group could be held liable if these risks were to materialize. Moreover, even though the Group’s stakeholders have high expectations in terms of security, given Orange’s positioning as a trusted operator, its reputation could be significantly adversely affected, which would then materially and adversely affect its future earnings.

Orange’s strategy to develop its new growth drivers may fail to yield the expected results in an international context of sustained economic and social crisis.

Medium ●●○

Orange’s strategy is to develop its business in high-growth regions, with a particular focus on mobile financial services (including mobile banking), cybersecurity and B2B IT services. Although based on the Group’s strengths (capacity for innovation, digital expertise, distribution strength, broad footprint in the MEA region and brand awareness), the development of these new businesses, which requires significant resources without guaranteeing that the use of the corresponding services will gain sufficient traction to generate a return on these investments, depends on the ability of many economic players, including Orange’s current and future customers, to recover from the economic and social consequences of theCovid-19 pandemic.

If Orange were unable to implement this strategy, it could lose market share and see its margins narrow.

The Group’s brand policy, combined with a strategy of geographic expansion and diversification into new businesses, represents a risk for the Orange brand image.

Medium ●●○

Orange’s strategy of accelerating its business activities in growth areas entails execution risks inherent to new businesses (particularly Mobile Banking and cyberdefense) and the countries into which the Group is expanding. If these risks were to materialize, and although the Group pays great attention to preserving the value of the Orange brand, which is a major asset, they could adversely affect the company’s reputation, particularly in the mature mobile telephony sector.

In the event of significant damage to the Orange brand image, the Group’s earnings and outlook could be affected.

Orange’s technical infrastructure is vulnerable to damage caused by intentional or accidental damage, but also by natural disasters, the frequency of which is increased by climate change.

Medium ●●○

Natural disasters, intentional damage caused by war, terrorism or social unrest, as well as other accidental events such as fires, errors or negligence during civil engineering work on infrastructure could lead to significant destruction of Orange’s facilities, resulting in both service interruptions and high repair costs. The frequency and intensity of weather events related to climate change (e.g., floods, storms, heat waves) are increasing, which could aggravate disasters and increase related damage. In the medium term, rising sea levels could affect sites and facilities located near the coast more often. While coverage of claims by insurers could decrease further, the damage caused by major disasters could result in significant costs to Orange, and could thus seriously and adversely affect its financial position and outlook.

The scope of Orange’s business activities and the interconnection of its networks expose the company to a variety of acts of technical fraud, specific to the telecommunication sector.

Low ●○○

Orange faces various types of fraud on its telecommunication services activities, which may target it directly or its customers. In a context of increasing technological complexity, network virtualization, and acceleration of the implementation of new services or new applications, types of fraud that are more difficult to detect or control may also appear, favored for instance by the development of mass data processing, which increases scope for possible attacks, particularly cyberattacks.

If significant fraud were to occur, Orange’s revenue, margins, quality of service and reputation could be adversely affected.

2.1.2      Legal risks

Orange operates in highly regulated markets, and its business activities and earnings could be materially affected by changes in laws or regulations, including those that are extraterritorial in nature, or by changes in government policy.

High ●●●

In most of the countries where it operates, Orange has little flexibility to manage its business activities because it must comply with increasingly numerous and restrictive requirements relating to the provision of its products and services, primarily relating to obtaining and renewing licenses to operate its activities. Orange must also comply with its own regulatory obligations and oversight by authorities seeking to maintain effective market competition, as well as, in some countries, additional constraints owing to its historically dominant position in the fixed telecommunication market.

Orange’s business and earnings could be materially affected by changes in laws or regulations, some of which may be extraterritorial in nature, or by changes in government policy, including decisions made by regulatory or competition authorities regarding:

−    the modification or renewal under unfavorable conditions, or even the withdrawal, of fixed or mobile operator licenses;

−    conditions governing network access (primarily those in connection with roaming or infrastructure sharing);

−    service rates;

−    the introduction of new taxes or increases in existing taxes on telecommunication companies, including the introduction of taxes aimed at facilitating the achievement of countries’ carbon neutrality targets (such as taxes on use or handset purchases);

−    banking and financial supervision, and any related compliance regulations such as laws and regulations on economic sanctions;

−    non-financial corporate obligations;

−    data security;

−    merger and acquisition policy;

−    regulations affecting operators of competing sectors, such as cable;

−    consumerism legislation.

Such decisions could materially adversely affect the Group’s revenue and earnings.

For further information on regulatory risks, see Section 1.7 Regulation of activities.

Orange is regularly involved in litigation, the outcome of which could have a material adverse effect on its earnings, financial position or reputation.

Medium ●●○

Orange believes that, in general and in the countries where it operates, it complies with the specific regulations in force in all material respects, as well as with the conditions governing its operator licenses. However, it is not able to predict the decisions of supervisory or judicial authorities, which are regularly asked to rule on such issues. If Orange were to be ordered by the competent authorities of a country in which it operates to pay an indemnity or a fine, or to suspend certain of its business activities, based on a breach of applicable regulations, its financial position and earnings could be significantly adversely affected.

In addition, Orange (particularly in France and Poland) is frequently involved in proceedings with its competitors and the regulatory authorities due to its p-eminent position in certain of the markets where it operates, and the claims made against Orange can be very substantial. In the past, the Group has been fined several tens of millions of euros or even several hundreds of millions euros for cartel practices or for abusing its dominant position. The Group is also involved in substantial commercial litigation with potentially very significant penalties. The outcome of lawsuits is inherently unpredictable.

For proceedings before the European competition authorities, the maximum amount of fines provided for by law is 10% of the consolidated revenue of the offending company (or the Group to which it belongs, as the case may be).

Lastly, due in particular to its relationships with numerous partners, suppliers and subcontractors, Orange is exposed to a growing risk of legal action by various stakeholders from civil society alleging shortcomings on environmental, employee-related or social matters. That could be the case, for instance, if Orange were to distribute products that are found to contain rare minerals extracted under non-compliant conditions. Such actions could cause significant damage to Orange’s reputation.

The main proceedings involving Orange are described in Note 11 Taxes and Note 18 Litigation to the Consolidated Financial Statements. Developments in or the outcome of some or all of these ongoing proceedings could have a material adverse effect on Orange’s earnings or financial position.

2.1.3      Financial risks

Liquidity risk

Orange’s earnings and outlook could be affected if conditions of access to capital markets were to become difficult.

Medium ●●○

Orange finances itself mainly through the bond markets. Unfavorable changes in the macroeconomic environment could restrict Orange’s access to its usual sources of funding or significantly increase financing costs through an increase in market interest rates and/or the spreads applied to its borrowings.

Any inability to access the financial markets for a lasting period and/or obtain financing on reasonable terms would have a material adverse effect on Orange. In particular, the Group could be forced to allocate a significant portion of its available cash to servicing or repaying its debt, to the detriment of investment or shareholder returns. In any event, Orange’s earnings, cash flows and, more generally, its financial position and flexibility could be adversely affected.

See Note 14.3 Liquidity risk management to the Consolidated Financial Statements, which sets out the different sources of funding available to Orange, the maturity of its debt and changes in its credit rating, as well as Note 14.4 Financial ratios, which contains information on the limited commitments of the Orange group in relation to financial ratios and in the event of default or material adverse change.

Risk of asset impairment

Changes affecting the economic, political or regulatory environment may result in asset impairment, particularly of goodwill.

Medium ●●○

At December 31, 2020, the gross value of goodwill recognized by Orange following acquisitions and disposals was 33.3 billion euros, not including the goodwill of associates and joint ventures.

The carrying values of long-term assets, including goodwill and fixed assets, are sensitive to any change in the environment that is different from the assumptions used. Orange recognizes impairment on those assets if events or circumstances occur that entail significant unfavorable changes of a lasting nature, affecting the economic environment or the assumptions or objectives adopted at the time of the acquisition.

Over the last five years, Orange has significantly impaired its investments in Poland, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Romania, Cameroon, Egypt and Jordan. At December 31, 2020, the cumulative amount of goodwill impairment was 5.7 billion euros, excluding goodwill impairment of associates and joint ventures.

New events or unfavorable circumstances could prompt Orange to review the current value of its assets and to recognize further significant impairment that could have an adverse effect on its earnings.

In addition, in the event of a disposal or IPO, the value of certain subsidiaries may be affected by changes in the equity and bond markets.

For further information on goodwill and recoverable amounts (including key assumptions and sensitivity), see Note 8 Impairment losses and goodwill and Note 9.3 Impairment of fixed assets to the Consolidated Financial Statements and Section 3.1.2.2 Group operating income.

Credit-rating risk

A change in Orange’s credit rating could increase the cost of debt and in some cases limit access to the financing Orange needs.

Medium ●●○

Orange’s credit rating from rating agencies is based partly on factors beyond its control, namely conditions affecting the telecommunication industry in general or conditions affecting certain of the countries or regions in which it operates. It may be changed at any time by the rating agencies, in particular as a result of changing economic conditions, a downturn in the Group’s earnings or performance, or changes to its shareholding structure. A prolonged multi-notch downgrade in Orange’s rating would have a material adverse effect on its financing terms.

2.1.4      Non-financial risks

The various non-financial risks, included in the scope of Orange’s Statement of Non-Financial Performance (SNFP), have been identified and assessed, and are managed using the same methodology as that used for operational risks related to its business, legal risks and financial risks.

In its SNFP, Orange presents the material employee-related, social and environmental risks to which its business activities may give rise, whether for itself or its stakeholders, as well as corruption risks and matters relating to business ethics and the fight against tax evasion. These items were assessed in relation to non-financial challenges (see Section 2.2.2).

Combating tax evasion, food waste and food insecurity, and promoting respect for animal well-being and responsible food practices were all taken into account in Orange’s non-financial risk assessment. However, they were not considered likely to give rise to risks to the Group’s operations or reputation.

Orange is exposed, particularly as a result of cyberattacks, to risks of inappropriate disclosure or modification of personal data, especially those of its customers.

High ●●●

Orange’s business activities expose it to risks of loss, disclosure, unauthorized communication to third parties or inappropriate modification of the personal data of its customers, employees or the general public that are stored in its infrastructure or carried by its networks. In particular, this includes their banking details, which also form the basis of Orange’s mobile financial services business.

The occurrence of these risks may result in particular from (i) the implementation of new services or applications, (ii) the development of new activities in the field of connected objects or mobile financial services, (iii) malicious acts (such as cyberattacks) targeting personal data, (iv) negligence or errors committed within Orange or within partners of the Group to which certain operations are outsourced, or (v) government requests that are not compliant with legal or regulatory requirements (see also the risk factor "The scope of Orange’s business activities, its numerous locations around the world, and its business dealings with a variety of partners may expose the Group to a risk of breaching human rights and fundamental freedoms"). In the context of the Covic-19 pandemic, the prolonged and massive use of telework has increased the number of remote accesses and the possibilities of attacks.

Orange may be held liable in various countries under laws relating to the protection of personal data (such as the General Data Protection Regulation (EU) 2016/679 of April 27, 2016, GDPR), which reinforces the rights of individuals and the obligations of companies involved in data processing, such as operators and financial services providers. If these risks were to materialize, the owners of the data disclosed or modified could suffer considerable damage, and the Group could be held liable, its corporate purpose could be questioned and its reputation could be substantially affected.

Orange faces a variety of internal and external risks relating to human health and safety.

Medium ●●○

Owing to the specific nature of its operator business and its geographical location, and a context where tensions and social unrest are increasing, Orange employees and subcontractors are exposed to risks to their safety.

Government measures and Orange’s decision to favor telework in response to the current pandemic are sometimes a source of social isolation, and Orange’s and its subcontractors’ employees are exposed to risks to their health and even their safety.

In addition, the transformation plan linked to Engage 2025 and the rapid acceleration of virtualization of exchanges could generate psychosocial risks, potential sources of physical or psychological disability for individuals. Such risks could also slow the rollout of the Group’s strategy and have a material impact on its reputation and operation.

Orange is exposed to risks of corruption, or individual or collective behavior that is not in line with its business ethics or which may also be fraudulent.

Medium ●●○

As the Group’s activities and those of its suppliers, subcontractors and partners cover all regions of the world, Orange could, despite its efforts to continually improve its anti-corruption system in accordance with applicable laws, be exposed to or implicated in cases related to corrupt practices. Orange could also be the victim of fraudulent behavior or behavior that does not comply with international conventions, its Code of Ethics or its supplier code of conduct. Such behavior may originate from persons or companies with which a direct or indirect link can be established, and may directly target Orange, its customers, its business relationships or its employees.

In any event, the Group could be held liable, and Orange’s earnings, quality of service and reputation could be adversely affected.

The scope of Orange’s business activities, its numerous locations around the world, and its business dealings with a variety of partners may expose the Group to a risk of breaching human rights and fundamental freedoms.

Medium ●●○

As the Group’s activities and those of its suppliers and subcontractors are carried out in all parts of the world, Orange could be exposed to violations of human rights and fundamental freedoms involving third parties with which a direct or indirect link may be established. Such violations may relate to forced labor, modern slavery or human trafficking, the rights of children, non-decent, discriminatory or dangerous working conditions, interference with freedom of association or expression, or privacy. In particular, they could occur in regions where minerals are mined, processed and traded in conflict zones, or areas where human rights are not respected. In addition, the Covic-19 pandemic is hindering Orange’s ability to exercise its oversight through on-site audits.

If they were to materialize, these risks could have a significant adverse impact on Orange, or its suppliers and subcontractors concerned, in terms of image and reputation, and could result in liability for the Group.

Moreover, Orange may be required, in the countries where it operates, to comply with injunctions from local authorities that do not comply with legal or regulatory requirements. These injunctions, the frequency of which is increasing with the growing role played by digital technologies in society, may involve a suspension (in full, in part, or in a given region) of certain networks for which Orange is responsible, or the interception of communications, or the disclosure of personal data to third parties. Complying with such injunctions may therefore infringe upon freedom of expression or other fundamental freedoms.

If Orange were to fail to enforce applicable laws or regulations, such injunctions could have a significant impact on the image and reputation of both Orange and the offending countries, and could result in an infringement of freedom of expression and privacy for civil society or the targets of such requests.

Orange and some of its stakeholders are exposed to physical and transitional risks related to climate change.

Medium ●●○

In addition to the impacts on Orange’s infrastructure (see Section 2.1.1, Operational risks, Orange’s technical infrastructure is vulnerable to damage caused by intentional or accidental damage, but also by natural disasters, the frequency of which is increased by climate change), climate change could also have a negative impact on the activities of its suppliers and subcontractors. It also creates expectations among Orange’s customers and other stakeholders, in particular with regard to its ability to implement its emergency services in the event of an extreme weather event. Climate change could also exacerbate inequalities and health crises among the population, and generate significant migration flows, particularly in the MEA region, on which the Group’s prospects for growth in part depend. If such events were to occur, Orange could find it more difficult to fulfill its corporate purpose and more generally face negative financial consequences or reputational damage.

In the future, Orange may find it difficult to obtain and retain the skills needed for its business on a long-term basis due to numerous employee departures and ever-faster developments in its activities.

Medium ●●○

Orange is seeing a significant number of people leave the company or benefit from part-time work at the end of their career in France. At the same time, the need for new skills is growing, whether related to technological developments or the Group’s development in sectors in high demand in the job market. This could affect Orange’s ability to effectively pursue its activities and implement its strategy. If Orange’s attractiveness as an employer or its training programs were to prove insufficient, its earnings and outlook could be adversely affected, and some of the human risks described in the risk factor "Orange faces a variety of internal and external risks relating to human health and safety" could increase.

In addition, without the necessary skills, the aim of providing digital support to stakeholders, which is part of the Engage 2025 strategy, could prove harder to achieve.

Exposure to electromagnetic fields from telecommunications equipment could have harmful effects on health and the perception of such a risk could hinder the development of services. Excessive and inappropriate use of telecommunication services and equipment could also have harmful consequences on health.

Medium ●●○

Following concerns raised in many countries regarding the possible health risks linked to exposure to electromagnetic fields from telecommunication equipment, public authorities have in general approved binding regulations and health authorities have issued various precautions on usage.

There is a consensus among expert groups and health authorities, including the World Health Organization (WHO), that no health risk has been established to date from exposure to electromagnetic fields below the limits recommended by the International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP). However, additional scientific studies are underway on some of the spectrum used for 5G. Orange cannot prejudge the conclusions of future scientific research or future assessments by international organizations and scientific committees mandated to examine these issues. If an adverse health effect were to be scientifically established, it would have a significant adverse effect on Orange’s business, brand image and the Group’s earnings and financial position. Beyond potential adverse effects on Orange, this could significantly curb the development of the digital society.

Public perception of a risk to human health or biodiversity could lead to a reduction in the number of customers and their level of use, as well as an increase in litigation, particularly against the installation of antennas for the mobile network. This could lead to difficulties in creating new sites, in a context where certain stakeholders question the usefulness of rolling out 5G networks. There could also be a tightening of regulations, resulting in a reduction in areas covered, failure to meet Orange’s coverage commitments to the authorities, deterioration in the quality of service and an increase in network rollout costs.

The ubiquity of connected digital equipment may lead to inappropriate use due to overuse or exposure to inappropriate content and online harassment. Negative consequences on users could be both physical and psychological, particularly on young adults and children. If this ubiquity were perceived as a risk for the most vulnerable groups, it could undermine confidence in digital technology and act as a brake on innovation, and, for Orange, a decrease in the use of its services and a deterioration of its image.

In any event, the Group could be held liable, and Orange’s revenue, earnings, quality of service and reputation could be adversely affected.

The rapid development of new uses and technologies may jeopardize the commitments made by Orange with regard to reducing its environmental impact.

Low ●○○

Due to the nature of its services and its social reach, Orange must offer new solutions to reduce the environmental impact of its customers while limiting its own sources of environmental pollution. Orange has made a "Net Zero Carbon in 2040" commitment and has set itself the interim target of reducing its CO₂ equivalent emissions by 30% by 2025 compared with 2015. As part of its Engage 2025 strategic plan, Orange aims to tighten the control of its energy consumption, step up the implementation of circular economy principles, intensify its use of renewable energies and increase its investments in carbon sinks. If its environmental action plans, particularly during the period of technological transition on the fixed network and the introduction of 5G, prove insufficient or mobilize unavailable resources, Orange could fail to meet its commitment, which could have a material adverse effect on its image and on the perception of the positive impact of telecommunications services for a carbon-free society.

2.2    Activity and risk management framework

INTENTIONNALLY OMITTED

3.       Financial report

3.1    Review of the Group’s financial position and results

3.1.1    Overview

3.1.2    Analysis of the Group’s results and capital expenditure

3.1.3    Review by business segment

3.1.4    Cash flow, equity and financial debt

3.1.5    Financial indicators not defined by IFRS

3.1.6    Additional information

3.2    Recent events and Outlook

3.2.1    Recent events

3.2.2    Outlook

3.3    Consolidated financial statements

3.4    Orange SA Statutory Financial Statements

3.4.1    Orange SA Statutory Financial Statements

3.4.2    Other information on the financial statements

3.5    Statutory Auditors

3.5.1    Identity of Statutory Auditors

3.5.2    Reports on the financial statements

3.1    Review of the Group’s financial position and results

3.1.1    Overview 

3.1.1.1    Financial data and workforce information

3.1.1.2    Summary of 2020 results

3.1.1.3    Significant events

3.1.2    Analysis of the Group’s results and capital expenditure

3.1.2.1    Group revenue

3.1.2.1.1    Revenue

3.1.2.1.2    Number of customers

3.1.2.2    Group operating results

3.1.2.2.1    Group EBITDAaL

3.1.2.2.2    Group operating income

3.1.2.3    Group net income

3.1.2.4    Group comprehensive income

3.1.2.5    Group capital expenditure

3.1.2.5.1    Capital expenditure

3.1.2.5.2    Investment commitments

3.1.2.5.3    Investment projects

3.1.3    Review by business segment

3.1.3.1    France

3.1.3.1.1    Revenue - France

3.1.3.1.2    EBITDAaL - France

3.1.3.1.3    Operating income - France

3.1.3.1.4    Economic CAPEX - France

3.1.3.1.5    Telecommunication licenses - France

3.1.3.1.6    Additional information - France

3.1.3.2    Europe

3.1.3.2.1    Revenue - Europe

3.1.3.2.2    EBITDAaL - Europe

3.1.3.2.3    Operating income - Europe

3.1.3.2.4    Economic CAPEX - Europe

3.1.3.2.5    Telecommunication licenses - Europe

3.1.3.2.6    Additional information - Europe

3.1.3.2.7    Additional information - Spain

3.1.3.3    Africa & Middle East

3.1.3.3.1    Revenue - Africa & Middle East

3.1.3.3.2    EBITDAaL - Africa & Middle East

3.1.3.3.3    Operating income - Africa & Middle East

3.1.3.3.4    Economic CAPEX - Africa & Middle East

3.1.3.3.5    Telecommunication licenses - Africa & Middle East

3.1.3.3.6    Additional information - Africa & Middle East

3.1.3.4    Enterprise

3.1.3.4.1    Revenue - Enterprise

3.1.3.4.2    EBITDAaL - Enterprise

3.1.3.4.3    Operating income - Enterprise

3.1.3.4.4    Economic CAPEX - Enterprise

3.1.3.4.5    Additional information - Enterprise

3.1.3.5    International Carriers & Shared Services

3.1.3.5.1    Revenue - International Carriers & Shared Services

3.1.3.5.2    EBITDAaL - International Carriers & Shared Services

3.1.3.5.3    Operating income - International Carriers & Shared Services

3.1.3.5.4    Economic CAPEX - International Carriers & Shared Services

3.1.3.6    Mobile Finance Services

3.1.3.6.1    Operating activities

3.1.3.6.2    Assets, liabilities and cash flows

3.1.4    Cash flow, equity and financial debt

3.1.4.1    Liquidity and cash flows from telecom activities

3.1.4.1.1    Organic cash flow from telecom activities

3.1.4.1.2    Cash flows from telecom activities

3.1.4.2    Financial debt and liquidity position of telecom activities

3.1.4.2.1    Net financial debt

3.1.4.2.2    Management of financial debt and liquidity position

3.1.4.2.3    Exposure to market risks and financial instruments

3.1.4.2.4    Change in Orange’s credit rating

3.1.4.3    Equity

3.1.5    Financial indicators not defined by IFRS 

3.1.5.1    Data on a comparable basis

3.1.5.1.1    2019 fiscal year - Group

3.1.5.1.2    2019 fiscal year - Segments

3.1.5.2    EBITDAaL

3.1.5.3    eCAPEX

3.1.5.4    EBITDAaL - eCAPEX

3.1.5.5    Organic cash flow from telecom activities

3.1.5.6    Net financial debt

3.1.5.7    Ratio of net financial debt to EBITDAaL from telecom activities

3.1.6    Additional information 

This section contains forward-looking statements about Orange. These forward-looking statements are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from the results anticipated in the forward-looking statements. The most significant risks are detailed in Section 2.1 Risk factors.

The following comments are based on the Consolidated Financial Statements prepared in accordance with IFRS (International Financial Reporting Standards, see Note 2 to the Consolidated Financial Statements). The Group has applied IFRS 16 "Leases" since January 1, 2019. In this context, the decision of the IFRS IC (IFRS Interpretations Committee) published in December 2019 and relating to the enforceable lease term was implemented by the Group on December 31, 2020 for all leases falling within the scope of the final decision of the Interpretations Committee, with retroactive effect from January 1, 2019. Data on a historical basis and data on a comparable basis for the 2019 fiscal year were restated to reflect this change. An additional right of use and lease liability for 443 million euros were therefore recognized retrospectively as of January 1, 2019. The impact of the application of this decision on the Consolidated income statement and on the Consolidated statement of cash flows of the Group is not significant (see Note 2.3.1 to the Consolidated Financial Statements).

Data on a comparable basis, EBITDA after Leases (referred to as "EBITDAaL"), economic CAPEX (referred to as "eCAPEX" or "economic CAPEX"), the "EBITDAaL - eCAPEX" indicator, organic cash flow from telecom activities, net financial debt, and the ratio of net financial debt to EBITDAaL from telecom activities, are financial indicators not defined by IFRS. For further information on the calculation of these indicators and the reasons why the Orange group uses them and considers them useful for readers, see Section 3.1.5 Financial indicators not defined by IFRS and Section 7.2.1 Financial glossary.

Data on a historical basis (see Section 7.2.1 Financial glossary) relates to data for prior periods as reported in the Consolidated Financial Statements for the current period. The transition from data on a historical basis to data on a comparable basis for the 2019 fiscal year is set out in Section 3.1.5.1 Data on a comparable basis.

The new organization of the Orange group’s Executive Committee in place since September 1, 2020 (see Section 3.1.1.3 Significant events) led the Group to review the presentation of its segment information, without however changing the definition of its business segments. In this context, Spain was integrated into the Europe aggregate. The segment information now includes, within Europe, Spain and Other European countries, comprising Poland, Belgium, Luxembourg and each of the Central European countries (Moldova, Romania and Slovakia). Data o a historical basis, data on a comparable basis and customer bases for the 2019 fiscal year were restated to reflect this change. In addition, the Orange Bank business segment was renamed Mobile Finance Services to reflect the gradual integration of new activities within this segment (see beginning of Section 3.1.3 Analysis by business segment and Note 1.9 to the Consolidated Financial Statements).

The segment information (see Note 1 to the Consolidated Financial Statements) that is presented in the following sections is understood, unless stated otherwise, before eliminations for transactions with other segments.

Unless stated otherwise, data in the tables is presented in millions of euros, without a decimal point. This presentation may, in some cases, lead to negligible differences in the totals and sub-totals in the tables. Furthermore, the changes presented are calculated on the basis of data in thousands of euros.

3.1.1      Overview

3.1.1.1    Financial data and workforce information

Operating data

(at December 31, in millions of euros)	2020	2019 data on a comparable basis (1)	2019 data on a historical basis	% change data on a comparable basis (1)	% change data on a historical basis
Revenue (2)	42,270	42,151	42,238	0.3%	0.1%
EBITDAaL (1)	12,680	12,812	12,856	(1.0) %	(1.4) %
Telecom activities	12,839	12,970	13,015	(1.0) %	(1.4) %
EBITDAaL/Revenue from telecom activities	30.4%	30.8%	30.8%	(0.4 pts.)	(0.4 pts.)
Mobile Finance Services	(160)	(160)	(160)	(0.1) %	(0.1) %
Operating Income	5,521		5,930		(6.9) %
Telecom activities	5,715		6,114		(6.5) %
Mobile Finance Services	(195)		(186)		(5.3) %
eCAPEX (1)	7,132	7,257	7,293	(1.7) %	(2.2) %
Telecom activities	7,102	7,229	7,265	(1.8) %	(2.2) %
eCAPEX/Revenue from telecom activities	16.8%	17.1%	17.2%	(0.3 pts.)	(0.4 pts.)
Mobile Finance Services	30	28	28	8.5%	8.5%
EBITDAaL - eCAPEX (1)	5,548	5,555	5,564	(0.1) %	(0.3) %
Telecom activities	5,736	5,741	5,750	(0.1) %	(0.2) %
Mobile Finance Services	(190)	(187)	(187)	(1.3) %	(1.3) %
Telecommunication licenses	969	511	519	89.6%	86.6%
Average number of employees (full-time equivalents) (3)	133,787	135,954	135,619	(1.6) %	(1.4) %
Number of employees (active employees at end of period) (3)	142,150	146,768	146,768	(3.1) %	(3.1) %

 

(1)   See Section 3.1.5 Financial indicators not defined by IFRS and Section 7.2.1 Financial glossary.

(2)   Revenue from telecom activities. The Net Banking Income (NBI) of Mobile Finance Services is recognized in other operating income (see Note 5.2 to the Consolidated Financial Statements).

(3)   See Section 7.2.1 Financial glossary.

Net income

(at December 31, in millions of euros)	2020	2019 data on a historical basis
Operating Income	5,521	5,930
Finance costs, net	(1,314)	(1,261)
Income taxes (1)	848	(1,447)
Consolidated net income	5,055	3,222
Net income attributable to owners of the parent company	4,822	3,004
Net income attributable to non-controlling interests	233	218

 

(1)   Including, in 2020, tax income relating to the settlement of the tax dispute in France in respect of fiscal years 2005-2006 for 2,246 million euros (see Section 3.1.1.3 Significant events and Note 11.2 to the Consolidated Financial Statements).

Organic cash flow from telecom activities

(at December 31, in millions of euros)	2020	2019 data on a historical basis
Organic cash flow from telecom activities (1)	2,494	2,345

 

(1)   See Section 3.1.5 Financial indicators not defined by IFRS, Section 7.2.1 Financial glossary, and Note 1.8 to the Consolidated Financial Statements. By definition, organic cash flow from telecom activities excludes amounts received or paid in respect of the main disputes. As a result, organic cash flow from telecom activities does not include tax income relating to the settlement of the tax dispute in France in respect of fiscal years 2005-2006 for 2,246 million euros in 2020 (see Section 3.1.1.3 Significant events and Note 11.2 to the Consolidated Financial Statements).

Net financial debt

(at December 31, in millions of euros)	2020	2019 data on a historical basis
Net financial debt (1)	23,489	25,466

 

(1)   See Section 3.1.5 Financial indicators not defined by IFRS, Section 7.2.1 Financial glossary, and Note 13.3 to the Consolidated Financial Statements. Net financial debt as defined and used by Orange does not take into account Mobile Finance Services activities, for which this concept is not relevant.

For further information on the risks relating to the Orange group’s financial debt, see Section 2.1.3 Financial risks.

3.1.1.2    Summary of 2020 results

The annual results confirm that all the targets announced by the Group for fiscal year 2020 were achieved.

Revenue totaled 42,270 million euros in 2020, up 0.1% in data on a historical basis and 0.3% in data on a comparable basis compared with 2019. In data on a comparable basis, this growth was mainly driven by countries in Africa & Middle East, and France, up 5.2% and 1.6% respectively year-on-year. Together this more than offset the decline in revenue in Europe (-3.5%), mostly in Spain, in Enterprise services (-1.4%) and, to a lesser extent, in services to International Carriers & Shared Services. Between 2019 and 2020, the Group’s revenue growth was fueled by the strong trend in wholesale services, due to the co-financing of the fiber network in France, and convergence services, which grew by 4.4% and 2.1% respectively in data on a comparable basis. However, in the context of the Covid-19 health crisis, international roaming (customers and visitors) was adversely affected by travel restrictions, and equipment sales (-9.5% in data on a comparable basis) by store closures.

Sales activity recorded an increase in access lines, despite an extremely competitive environment and a year dominated by the Covid-19 crisis. In data on a comparable basis, convergent offers (11.1 million customers at December 31, 2020) were up 2.7% year-on-year. Very high-speed broadband offers, which had 9.6 million access lines at December 31, 2020, rose 23.7% year-on-year. The total number of mobile access lines also increased by 3.3% year-on-year, with 214.1 million access lines at December 31, 2020. Lastly, Orange Bank’s customer base in France and Spain, including the mobile insurance offer, was almost 1.2 million customers at December 31, 2020.

EBITDAaL was 12,680 million euros in 2020, down 1.4% in data on a historical basis and 1.0% in data on a comparable basis. In data on a comparable basis, EBITDAaL was significantly affected by the decline in international roaming and the main additional costs directly linked to the Covid-19 crisis (-545 million euros), as well as by Spain (-13.0%) and Enterprise (-14.9%). These effects were mitigated by the remarkable performance of countries in Africa & Middle East (+10.0%), the solid results of Other European countries (+2.3%), and the resilience of France (+0.2%). The ratio of EBITDAaL from telecom activities to revenue was 30.4% in 2020, down 0.4 points on 2019 in data on a historical basis and data on a comparable basis.

Operating income amounted to 5,521 million euros in 2020, down 409 million euros (-6.9%) on 2019 in data on a historical basis. This decrease is mainly due to the 176 million euro decline in EBITDAaL in data on a historical basis and the 162 million euro increase in net expenses relating to significant litigation, following a reassessment of the risk related to various disputes.

Consolidated net income totaled 5,055 million euros in 2020, compared with 3,222 million euros in 2019, an increase of 1,833 million euros. This increase is mainly due to the tax income of 2,246 million euros recognized at the end of 2020 relating to the settlement of a tax dispute in France in respect of fiscal years 2005-2006 (see Section 3.1.1.3 Significant events).

Economic CAPEX stood at 7,132 million euros in 2020, down 2.2% in data on a historical basis and 1.7% in data on a comparable basis. The ratio of economic CAPEX to revenue from telecom activities was 16.8% in 2020, down 0.4 points on 2019 in data on a historical basis and 0.3 points in data on a comparable basis. The fall in the Group’s economic CAPEX was largely a result of the co-financing received, partly offset by the accelerated rollout in very high-speed fixed (FTTH) and mobile (4G/5G) broadband networks. Despite the Covid-19 crisis, the Group succeeded in rolling out more fiber in 2020 than in 2019. At December 31, 2020, the Group thus had 48.3 million households connectable with very high-speed fixed broadband (including 47.2 million FTTH connectable households), up 22.2% year-on-year. In addition, there were 81.3 million 4G customers at December 31, 2020, an increase of 20.4% year-on-year. At 2020 year-end, nearly 100% of Orange mobile sites in France offered 4G coverage.

Net financial debt stood at 23,489 million euros at December 31, 2020, a decrease of 1,976 million euros vs end-Dec 2019. This was mainly due to the tax income of 2,246 million euros recognized at the end of 2020 relating to the settlement of a tax dispute in France in respect of fiscal years 2005-2006 (see Section 3.1.1.3 Significant events). The ratio of net financial debt to EBITDAaL from telecom activities stood at 1.83x at December 31, 2020. Excluding the impact of the 2.2 billion euro tax refund, the ratio would have been 2.00x, in line with the medium-term objective of around 2x.

Organic cash flow from telecom activities amounted to 2,494 million euros at December 31, 2020, compared with 2,345 million euros at December 31, 2019, an increase of 149 million euros between the two periods. This increase is mainly due to the reduced outflows related to economic CAPEX and to the French part-time for seniors (TPS) plans.

With regard to the dividend, see Section 6.3 Dividend policy.

3.1.1.3    Significant events

The Group’s main significant events are described in Section 1.3 Significant events.

3.1.2      Analysis of the Group’s results and capital expenditure

3.1.2.1    Group revenue

3.1.2.1.1      Revenue

Revenue by segment (2) (at December 31, in millions of euros)	2020	2019 data on a comparable basis (1)	2019 data on a historical basis	% change data on a comparable basis (1)	% change data on a historical basis
France	18,461	18,165	18,154	1.6%	1.7%
Europe	10,580	10,968	11,051	(3.5) %	(4.3) %
Spain	4,951	5,263	5,280	(5.9) %	(6.2) %
Other European countries	5,638	5,717	5,783	(1.4) %	(2.5) %
Eliminations	(9)	(12)	(12)	(26.5) %	(26.9) %
Africa & Middle East	5,834	5,543	5,646	5.2%	3.3%
Enterprise	7,807	7,914	7,820	(1.4) %	(0.2) %
International Carriers & Shared Services	1,450	1,495	1,498	(3.0) %	(3.2) %
Eliminations	(1,861)	(1,934)	(1,930)
Group total	42,270	42,151	42,238	0.3%	0.1%

 

(1)   See Section 3.1.5.1 Data on a comparable basis.

(2)   Revenue from telecom activities (see Notes 1.1 and 5.1 to the Consolidated Financial Statements). The Net Banking Income (NBI) of Mobile Finance Services is recognized in other operating income (see Note 5.2 to the Consolidated Financial Statements).

Revenue by offer (2) (at December 31, in millions of euros)	2020	2019 data on a comparable basis (1)	2019 data on a historical basis	% change data on a comparable basis (1)	% change data on a historical basis
Convergent services	7,276	7,125	7,111	2.1%	2.3%
Mobile only services	10,317	10,414	10,544	(0.9) %	(2.2) %
Fixed only services	9,277	9,473	9,508	(2.1) %	(2.4) %
IT & integration services	3,252	3,124	3,004	4.1%	8.3%
Wholesale services	8,255	7,907	7,933	4.4%	4.1%
Equipment sales	2,821	3,115	3,146	(9.5) %	(10.3) %
Other revenues	1,072	992	991	8.0%	8.1%
Group total	42,270	42,151	42,238	0.3%	0.1%

 

(1)   See Section 3.1.5.1 Data on a comparable basis.

(2)   Revenue from telecom activities (see Notes 1.1 and 5.1 to the Consolidated Financial Statements). The Net Banking Income (NBI) of Mobile Finance Services is recognized in other operating income (see Note 5.2 to the Consolidated Financial Statements).

In 2020, the revenue of the Orange group totaled 42,270 million euros, an increase of 0.1% in data on a historical basis and of 0.3% in data on a comparable basis compared with 2019.

For the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic on the Group’s activities and financial position, see Section 3.1.1.3 Significant events.

Change in data on a historical basis

In data on a historical basis, the 0.1% increase in Group revenue between 2019 and 2020, an increase of 32 million euros, includes:

−    the negative impact of foreign exchange fluctuations, which amounted to 156 million euros, mainly as a result of movements in the Polish zloty (for 86 million euros), the Guinean franc (for 31 million euros) and the US dollar (for 19 million euros) against the euro;

−    the favorable effect of changes in the scope of consolidation and other changes, which totals 68 million euros, and which mainly includes (i) the effect of the acquisitions in July 2019 of SecureLink for 122 million euros and, to a lesser extent, BKM for 22 million euros, partially offset by the effect of the sale of Orange Niger in November 2019 for 63 million euros; and

−    the organic change on a comparable basis, representing a 119 million euro increase in revenue.

Change in data on a comparable basis

In data on a comparable basis, the increase of 119 million euros in the Group’s revenue between 2019 and 2020, i.e. an increase of 0.3%, is mainly due to revenue growth in France and in Africa & Middle East countries, partly offset by the decline in revenue in Europe (mostly in Spain), B2B services and, to a lesser extent, International Carriers & Shared Services.

In France, the increase in revenue of 296 million euros (a rise of 1.6%) is mainly due to:

−    the growth of fixed carrier services, mainly related to the construction, marketing, operation and maintenance of fiber optic networks (with the increase in co-financing, third-party leased lines and revenues from the construction of public initiative networks (PIN), see Section 3.1.1.3 Significant events), despite (i) delays in the construction of public initiative networks due to the Covid-19 health crisis, and (ii) the acceleration of the decline in revenue from unbundling;

−    the development of convergent services, driven both by the rise in convergent ARPO over 12 months (see Section 7.2.1 Financial glossary) and by the growth in the customer base, and despite the unfavorable effect, between the two periods, of e-reading promotional offers; and

−    the increase in other revenues, linked to the rollout of build-to-suit mobile sites and, to a lesser extent, the increase in fixed only broadband services;

−    partially offset by (i) the downward trend in fixed only narrowband services (conventional telephony), (ii) the sharp decline in equipment sales linked to the Covid-19 health crisis, with store closures in France during the first lockdown, (iii) the reduction in mobile carrier services (mainly national roaming), and (iv) the contraction in mobile only services (migration of bundled offers to convergent offers and structural decline in prepaid offers).

In Spain, the fall of 312 million euros in revenue (a decrease of 5.9%) occurred against a backdrop of intense promotional activity and strong competition in entry-level mobile and fixed broadband. This decline mainly reflects:

−    (i) the decrease in mobile only services, with a significant decrease in 12-month mobile only ARPO (see Section 7.2.1 Financial glossary) and the number of mobile only accesses, particularly for prepaid offers, and (ii) the decline in convergent services, marked primarily by a decline in convergent ARPO over 12 months, due overall to the polarization of offers and the general market shift towards low-cost offers; and

−    to a lesser extent, a sharp drop in equipment sales, due to the significant fall in volumes due to the Covid-19 health crisis (store closures).

In Other European countries, the decrease of 79 million euros in revenue (a drop of 1.4%) was mainly due to:

−    (i) the decline in mobile only services, mostly in Romania, Belgium and Slovakia, due to the migration of customers to convergent offers and the decline in customer roaming due to the Covid-19 health crisis, (ii) the significant drop in equipment sales, essentially in Poland and to a lesser extent Belgium and Slovakia, resulting from the Covid-19 health crisis (store closures, travel restrictions), (iii) the contraction in other revenues in Belgium and Romania (downturn due to the Covid-19 health crisis), as well as in Poland (fall in energy sales), (iv) the decrease in mobile carrier services in Belgium caused by the Covid-19 health crisis (fall in SMS volumes and visitor roaming), and (v) the downward trend in fixed only narrowband services in Poland (decline in conventional telephony);

−    partially offset by (i) the significant growth in convergent services in all countries, driven in particular by the increase in the customer base, and (ii) the increase in IT & integration services, mainly in Poland and, to a lesser extent, in Romania.

In Africa & Middle East countries, the increase of 291 million euros in revenue (a rise of +5.2%), was fueled (i) mostly by the growth of mobile only services (driven by data services and, to a lesser extent, Orange Money; see Section 3.1.1.3 Significant events), and (ii) secondarily, by the increase in fixed only broadband services (due in particular to the accelerated fiber rollout), (iii) partially offset by the decline in services to carriers, impacted by the Covid-19 health crisis (with the fall in incoming international traffic and visitor roaming). Growth in the region was driven mainly by the solid performance of the Côte d’Ivoire sub-group (in all countries), the Sonatel sub-group (mainly Guinea) and Egypt.

With regard to Enterprise, the decrease of 107 million euros in revenue (a drop of -1.4%) is essentially due to:

−    (i) the decline in mobile services and equipment, heavily impacted by the Covid-19 health crisis, (ii) the downward trend in voice services, and (iii) the fall in data services (mainly satellite television broadcasting services), in connection with the Covid-19 health crisis;

−    partially offset by the growth in IT & integration services (mainly cybersecurity and Cloud services), slowed however in the second and third quarters of 2020 by the Covid-19 health crisis.

Lastly, with regard to services to International Carriers & Shared Services, the decrease of 44 million euros in revenue (a fall of -3.0%) is mainly due to the decline in activity relating to international carriers, particularly in the context of the Covid-19 health crisis (restrictions on movements and international travel, fall in traffic on voice corridors).

3.1.2.1.2      Number of customers

Number of customers (at December 31, in thousands, at the end of the period)	2020	2019 data on a comparable basis (1)	2019 data on a historical basis	% change data on a comparable basis (1)	% change data on a historical basis
Convergent services
Number of convergent customers	11,056	10,762	10,762	2.7%	2.7%
Mobile services
Number of mobile accesses (2)	214,094	207,211	207,211	3.3%	3.3%
o/w: Mobile accesses of convergent customers	19,826	19,154	19,154	3.5%	3.5%
Mobile only accesses	194,268	188,057	188,057	3.3%	3.3%
o/w: Contract customers	77,368	74,205	74,205	4.3%	4.3%
Prepaid customers	136,726	133,006	133,006	2.8%	2.8%
Fixed services
Number of fixed accesses	45,110	45,439	45,439	(0.7) %	(0.7) %
Number of fixed retail accesses	29,442	29,544	29,544	(0.3) %	(0.3) %
o/w: Number of fixed broadband accesses	21,680	20,685	20,685	4.8%	4.8%
o/w: Very high-speed broadband accesses	9,635	7,792	7,792	23.7%	23.7%
o/w: Convergent customer fixed accesses	11,056	10,762	10,762	2.7%	2.7%
Fixed accesses only	10,624	9,923	9,923	7.1%	7.1%
Number of fixed narrowband accesses	7,762	8,859	8,859	(12.4) %	(12.4) %
Number of fixed Wholesale accesses	15,667	15,895	15,895	(1.4) %	(1.4) %
Group total (2) (3)	259,204	252,650	252,650	2.6%	2.6%

 

(1)   See Section 3.1.5.1 Data on a comparable basis.

(2)   Excluding customers of Mobile Virtual Network Operators (MVNOs).

(3)   Number of mobile service and fixed service customers.

During the first quarter of 2020, the Group revised its method of counting accesses. This change mainly results from a difference in the methodology used for aggregating bases (and not the bases themselves), secondarily, from a harmonization between countries, and lastly, from the integration of Wholesale FTTH access bases.

Previously, the Group distinguished between (i) mobile service customers, (ii) fixed broadband customers, and (iii) fixed telephony customers. Since January 1, 2020, the Group has made a distinction between (i) mobile accesses (bases unchanged) and (ii) fixed accesses, which include fixed broadband accesses (bases unchanged) and fixed narrowband accesses. In addition, fixed accesses now include Wholesale FTTH accesses in France and Spain (co-financed lines and leased lines).

On total accesses for the Group, this change leads to a net decrease of 13.1 million in the Group’s accesses as of December 31, 2019, through (i) elimination of double counting (mainly fixed broadband customers without public switched telephone network (PSTN) access who were counted in the fixed broadband customer base and in the fixed telephony customer base), (ii) for the PSTN customer base, measurement by number of accesses (and no longer by number of lines), (iii) alignment of methodology between countries, and (iv) the integration of Wholesale FTTH access bases.

Data for previous periods were adjusted on this basis.

3.1.2.2    Group operating results

3.1.2.2.1      Group EBITDAaL

(at December 31, in millions of euros)	2020	2019 data on a comparable basis (1)	2019 data on a historical basis	% change data on a comparable basis (1)	% change data on a historical basis
EBITDAaL	12,680	12,812	12,856	(1.0) %	(1.4) %
Telecom activities	12,839	12,970	13,015	(1.0) %	(1.4) %
EBITDAaL/Revenue from telecom activities	30.4%	30.8%	30.8%	(0.4) pts.	(0.4) pts.
Mobile Finance Services	(160)	(160)	(160)	(0.1) %	(0.1) %

 

(1)   See Section 3.1.5.1 Data on a comparable basis.

This section presents the transition from Group revenue to EBITDAaL by type of expense, after presentation adjustments, as presented in Section 3.1.5.2 EBITDAaL and in Note 1 to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

(at December 31, in millions of euros)	2020	2019 data on a comparable basis (1)	2019 data on a historical basis	% change data on a comparable basis (1)	% change data on a historical basis
Revenue	42,270	42,151	42,238	0.3%	0.1%
External purchases (2) (3)	(17,684)	(17,827)	(17,860)	(0.8) %	(1.0) %
Commercial expenses, equipment and content costs (2)	(6,868)	(7,303)	(7,293)	(6.0) %	(5.8) %
Service fees and inter-operator costs (2)	(4,529)	(4,581)	(4,608)	(1.1) %	(1.7) %
Other network expenses and IT expenses (2)	(3,503)	(3,241)	(3,253)	8.1%	7.7%
Other external purchases (2) (3)	(2,785)	(2,702)	(2,706)	3.1%	2.9%
Other operating income and expenses (2) (3)	44	217	193	(79.7) %	(77.2) %
Labor expenses (2) (3)	(8,465)	(8,499)	(8,470)	(0.4) %	(0.1) %
Operating taxes and levies (2) (3)	(1,924)	(1,819)	(1,827)	5.8%	5.3%
Depreciation and amortization of financed assets	(55)	(14)	(14)	301.8%	301.8%
Depreciation and amortization of right-of-use assets	(1,384)	(1,269)	(1,274)	9.1%	8.6%
Interest on debts related to financed assets (3) (4)	(1)	(1)	(1)	168.5%	168.5%
Interest on lease liabilities (3) (4)	(120)	(127)	(129)	(5.7) %	(6.4) %
EBITDAaL (4)	12,680	12,812	12,856	(1.0) %	(1.4) %

 

(1)   See Section 3.1.5.1 Data on a comparable basis.

(2)   See Section 7.2.1 Financial glossary.

(3)   Adjusted data (see Section 3.1.5 Financial indicators not defined by IFRSs and Note 1 to the Consolidated Financial Statements).

(4)   Interest on debts related to financed assets and interest on lease liabilities are included in segment EBITDAaL. They are excluded from segment operating income and included in finance costs, net presented in the Consolidated Financial Statements.

In 2020, Orange group’s EBITDAaL amounted to 12,680 million euros (comprising 12,839 million euros from telecom activities and a 160 million euro loss posted in respect of Mobile Finance Services). The ratio of EBITDAaL from telecom activities to revenue was 30.4% in 2020, down 0.4 points on 2019 in data on a historical basis and data on a comparable basis.

For the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic on the Group’s activities and financial position, see Section 3.1.1.3 Significant events.

Change in data on a historical basis

In historical data, the 1.4% decrease in the Group’s EBITDAaL between 2019 and 2020, i.e. a decrease of 176 million euros, is due to (i) the negative impact of foreign exchange fluctuations, which amounted to 23 million euros, mainly as a result of movements in the Polish zloty against the euro, (ii) the unfavorable impact of changes in the scope of consolidation and other changes for 22 million euros, primarily due to the effect of the disposal of Orange Niger in November 2019, and (iii) the organic change on a comparable basis, i.e. a fall of 131 million euros in EBITDAaL.

Change in data on a comparable basis

In data on a comparable basis, the 1.0% or 131 million euro decrease in Group EBITDAaL between 2019 and 2020 was mainly due to:

−    the 8.1% or 262 million euro increase in other network expenses and IT expenses (see Section 7.2.1 Financial glossary) in almost all countries, essentially due to the increase in outsourcing expenses for operations and technical maintenance, as well as IT expenses, linked in large part to fiber optic maintenance and higher energy costs in France, the network rollout and the development of data services in countries in Africa & Middle East, and the growth of IT and integration services (in particular cybersecurity and the Cloud for B2B services);

−    the 16.3% or 118 million euro decrease in other adjusted operating income (see Section 7.2.1 Financial glossary and Note 5.2 to the Consolidated Financial Statements), which was particularly marked in France and Spain, due in particular to lower rebilling of network sharing costs, income received from litigation and income received from damage to lines;

−    the 115 million euro increase in depreciation and amortization of right-of-use assets (effects of rent indexation and lease amendments, new leases, integration of new mobile mast sites, etc.), mainly in France and for B2B services, and to a lesser extent, in countries in Africa & Middle East and for services to International Carriers & Shared Services;

−    the 5.8% or 105 million euro increase in adjusted operating taxes and levies (see Section 7.2.1 Financial glossary and Note 11.1 to the Consolidated Financial Statements), mostly in France (due to the flat-rate tax on certain network assets, IFER) and in Africa & Middle East countries (due to business growth);

−    the 3.1% or 83 million euro increase in other adjusted external purchases (see Section 7.2.1 Financial glossary), mainly in France, as a result of (i) the increase in purchases for resale primarily related to the construction of public initiative networks (see section 3.1.1.3 Significant events), and secondarily to the rollout of build-to-suit mobile sites, and (ii) the effects of the Covid-19 health crisis, with the recognition of costs of medical supplies, partially offset by the fall in overheads (travel, entertainment and vehicle expenses) in most countries, linked to travel savings and the cancellation of various events;

−    the 11.0% or 55 million euro increase in other adjusted operating expenses (see Section 7.2.1 Financial glossary and Note 6.2 to the Consolidated Financial Statements), which is mainly due to (i) the increase in impairment and losses on trade receivables from telecom activities (particularly in France and for B2B services) due to the Covid-19 health crisis (see Note 5.3 to the Consolidated Financial Statements), and (ii) the increase in the cost of bank credit risk for Mobile Finance Services, particularly in connection with the Covid-19 health crisis (see Note 17.2.3 of the notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements);

−    and the 41 million euro increase in depreciation and amortization of financed assets (set-top boxes in France financed by an intermediary bank; see Note 9.5 to the Consolidated Financial Statements).

These unfavorable changes were partially offset by:

−    the 6.0% or 435 million euro fall in commercial expenses, equipment and content costs (see Section 7.2.1 Financial glossary), due to (i) the sharp decrease in commercial expenses and equipment costs in France and Europe and for B2B services, due to the consequences of the Covid-19 health crisis (store closures and decline in equipment sales, and lower advertising, promotion and sponsorship expenses), (ii) partially offset by higher content costs in Europe (mainly in Spain) and higher distribution commissions in Africa & Middle East countries (linked to business growth, and in particular Orange Money);

−    the 0.3% or 119 million euro increase in revenue, despite the negative effects, between the two periods, of promotions on e-readers. Between 2019 and 2020, EBITDAaL included the negative effect of promotional offers on e-readers amounting to 60 million euros, due to a positive impact that was smaller in 2020 than in 2019;

−    the 1.1% or 52 million euro decrease in service fees and inter-operator costs (see Section 7.2.1 Financial glossary), resulting primarily from (i) the fall in network expenses in Spain (due to the decline in sales activity and the increase in fiber rollout), and (ii) secondarily, the slight reduction in interconnection costs, particularly in Belgium (fall in SMS volumes and roaming in connection with the Covid-19 health crisis); and

−    the 0.4% or 34 million euro decline in adjusted labor expenses (see Section 7.2.1 Financial glossary). Between the two periods, (i) the effect of wage policies in France and internationally, and (ii) to a lesser extent, the payment of specific bonuses to some employees in connection with the Covid-19 health crisis (particularly bonuses for employees who continued working on site) are more than offset by (i) the effect of the 1.6% drop in the average number of employees (full-time equivalent, see Section 7.2.1 Financial glossary), representing a decrease of 2,168 full-time equivalent employees (mainly in France and Poland), and (ii) the decrease in employee profit-sharing and share-based compensation.

Between 2019 and 2020, the decline in international roaming of customers and visitors, particularly affected by the Covid-19 health crisis, had a negative impact on EBITDAaL amounting to 292 million euros in data on a comparable basis. The amount of 253 million euros was also recognized in 2020 for the main specific additional costs generated by the management of the Covid-19 health crisis. For the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic on the Group’s activities and financial position, see Section 3.1.1.3 Significant events.

3.1.2.2.2      Group operating income

(at December 31, in millions of euros)		2020	2019 data on a historical basis
Operating Income		5,521	5,930
	Telecom activities	5,715	6,114
	Mobile Finance Services	(195)	(186)

 

This section presents the transition from EBITDAaL to Group operating income by type of expense, after presentation adjustments, as presented in Section 3.1.5.2 EBITDAaL and in Note 1 to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

(at December 31, in millions of euros)	2020	2019 data on a historical basis
EBITDAaL	12,680	12,856
Significant litigations	(211)	(49)
Specific labor expenses	(12)	(23)
Fixed assets, investments and businesses portfolio review	228	277
Restructuring program costs	(83)	(165)
Acquisition and integration costs	(37)	(24)
Depreciation and amortization of fixed assets	(7,134)	(7,110)
Reclassification of translation adjustment from liquidated entities	-	12
Impairment of goodwill	-	(54)
Impairment of fixed assets	(30)	73
Share of profits (losses) of associates and joint ventures	(2)	8
Elimination of interest on debts related to financed assets (1)	1	1
Elimination of interest on lease liabilities (1)	120	129
Operating Income	5,521	5,930

 

(1)   Interest on debts related to financed assets and interest on lease liabilities are included in segment EBITDAaL. They are excluded from segment operating income and included in finance costs, net presented in the Consolidated Financial Statements.

In 2020, Orange group operating income amounted to 5,521 million euros (of which 5,715 million euros for telecom activities and a loss of 195 million euros for Mobile Finance Services), compared with 5,930 million euros in 2019 in data on a historical basis.

In data on a historical basis, the 6.9% or 409 million euro decrease in Group operating income between 2019 and 2020 reflected:

−    the fall of 176 million euros in EBITDAaL in data on a historical basis;

−    the 162 million euro increase in the net expense on significant litigations, corresponding to the reassessment of the risk on various disputes;

−    the 49 million euro decrease in the gain or loss on disposal of fixed assets, investments and activities (see Note 4.1 to the Consolidated Financial Statements), mainly due to the fall in the gain or loss on disposal of fixed assets (see Note 9.1 to the Consolidated Financial Statements), in turn linked to the change in programs for the optimization of the real estate portfolio (in Poland and for shared services) and the disposal of mobile sites in Spain between the two periods;

−    the 49 million euro increase in impairment of goodwill and fixed assets (see Notes 8 and 9.3 to the Consolidated Financial Statements), due to the recognition of a 30 million euro impairment loss on fixed assets in 2020, compared with a favorable reassessment of goodwill and fixed assets for 19 million euros in 2019. In 2019, this amount mainly included (i) an 89 million euro reversal of provisions for fixed assets in Egypt, which reflected an improvement in the country’s economic situation, (ii) partially offset by impairment of goodwill in Jordan for 54 million euros, reflecting the effects of an uncertain political and economic environment and strong competitive pressure in the fixed and mobile data markets;

−    and to a lesser extent, by the 24 million euro increase in depreciation and amortization of fixed assets (see Note 9.2 to the Consolidated Financial Statements), mainly in Africa & Middle East countries;

−    partially offset by the decrease of 82 million euros in restructuring program costs, mainly related to employee departure plans (notably with the counter-effect of employee departure plans in Poland in 2019).

3.1.2.3    Group net income

(at December 31, in millions of euros)	2020	2019 data on a historical basis
Operating Income	5,521	5,930
Cost of gross financial debt (except financed assets)	(1,099)	(1,108)
Interest on debts related to financed assets (1)	(1)	(1)
Gains (losses) on assets contributing to net financial debt	(1)	5
Foreign exchange gain (loss)	(103)	76
Interests on lease liabilities (1)	(120)	(129)
Other net financial expenses	11	15
Effects resulting from BT stake	-	(119)
Finance costs, net	(1,314)	(1,261)
Income taxes (2)	848	(1,447)
Consolidated net income	5,055	3,222
Net income attributable to owners of the parent company	4,822	3,004
Net income attributable to non-controlling interests	233	218

 

(1)   Interest on debts related to financed assets and interest on lease liabilities are included in segment EBITDAaL. They are excluded from segment operating income and included in finance costs, net presented in the Consolidated Financial Statements.

(2)   Including, in 2020, the effect of tax income relating to the settlement of the tax dispute in France in respect of fiscal years 2005-2006 for 2,246 million euros (see Section 3.1.1.3 Significant events and Note 11.2 to the Consolidated Financial Statements).

The consolidated net income of the Orange group totaled 5,055 million euros in 2020, compared with 3,222 million euros in 2019, an increase of 1,833 million euros. This increase was chiefly attributable to:

−    the 2,295 million euro reduction in corporate income tax expense (see Note 11.2 to the Consolidated Financial Statements), mainly due to the current tax income of 2,246 million euros recognized in 2020 following the settlement of a tax dispute. On November 13, 2020, the French Conseil d’État found in favor of Orange SA in a tax dispute in France in respect of fiscal years 2005-2006. This decision brought the proceedings to a close and allowed Orange to recover the amounts paid in July 2013 totaling 2,246 million euros, of which 646 million euros in interest (see Section 3.1.1.3 Significant events and Note 11.2 to the Consolidated Financial Statements);

−    partially offset by (i) the 409 million euro fall in operating income, and (ii) to a lesser extent, the 53 million euro drop in finance costs, net (see Note 13.2 to the Consolidated Financial Statements). Between the two periods, the change in finance costs, net mainly includes (i) the negative impact of derivatives for 153 million euros (cross currency swaps) set up by the Group to hedge its economic exposure on subordinated notes issued in pounds sterling, for which the revaluation for foreign exchange risk is not recognized (see Notes 13.2 and 15.4 to the Consolidated Financial Statements), (ii) partially offset by the counter-effect of the recognition, in 2019, of a 119 million euro expense in respect of the investment held in BT Group until 2019 (see Note 13.7 to the Consolidated Financial Statements).

Net income attributable to non-controlling interests amounted to 233 million euros in 2020, compared with 218 million euros in 2019 (see Note 15.6 to the Consolidated Financial Statements). After taking into account net income attributable to non-controlling interests, the net income attributable to owners of the parent company totaled 4,822 million euros in 2020, compared with 3,004 million euros in 2019, an increase of 1,818 million euros.

3.1.2.4    Group comprehensive income

The transition from consolidated net income to consolidated comprehensive income is described in the Consolidated statement of comprehensive income in the Consolidated Financial Statements.

3.1.2.5    Group capital expenditure

Investments in property, plant and equipment and intangible assets (2) (at December 31, in millions of euros)	2020	2019 data on a comparable basis (1)	2019 data on a historical basis	% change data on a comparable basis (1)	% change data on a historical basis
eCAPEX	7,132	7,257	7,293	(1.7) %	(2.2) %
Elimination of proceeds from sales of property, plant and equipment and intangible assets (3)	444	606	610	(26.7) %	(27.1) %
Telecommunication licenses	969	511	519	89.6%	86.6%
Financed assets (4)	241	144	144	68.1%	68.1%
Group total	8,787	8,518	8,565	3.2%	2.6%

 

(1)   See Section 3.1.5.1 Data on a comparable basis.

(2)   See Notes 1.5 and 9 to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

(3)   Elimination of proceeds from sales of property, plant and equipment included in economic CAPEX (eCAPEX).

(4)   Financed assets include set-up boxes in France, which are financed by an intermediary bank and meet the standard criterion for the definition of property, plant and equipment according to IAS 16.

Between 2019 and 2020, the increase in the Group’s investments in intangible assets and property, plant and equipment is due to (i) higher expenses, mainly related to telecommunication licenses and, to a lesser extent, financed assets, (ii) partially offset by the fall in other investments in property, plant and equipment and intangible assets. For the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic on the Group’s activities and financial position, see Section 3.1.1.3 Significant events.

The Group’s financial investments (see Section 7.2.1 Financial glossary) are described in Section 3.1.4 Cash flow, financial debt and equity.

3.1.2.5.1      Capital expenditure

3.1.2.5.1.1       Economic CAPEX

(at December 31, in millions of euros)	2020	2019 data on a comparable basis (1)	2019 data on a historical basis	% change data on a comparable basis (1)	% change data on a historical basis
eCAPEX	7,132	7,257	7,293	(1.7) %	(2.2) %
Telecom activities	7,102	7,229	7,265	(1.8) %	(2.2) %
eCAPEX/Revenue from telecom activities	16.8%	17.1%	17.2%	(0.3 pts.)	(0.4 pts.)
Mobile Finance Services	30	28	28	8.5%	8.5%

 

(1)   See Section 3.1.5.1 Data on a comparable basis.

In 2020, the Orange group’s economic CAPEX amounted to 7,132 million euros (including 7,102 million euros for telecom activities and 30 million euros for Mobile Finance Services). The ratio of economic CAPEX to revenue from telecom activities was 16.8% in 2020, down 0.4 points on 2019 in data on a historical basis and 0.3 points in data on a comparable basis.

Change in data on a historical basis

In historical data, the 2.2% or 160 million euro decrease in the Group’s economic CAPEX between 2019 and 2020 is due to (i) the negative effect of foreign exchange fluctuations, which amounted to 22 million euros, mainly as a result of movements in the Polish zloty against the euro, (ii) the negative impact of changes in the scope of consolidation and other changes for 14 million euros, and (ii) the organic change on a comparable basis, i.e. a decrease of 124 million euros in economic CAPEX.

Change in data on a comparable basis

In data on a comparable basis, the 1.7% or 124 million euro decrease in the Group’s economic CAPEX between 2019 and 2020 was attributable mainly to:

−    the increase in external financing between the two periods. The Group’s investments benefit from co-financing received from third-party operators and subsidies (particularly in France, Spain and Poland) which are deducted from economic CAPEX;

−    the decline in the rollout of very high-speed fixed broadband networks (FTTH) in Spain and to a lesser extent Poland, largely due to delays caused by the Covid-19 health crisis (see Section 3.1.1.3 Significant events);

−    the fall in capital expenditure on legacy fixed and mobile networks in France, in line with the gradual migration of customers to very high-speed fixed and mobile broadband networks (fiber and 4G/5G);

−    the decrease in economic CAPEX relating to leased handsets, Livebox and equipment installed at customers’ premises, mainly in France, and to a lesser extent, for B2B services; and

−    to a lesser extent delays or postponements of investment projects relating to the Covid-19 health crisis, particularly for B2B services.

These decreases were partially offset by:

−    the growth of investments in (i) very high-speed fixed broadband networks (FTTH) in France, and (ii) very high-speed mobile broadband networks (4G/5G), primarily in France, Spain and countries in Africa & Middle East, despite the slower rollout due to the Covid-19 health crisis (see section 3.1.1.3 Significant events); and

−    the decrease in disposals of fixed assets, mainly:

-     in Spain, with fewer disposals of mobile sites (75 million euros in 2020, compared with 185 million euros in 2019, as part of the sale of 1,500 non-strategic mobile sites to Cellnex for a total of 260 million euros),

-     as well as in Poland and for shared services, with the decline in disposals made as part of the optimization of the real estate portfolio (a counter-effect of the significant disposals made in 2019 and delays or postponements of real estate restructuring projects due to the Covid-19 health crisis),

-     partially offset by (i) the sale in France of FTTH connections to SFR in 2020, following the agreement signed in May 2018 between Orange and SFR (which led to Orange withdrawing from 236 municipalities in the AMII area, in favor of SFR), and (ii) the termination of a significant project of a business customer with the resale of the assets to the customer.

At December 31, 2020, the Group had 48.3 million households connectable with very high-speed broadband (of which 47.2 million households connectable with FTTH) worldwide, up 22.2% year-on-year, of which 22.9 million in France, 15.3 million in Spain, 5.0 million in Poland and 2.6 million in Romania (notably under the network sharing agreement with Telekom Romania Communications (TKR); see Section 3.1.1.3 Significant events).

3.1.2.5.1.2       Telecommunication licenses

In 2020, telecommunication licenses (see Note 9.4 to the Consolidated Financial Statements) amounted to 969 million euros and mainly concerned (i) the acquisition of 5G licenses in France for 875 million euros and in Slovakia for 37 million euros (see Section 3.1.1.3 Significant events), and (ii) the renewal of the 3G license in the 2100 MHz frequency band in Romania for 30 million euros.

In 2019, telecommunication licenses amounted to 519 million euros in data on a historical basis, mostly relating to (i) Spain for 298 million euros, (ii) Burkina Faso for 119 million euros, with the acquisition of a technology-neutral 2G/3G/4G license, and (iii) Guinea for 82 million euros, including the renewal of the current license with additional spectrum resources and the acquisition of a 4G license, plus the acquisition of a new technology-neutral 2G/3G/4G license.

Telecommunication licenses may, in some cases, give rise to annual fees recognized as taxes and operating levies in the Consolidated income statement.

3.1.2.5.2      Investment commitments

Investment commitments are set out in Note 16 to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

3.1.2.5.3      Investment projects

Despite the Covid-19 health crisis, Orange is continuing to roll out its Engage 2025 strategic plan. In its core business, the Group is continuing to revolutionize the operator role, confirming its leadership and further upgrading its infrastructure based on new fixed and mobile network technologies (FTTH and 5G in particular; see Section 3.1.1.3 Significant events). The Group will pursue its efforts to optimize investments and disposals of non-strategic assets. This will involve prioritizing the allocation of its resources to projects that create the most value, with the aim of achieving a ratio of economic CAPEX to revenue from telecom activities of around 15% by 2023.

In fixed networks, whether using proprietary infrastructure or third-party networks via co-financing or leasing arrangements, Orange plans to market its FTTH packages to more than 65 million households in Europe by 2023, thus confirming its European leadership in fiber. At the same time, Orange will seek to:

−    constantly improve the quality of connectivity inside the home (Homelan): boxes and WiFi will continue to be developed and Orange will assist its customers in optimizing their home network;

−    offer new services based on the home of the future by leveraging the gradual increase in home speeds: Orange plans to develop its TV experience in OTT (Over-The-Top) to respond to changes in content use and to continue developing security or remote support solutions; and

−    reduce the carbon footprint of networks through energy efficiency and decarbonization programs (improvement in the energy mix, particularly through the use of renewable energy).

On the mobile network, 5G looks set to disrupt the telecom industry. Following the first commercial launch in Romania in November 2019, the Group continued marketing 5G in 2020 in several European countries where the Group operates (Poland, Spain, France; see Section 3.1.1.3 Significant events). Having obtained the necessary licenses, Orange will integrate DSS technology to capitalize on its existing infrastructure and ensure a rapid rollout while keeping costs down. With 5G, speeds are expected to be up to 10 times faster. From 2023, when the core networks will move to 5G, Orange aims to offer lower latency and use network slicing, i.e. prioritizing certain network slices to cover critical usage or specific needs. The technical performance of the 5G technology will enable the emergence of many new uses, both for the general public (immersive videos, Cloud gaming) and in B2B, for which 5G will be a catalyst of digital transformation (optimization of production times, remote control of machines, predictive maintenance, etc.). Orange has also pledged to reduce the CO₂ emissions of its mobile networks.

Orange’s infrastructure will be upgraded while retaining control of its strategic assets. For its FTTH infrastructure, Orange will continue to invest directly to meet its commitments in medium-density areas (AMII), for example in France. However, to continue its industrial effort in certain areas, while controlling its investments, Orange could link up with partners. Through the vehicle Orange Concessions, bringing together public initiative networks (PIN) in France, Orange will be able to seize new development or consolidation opportunities in this market (see Section 3.1.1.3 Significant events). To continue to reinvent its model with optimal management of the FTTH network, Orange will rely on other financial vehicles to address third-party networks in France. In Spain and Poland, Orange also plans to share future FTTH rollouts with other operators via FiberCos, potentially involving third parties.

At the same time, Orange will decommission its copper network in France, very gradually, so as to support all network users in their transition to fiber. The current transition is accompanied by a plan to replace wooden poles with composite equipment with a smaller environmental footprint. After an initial trial phase, the decommissioning of copper will begin in 2023 and is expected to end in 2030.

To optimize the rollout of its mobile infrastructure, particularly in 5G, in terms of pace, coverage and financial capacity, Orange plans to rely on RAN-sharing agreements, while maintaining areas of differentiation, in keeping with the agreements already existing in Poland, Romania, Spain and Belgium.

To make better use of directly-owned towers in its mobile network in Europe, Orange plans to set up TowerCos in most of its European countries. These entities focus purely on tower management and have three key objectives: improving operational efficiency and optimizing mobile investments, increasing the co-location rate, while maintaining Orange’s competitive advantage, and finally, ensuring better understanding of and highlighting the quality and value of these assets. Orange will retain control of these entities in all European countries where they are created. In this respect, Orange reached a major milestone with the announcement in February 2021 of the creation of Totem, the Group’s European TowerCo (see Section 3.1.1.3 Significant events).

In the B2B segment, Orange intends to take advantage of the major shift in telecommunications represented by SD-WAN (Software-Defined Wide Area Network) technology. Orange is thus positioning itself as a trusted partner that supports companies seeking to optimize their connectivity costs, make their networks more reliable, extract value from their data, and ensure a performance in line with the data speed required by services and applications (see Section 3.1.1.3 Significant events). This commitment is supported by equipment financing programs to minimize customer investments in equipment.

To roll out and maintain international connectivity, Orange will continue its investments by replacing a cable-laying ship and investing in submarine cable companies (see Section 3.1.1.3 Significant events). It will also participate in voluntary environmental certification programs for the maritime industry.

In Africa & Middle East, a region that is experiencing strong growth, Orange intends to accelerate the rollout of mobile and fixed networks in urban and rural areas, relying in particular on Djoliba, the first pan-African backbone (see Section 3.1.1.3 Significant events). Multiservice activities, and specifically financial services, are also central to the growth strategy for Africa & Middle East countries by 2025. The Group aspires to become the market leader in mobile financial services on the continent by leveraging its assets: the increase in Orange Money’s active customer base, the profitability of the service, the diversification of applications and the extension of the service outside the Group’s traditional area (see Section 3.1.1.3 Significant events).

In financial services, Orange Bank plans to extend its reach and diversify its product portfolio (loans, insurance, specific digital banking solutions).

See also Section 1.2.2 The Orange group strategy.

3.1.3      Review by business segment

The new organization of the Orange group’s Executive Committee in place since September 1, 2020 (see Section 3.1.1.3 Significant events) led the Group to review the presentation of its segment information, without however changing the definition of its business segments. In this context, Spain was integrated into the Europe aggregate. Data on a historical basis, data on a comparable basis and customer base data for the 2019 fiscal year were restated to reflect this change. In addition, the Orange Bank business segment was renamed Mobile Finance Services to reflect the gradual integration of new activities within this segment (see Note 1.9 to the Consolidated Financial Statements).

The decisions regarding the allocation of resources and the performance assessment of the component parts of Orange are made by the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer (main operational decision-maker) at business segment level, mainly consisting of the geographical establishments.

The business segments are:

−    France (excluding Enterprise);

−    Spain and each of the Other European countries (comprising the business segments Poland, Belgium and Luxembourg and each of the Central European countries: Moldova, Romania and Slovakia). The Europe aggregate combines the business segments of this area;

−    the Sonatel sub-group (comprising the entities in Senegal, Mali, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau and Sierra Leone), the Côte d’Ivoire sub-group (comprising the entities in Côte d’Ivoire, Burkina Faso and Liberia) and each of the other countries in Africa and the Middle East (mainly Botswana, Cameroon, Central African Republic (CAR), Congo (DRC), Egypt, Jordan, Madagascar, Morocco, and Niger until its disposal on November 22, 2019). The Africa & Middle East aggregate combines the business segments of this area;

−    Enterprise, which brings together dedicated communication solutions and services for businesses in France and around the world;

−    the activities of International Carriers & Shared Services ("IC & SS"), which include (i) the rollout of the international and long-distance network, submarine cable laying and maintenance, and international wholesale services and sales, and (ii) shared services, which cover the Group’s support and cross-cutting functions (IT systems, research and development, and other general Group activities), content activities and the Orange brand; and

−    Mobile Finance Services.

For more details on segment information, see Note 1 to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

Operating data by segment

The following table presents, for the Orange group, the main operating data (financial data and workforce information) by segment for fiscal years 2020 and 2019 on a comparable basis and 2019 on a historical basis.

For the year ended December 31 (in millions of euros)	France				Europe
		Spain	Other European countries	Europe eliminations	Total Europe
2020
Revenue	18,461	4,951	5,638	(9)	10,580
EBITDAaL	7,163	1,433	1,499	-	2,932
Operating Income	3,809	407	389	-	796
eCAPEX	3,748	969	878	-	1,847
Telecommunication licenses	876	6	67	-	73
Average number of employees	51,476	7,052	19,755	-	26,807
2019 - Data on a comparable basis (1)
Revenue	18,165	5,263	5,717	(12)	10,968
EBITDAaL	7,146	1,646	1,466	-	3,112
eCAPEX	4,052	812	856	-	1,668
Telecommunication licenses	0	298	9	-	308
Average number of employees	53,698	6,931	20,936	-	27,867
2019 - Data on a historical basis
Revenue	18,154	5,280	5,783	(12)	11,051
EBITDAaL	7,135	1,646	1,489	-	3,136
Operating Income	3,892	626	383	-	1,009
eCAPEX	4,052	812	869	-	1,681
Telecommunication licenses	0	298	9	-	308
Average number of employees	53,720	6,931	20,786	-	27,718

 

(1)   See Section 3.1.5.1 Data on a comparable basis.

Africa & Middle East	Enterprise	International Carriers & Shared Services	Telecom activities eliminations	Total Telecom activities	Mobile Finance Services	Group eliminations	Group total
5,834	7,807	1,450	(1,855)	42,277	-	(7)	42,270
1,964	1,023	(244)	-	12,839	(160)	1	12,680
1,027	621	(538)	-	5,715	(195)	1	5,521
1,036	339	133	-	7,102	30	-	7,132
20	0	0	-	969	-	-	969
14,501	27,429	12,726	-	132,939	848	-	133,787
5,543	7,914	1,495	(1,930)	42,155	-	(4)	42,151
1,785	1,202	(276)	-	12,970	(160)	1	12,812
977	403	128	-	7,229	28	-	7,257
203	0	0	-	511	-	-	511
14,454	26,505	12,581	-	135,106	849	-	135,954
5,646	7,820	1,498	(1,926)	42,242	-	(4)	42,238
1,814	1,191	(261)	-	13,015	(160)	1	12,856
940	772	(499)	-	6,114	(186)	1	5,930
987	404	141	-	7,265	28	-	7,293
212	0	0	-	519	-	-	519
14,824	25,979	12,529	-	134,770	849	-	135,619

 

3.1.3.1    France

France (at December 31, in millions of euros)	2020	2019 data on a comparable basis (1)	2019 data on a historical basis	% change data on a comparable basis (1)	% change data on a historical basis
Revenue	18,461	18,165	18,154	1.6%	1.7%
EBITDAaL	7,163	7,146	7,135	0.2%	0.4%
EBITDAaL/Revenue	38.8%	39.3%	39.3%	(0.5 pts.)	(0.5 pts.)
Operating Income	3,809		3,892		(2.1) %
eCAPEX	3,748	4,052	4,052	(7.5) %	(7.5) %
eCAPEX/Revenue	20.3%	22.3%	22.3%	(2.0 pts.)	(2.0 pts.)
Telecommunication licenses	876	0	0	ns	ns
Average number of employees	51,476	53,698	53,720	(4.1) %	(4.2) %

 

(1)   See Section 3.1.5.1 Data on a comparable basis.

3.1.3.1.1      Revenue - France

France (at December 31, in millions of euros)			2020	2019 data on a comparable basis (1)	2019 data on a historical basis	% change data on a comparable basis (1)	% change data on a historical basis
Revenue			18,461	18,165	18,154	1.6%	1.7%
Retail services (2)			10,764	10,810	10,807	(0.4) %	(0.4) %
	Convergent services		4,559	4,423	4,397	3.1%	3.7%
	Mobile only services		2,245	2,301	2,324	(2.4) %	(3.4) %
	Fixed only services		3,959	4,086	4,086	(3.1) %	(3.1) %
		Fixed only broadband services	2,748	2,699	2,699	1.8%	1.8%
		Fixed only narrowband services	1,212	1,387	1,387	(12.6) %	(12.6) %
Wholesale services			5,866	5,498	5,487	6.7%	6.9%
Equipment sales			1,187	1,351	1,351	(12.2) %	(12.2) %
Other revenues			644	506	509	27.3%	26.6%

 

(1)   See Section 3.1.5.1 Data on a comparable basis.

(2)   See Section 7.2.1 Financial glossary.

Change in data on a historical basis

In data on a historical basis, the 307 million euro increase in revenue from France between 2019 and 2020 stems from (i) the positive impact of changes in the scope of consolidation and other changes amounting to 11 million euros, and (ii) organic change on a comparable basis representing a 296 million euro increase in revenue.

Change in data on a comparable basis

In data on a comparable basis, the 296 million euro increase in revenue from France between 2019 and 2020 was mainly attributable to:

−    (i) the increase in wholesale services, driven by the development of fiber optic offerings (mainly linked to the increase in co-financed lines and leased lines to third-party operators), as well as the rollout and operation of public initiative networks (PIN, see Section 3.1.1.3 Significant events), (ii) the increase in other revenues, driven by the development of build-to-suit mobile sites, and (iii) the growth of convergence services;

−    partially offset by (i) the adverse impact of the Covid-19 health crisis on equipment sales and revenues linked to customer and visitor roaming, (ii) the structural decline in fixed only narrowband services (conventional telephony), and (iii) the negative effect, between the two periods, of promotional e-reader offers.

The 296 million euro or 1.6% increase in revenue from France between the two periods is mainly due to:

−    the 368 million euro growth in revenue from Wholesale services, essentially related to the increase in fixed services to carriers, driven by the development of fiber optic offerings (with the increase in co-financed lines and leased lines to third-party operators, as well as the construction of public initiative networks, although slowed by the Covid-19 health crisis), partly offset by (i) the structural decline in revenue relating to unbundling and national roaming, and (ii) the decline in roaming revenues from visitors due to the negative effects of the Covid-19 health crisis on tourism;

−    the 138 million euro growth in Other revenues, driven by the rollout of build-to-suit mobile sites, enabling Orange to accelerate the rollout of its mobile network and increase its coverage in less densely populated areas and along transport routes, while limiting investments; and

−    the 137 million euro increase in revenue from Convergent services, largely as a result of the 0.8% increase in the convergent customer base year-on-year, boosted by the success of the Open offers. This growth in volume is also accompanied by growth in value. The 12-month convergent ARPO (see Section 7.2.1 Financial glossary) therefore rose by 1.1% between December 31, 2019 and December 31, 2020, despite the unfavorable effect of promotional e-reader offers between the two periods and the negative impact of the Covid-19 health crisis.

This increase was partially offset between the two periods by:

−    the 164 million euro decrease in Equipment sales, heavily impacted by the Covid-19 health crisis, mainly due to store closures or reduced access to stores during the lockdown periods;

−    the 127 million euro decrease in revenue from Fixed only services, due almost exclusively to the downward trend in conventional telephony (down 12.6% year-on-year, or 175 million euros), whereas fixed only broadband services rose by 49 million euros (or 1.8% year-on-year). The 12-month fixed only broadband ARPO (see Section 7.2.1 Financial glossary) was down 1.1% year-on-year, due in particular to the unfavorable effect, between the two periods, of promotional e-reader offers; and

−    to a lesser extent, the 56 million euro decrease in revenue from Mobile only services, primarily due to the 3.2% contraction in the mobile only access base, linked to (i) the migration of contract offers to convergent offers, and (ii) the smaller customer base for prepaid offers. Added to this is the fall in 12-month mobile only ARPO (see Section 7.2.1 Financial glossary), down 0.4% between December 31, 2019 and December 31, 2020, impacted in particular by (i) the unfavorable effect, between the two periods, of promotional e-reader offers, and (ii) the negative effect of the Covid-19 health crisis on revenues from customer roaming.

3.1.3.1.2      EBITDAaL - France

Change in data on a historical basis

In data on a historical basis, the 29 million euro increase in EBITDAaL from France between 2019 and 2020 stems from (i) the positive impact of changes in the scope of consolidation and other changes amounting to 11 million euros, and (ii) organic change on a comparable basis representing an 18 million euro increase in EBITDAaL.

Further, between 2019 and 2020, EBITDAaL included the negative effect, between the two periods, of promotional offers on e-readers amounting to 60 million euros, due to a positive impact that was smaller in 2020 than in 2019.

Change in data on a comparable basis

In data on a comparable basis, the 18 million euro increase in EBITDAaL in France between 2019 and 2020 was mainly attributable to:

−    (i) the 296 million euro increase in revenue, (ii) the decrease in commercial expenses and equipment costs, especially the costs of handsets and other equipment sold, linked to the decline in equipment sales caused by the Covid-19 health crisis, and (iii) to a lesser extent, the reduction in labor expenses owing to the decrease in the average number of employees (full-time equivalents);

−    partially offset by:

-     the increase in other external purchases, largely due to (i) purchases for resale mainly related to the construction of public initiative networks (PIN, see Section 3.1.1.3 Significant events) and secondarily to the rollout of build-to-suit mobile sites, and (ii) the effects of the Covid-19 health crisis, with recognition of the costs of medical supplies, partially offset by the reduction in overheads (travel, entertainment and vehicles),

-     the decrease in other operating income (net of other operating expenses), mainly linked to the increase in impairment and losses on trade receivables due to the Covid-19 health crisis,

-     the increase in other network expenses and IT expenses related to fiber maintenance and higher energy costs,

-     the increase in depreciation and amortization of right-of-use assets (integration of new antenna sites, effects of rent indexation and lease amendments) and financed assets (set-up boxes financed by an intermediary bank; see Note 9.5 to the Consolidated Financial Statements), and

-     the increase in operating taxes and levies, mainly corresponding to the increase in the flat-rate tax on network enterprises (IFER), reflecting the higher unit prices of lines from January 1, 2020.

3.1.3.1.3      Operating income - France

In data on a historical basis, the 83 million euro decrease in operating income in France between 2019 and 2020 was largely attributable to:

−    the recognition of a net expense on significant litigations of 199 million euros in 2020, corresponding to the reassessment of the risk on various disputes;

−    partially offset by (i) the 40 million euro decrease in restructuring program costs, (ii) the 29 million euro increase in EBITDAaL on a historical basis, and (iii) the 25 million euro decrease in specific labor expenses, mainly related to the counter-effect of the recognition, in 2019, of an expense of 32 million euros in respect of the French part-time for seniors plans (TPS, plans relating to agreements for the employment of older workers in France) and related bonuses (see Note 7 to the Consolidated Financial Statements).

3.1.3.1.4      Economic CAPEX - France

In both data on a historical basis and data on a comparable basis, the 304 million euro decline in economic CAPEX in France between 2019 and 2020 is mainly due to:

−    (i) the significant increase in co-financing received from third-party operators in connection with the rollout of fiber optic networks, (ii) partly offset by the increase, between the two periods, in gross investments to catch up with the FTTH network rollout, despite being hampered by the Covid-19 health crisis, especially after work stopped during the first lockdown (see Section 3.1.1.3 Significant events); and

−    to a lesser extent, the increase in fixed asset disposals, with the sale of FTTH connections to SFR in 2020, following the agreement signed in May 2018 between Orange and SFR (which led to Orange withdrawing from 236 municipalities in its AMII area, in favor of SFR).

3.1.3.1.5      Telecommunication licenses - France

In 2020, telecommunication licenses in France represented a total of 876 million euros. These mainly correspond to the acquisition of the 5G license (90 MHz of spectrum in the 3.5 GHz band) for 875 million euros, including 854 million euros in fixed fees (with payment spread over four to 15 years, depending on the block) and 21 million euros in spectrum refarming costs relating to the allocation of new frequencies to operators (see Section 3.1.1.3 Significant events).

In 2019, no telecommunication license acquisition was recognized in France

3.1.3.1.6      Additional information - France

France (at December 31, in thousands, at the end of the period)			2020	2019 data on a comparable basis (1)	2019 data on a historical basis	% change data on a comparable basis (1)	% change data on a historical basis
Convergent services
Number of convergent customers			5,843	5,797	5,797	0.8%	0.8%
12-month convergent ARPO (in euros) (3)			68.8	68.1	67.7	1.1%	1.6%
Mobile services
Number of mobile accesses (2)			21,521	21,795	21,795	(1.3) %	(1.3) %
o/w: Convergent customer mobile accesses			9,807	9,694	9,694	1.2%	1.2%
Mobile only accesses			11,714	12,101	12,101	(3.2) %	(3.2) %
o/w: Contract customers			19,629	19,445	19,445	0.9%	0.9%
Prepaid customers			1,893	2,350	2,350	(19.5) %	(19.5) %
12-month mobile only ARPO (in euros) (3)			16.8	16.9	17.0	(0.4) %	(1.3) %
Fixed services
Number of fixed accesses (4)			30,291	31,001	31,001	(2.3) %	(2.3) %
Number of fixed Retail accesses			15,872	16,243	16,243	(2.3) %	(2.3) %
o/w: Number of fixed broadband accesses			11,955	11,658	11,658	2.6%	2.6%
	o/w:	Accesses with very high-speed broadband	4,515	3,337	3,337	35.3%	35.3%
	o/w:	Convergent customer fixed accesses	5,843	5,797	5,797	0.8%	0.8%
		Fixed only accesses	6,112	5,861	5,861	4.3%	4.3%
12-month fixed only broadband ARPO (in euros) (3)			36.2	36.6	36.6	(1.1) %	(1.1) %
o/w: Number of fixed narrowband accesses			3,917	4,585	4,585	(14.6) %	(14.6) %
o/w: PSTN accesses			3,880	4,550	4,550	(14.7) %	(14.7) %
		Other fixed accesses	36	36	36	2.0%	2.0%
Number of fixed Wholesale accesses			14,419	14,758	14,758	(2.3) %	(2.3) %
o/w: FTTH accesses			3,785	2,465	2,465	53.5%	53.5%
Copper accesses			10,635	12,293	12,293	(13.5) %	(13.5) %

 

(1)   See Section 3.1.5.1 Data on a comparable basis.

(2)   Excluding customers of Mobile Virtual Network Operators (MVNOs).

(3)   See Section 7.2.1 Financial glossary.

(4)   Change in the recognition method of fixed accesses on January 1, 2020 (see Section 3.1.2.1.2 Number of customers).

Between 2019 and 2020, the customer base proved resilient in a very competitive environment.

The total mobile access base was down 1.3% year-on-year, with 21.5 million customers at December 31, 2020. Contract offers grew 0.9% year-on-year, reflecting both (i) the growth in premium offers, driven by Open convergent offers (which reached 9.8 million customers at December 31, 2020), and (ii) the increase in entry-level offers, driven by the penetration of SIM-only offers. This was largely due to the Sosh brand, which was in high demand during lockdown periods and while stores remained closed. Sosh had a total of 4.2 million customers at December 31, 2020, up 8.1% year-on-year. The prepaid customer bases are structurally in decline. In addition, there were 16.4 million 4G customers at December 31, 2020, an increase of 3.1% year-on-year.

The total fixed broadband access base increased by 2.6% year-on-year (298,000 new customers) to reach 12.0 million customers at December 31, 2020. This growth is mainly driven by (i) the dynamism of fiber optic offers, with a total of 4.5 million customers at December 31, 2020, up 35.3% year-on-year, and (ii) the continued growth of convergent offers, which grew by 0.8%, with 5.8 million customers at December 31, 2020. Moreover, 7.6 million customers had subscribed to IPTV and satellite TV offers at December 31, 2020, an increase of 4.7% year-on-year. Fixed access lines sold to other operators (wholesale) were down 2.3% year-on-year, due to the structural decline and migration of copper access lines. In contrast, the number of very high-speed broadband connections rose sharply (up 53.5% year-on-year).

3.1.3.2    Europe

Europe (at December 31, in millions of euros)	2020	2019 data on a comparable basis (1)	2019 data on a historical basis	% change data on a comparable basis (1)	% change data on a historical basis
Revenue	10,580	10,968	11,051	(3.5) %	(4.3) %
EBITDAaL	2,932	3,112	3,136	(5.8) %	(6.5) %
EBITDAaL/Revenue	27.7%	28.4%	28.4%	(0.7 pts.)	(0.7 pts.)
Operating Income	796		1,009		(21.0) %
eCAPEX	1,847	1,668	1,681	10.7%	9.8%
eCAPEX/Revenue	17.5%	15.2%	15.2%	2.2 pts.	2.2 pts.
Telecommunication licenses	73	308	308	(76.2) %	(76.2) %
Average number of employees	26,807	27,867	27,718	(3.8) %	(3.3) %

 

(1)   See Section 3.1.5.1 Data on a comparable basis.

3.1.3.2.1      Revenue - Europe

Europe (at December 31, in millions of euros)	2020	2019 data on a comparable basis (1)	2019 data on a historical basis	% change data on a comparable basis (1)	% change data on a historical basis
Revenue	10,580	10,968	11,051	(3.5) %	(4.3) %
Retail services	7,147	7,368	7,401	(3.0) %	(3.4) %
Convergent services	2,717	2,702	2,714	0.5%	0.1%
Mobile only services	3,038	3,283	3,304	(7.5) %	(8.0) %
Fixed only services	1,083	1,129	1,145	(4.1) %	(5.4) %
IT & integration services	310	252	239	22.7%	29.8%
Wholesale services	1,924	1,942	1,959	(0.9) %	(1.8) %
Equipment sales	1,375	1,488	1,518	(7.6) %	(9.4) %
Other revenues	134	171	173	(21.5) %	(22.6) %

 

(1)   See Section 3.1.5.1 Data on a comparable basis.

Europe (at December 31, in millions of euros)	2020	2019 data on a comparable basis (1)	2019 data on a historical basis	% change data on a comparable basis (1)	% change data on a historical basis
Revenue	10,580	10,968	11,051	(3.5) %	(4.3) %
Spain	4,951	5,263	5,280	(5.9) %	(6.2) %
Poland	2,590	2,567	2,654	0.9%	(2.4) %
Belgium & Luxembourg	1,315	1,363	1,341	(3.5) %	(1.9) %
Central Europe (2)	1,746	1,801	1,801	(3.0) %	(3.0) %
Eliminations	(22)	(25)	(25)

 

(1)   See Section 3.1.5.1 Data on a comparable basis.

(2)   Central Europe: entities in Moldova, Romania and Slovakia.

Change in data on a historical basis

In data on a historical basis, the 471 million euro decrease in the Group’s revenue from countries in Europe between 2019 and 2020 includes (i) the negative effect of foreign exchange fluctuations for 88 million euros (mainly as a result of movements in the Polish zloty against the euro), (ii) the positive impact of changes in the scope of consolidation and other changes for 5 million euros, and (ii) organic change on a comparable basis, i.e. a decrease of 388 million euros in revenue.

Change in data on a comparable basis

In data on a comparable basis, the 388 million euro decrease in revenue from countries in Europe between 2019 and 2020 is mainly attributable to:

−    the decline in Mobile only services in all countries and the downturn in Equipment sales, and to a lesser extent, the decrease in Wholesale services (in most countries except Spain and Poland), the contraction in Fixed only services and the fall in Other revenues;

−    partially offset by (i) the growth in IT & integration services, and (ii) the growth in Convergent services.

The 388 million euro decrease in revenue in Europe between the two periods was largely due to the fall in revenue in Spain, down 312 million euros year-on-year.

Between 2019 and 2020, the decline in revenue in Europe was essentially due to:

−    the 245 million euro fall in revenue from Mobile only services in all countries, linked to a decrease in the mobile only access base, down 1.3% year-on-year (particularly in Spain and Central European countries) due to the combined effect of lower prepaid access sales, the migration of customers to convergent offers, and the decline in international roaming revenues from customers as a result of the Covid-19 health crisis;

−    the 113 million euro decrease in Equipment sales in almost all countries (except Romania and Moldova), mainly due to store closures during lockdown periods; and

−    to a lesser degree:

-     the 47 million euro decline in Fixed only services, primarily due to the downward trend in conventional telephony in Poland and the migration of customers to convergent offers,

-     the 37 million euro decrease in Other revenues, mainly relating to Belgium and Romania (linked to the downturn caused by the Covid-19 health crisis), as well as Poland, due to lower energy sales, and

-     the 18 million euro drop in revenue from Wholesale services, due in particular to the reduction in mobile services to carriers, resulting mainly from (i) the decline in SMS volumes and visitor roaming in Belgium due to the Covid-19 health crisis, and (ii) the fall in call termination (mostly in Romania).

This decrease in revenue was partially offset by:

−    the 57 million euro increase in revenue from IT & integration services, mainly in Poland in the B2B market, and secondarily in Romania, linked to the signing of specific new contracts with local authorities; and

−    to a lesser extent, the 15 million euro increase in revenue from Convergent services. The 5.1% fall in revenues from convergent services in Spain was more than offset by the 122 million euro increase in revenue from convergent services in Other European countries. Year-on-year, the convergent customer base in countries in Europe countries grew 5.0%.

3.1.3.2.2      EBITDAaL - Europe

Change in data on a historical basis

In data on a historical basis, the 204 million euro decrease in EBITDAaL from countries in Europe between 2019 and 2020 stems from (i) the negative effect of foreign exchange fluctuations, amounting to 23 million euros, (ii) the adverse impact of changes in the scope of consolidation and other changes, amounting to 1 million euros, and (iii) organic change on a comparable basis, i.e. a 180 million euro fall in EBITDAaL.

Change in data on a comparable basis

In data on a comparable basis, the 180 million euro decrease in EBITDAaL from countries in Europe between 2019 and 2020 is mainly due to the 388 million euro fall in revenue in countries in Europe, and to a lesser extent, the decline in other operating income in Spain, partially offset by:

−    the reduction in commercial expenses, equipment costs and content costs, primarily due to the downturn in equipment sales caused by the Covid-19 health crisis;

−    the contraction in service fees and inter-operator costs, linked to the decline in wholesale services; and

−    to a lesser extent, the decrease in labor expenses in Poland, with, on the one hand, the effect of the drop in the average number of employees (full-time equivalents), and on the other, the effect of a 14 million euro reversal of pension provisions (amendment of the Seniority awards plan).

3.1.3.2.3      Operating income - Europe

In data on a historical basis, the 212 million euro reduction in operating income for countries in Europe between 2019 and 2020 is mostly a result of:

−    the 204 million euro fall in EBITDAaL in data on a historical basis; and

−    the 84 million euro decrease in the fixed asset, investment and businesses portfolio review, due to the fall in gains on disposal of fixed assets, with (i) the counter-effect of the recognition, in 2019, of significant disposals related to real estate portfolio optimization programs in Poland, and (ii) the decline in disposals of non-strategic mobile sites in Spain;

−    partially offset by the lower costs of restructuring programs relating to the counter-effect of the recognition, in 2019, of employee departure plans in Poland (see Note 6.3 to the Consolidated Financial Statements).

3.1.3.2.4      Economic CAPEX - Europe

Change in data on a historical basis

In data on a historical basis, the 166 million euro increase in economic CAPEX in countries in Europe between 2019 and 2020 includes (i) the negative impact of foreign exchange fluctuations for 13 million euros, (ii) more than offset by organic change on a comparable basis, i.e. an increase of 179 million euros in economic CAPEX.

Change in data on a comparable basis

In data on a comparable basis, the 179 million euro increase in economic CAPEX in countries in Europe between 2019 and 2020 is mainly due to the decrease in fixed asset disposals, with (i) the reduction in disposals of non-strategic mobile sites to Cellnex in Spain, and (ii) the decline in disposals made as part of the optimization of the real estate portfolio in Poland.

3.1.3.2.5      Telecommunication licenses - Europe

Telecommunication licenses in countries in Europe amount to:

−    73 million euros in 2020, mainly in Slovakia for 37 million euros (acquisition of a 5G license; see Section 3.1.1.3 Significant events), and Romania for 30 million euros (renewal of the 3G license in the 2100 MHz band); and

−    308 million euros in data on a historical basis in 2019, mainly for Spain.

3.1.3.2.6      Additional information - Europe

Europe (at December 31, in thousands, at the end of the period)	2020	2019 data on a comparable basis (1)	2019 data on a historical basis	% change data on a comparable basis (1)	% change data on a historical basis
Convergent services
Number of convergent customers	5,213	4,965	4,965	5.0%	5.0%
o/w: Spain	3,000	2,996	2,996	0.1%	0.1%
Poland	1,483	1,369	1,369	8.3%	8.3%
Belgium & Luxembourg	289	237	237	22.2%	22.2%
Central Europe (4)	441	364	364	21.3%	21.3%
12-month convergent ARPO (3)
Spain (in euros)	56.7	58.2	58.2	(2.5) %	(2.5) %
Poland (in zlotys)	105.7	102.4	102.4	3.2%	3.2%
Belgium (in euros)	75.1	77.1	77.1	(2.6) %	(2.6) %
Mobile services
Number of mobile accesses (2)	50,934	50,934	50,934	0.0%	0.0%
o/w: Convergent customer mobile accesses	10,020	9,460	9,460	5.9%	5.9%
Mobile only accesses	40,915	41,473	41,473	(1.3) %	(1.3) %
o/w: Contract customers	38,029	36,800	36,800	3.3%	3.3%
Prepaid customers	12,906	14,134	14,134	(8.7) %	(8.7) %
o/w: Spain	15,913	16,313	16,313	(2.4) %	(2.4) %
Poland	15,752	15,284	15,284	3.1%	3.1%
Belgium & Luxembourg	4,906	4,690	4,690	4.6%	4.6%
Central Europe (4)	14,363	14,647	14,647	(1.9) %	(1.9) %
12-month mobile only ARPO (3)
Spain (in euros)	11.3	12.0	12.0	(6.4) %	(6.4) %
Poland (in zlotys)	19.6	20.1	20.1	(2.3) %	(2.3) %
Belgium (in euros)	17.7	18.0	18.0	(1.7) %	(1.7) %
Fixed services
Number of fixed accesses (5)	10,873	10,863	10,863	0.1%	0.1%
Number of fixed Retail accesses	9,625	9,726	9,726	(1.0) %	(1.0) %
o/w: Number of fixed broadband accesses	7,772	7,547	7,547	3.0%	3.0%
o/w: Accesses with very high-speed broadband	4,748	4,270	4,270	11.2%	11.2%
o/w: Convergent customer fixed accesses	5,213	4,965	4,965	5.0%	5.0%
Fixed only accesses	2,558	2,582	2,582	(0.9) %	(0.9) %
o/w: Spain	4,032	4,075	4,075	(1.0) %	(1.0) %
Poland	2,702	2,607	2,607	3.6%	3.6%
Belgium & Luxembourg	348	279	279	24.8%	24.8%
Central Europe (4)	689	586	586	17.5%	17.5%
12-month fixed only broadband ARPO (3)
Spain (in euros)	29.4	30.6	30.6	(3.8) %	(3.8) %
Poland (in zlotys)	58.0	55.4	55.4	4.7%	4.7%
o/w: Number of fixed narrowband accesses	1,853	2,179	2,179	(15.0) %	(15.0) %
Number of fixed Wholesale accesses	1,248	1,137	1,137	9.8%	9.8%
o/w: Spain	792	618	618	28.1%	28.1%
Poland	457	519	519	(12.0) %	(12.0) %

 

(1)   See Section 3.1.5.1 Data on a comparable basis.

(2)   Excluding customers of Mobile Virtual Network Operators (MVNOs).

(3)   See Section 7.2.1 Financial glossary.

(4)   Central Europe: entities in Moldova, Romania and Slovakia.

(5)   Change in the recognition method of fixed accesses on January 1, 2020 (see Section 3.1.2.1.2 Number of customers).

Between 2019 and 2020, customer bases in European countries withstood the Covid-19 health crisis and strong competition, which was particularly evident in Spain.

The total mobile access base was stable year-on-year, with 50.9 million customers at December 31, 2020. Prepaid offers continued to decline, accentuated by the Covid-19 health crisis. At the same time, contract offers increased in nearly all countries, with year-on-year growth of 3.3%.

The total fixed access base was up 0.1% year-on-year, with 10.9 million customers at December 31, 2020. The fixed broadband access base recorded a 3.0% year-on-year increase (with 7.8 million accesses at December 31, 2020), driven by the growth in very high-speed broadband, up 11.2% year-on-year (with 4.7 million accesses at December 31, 2020).

3.1.3.2.7      Additional information - Spain

Spain (at December 31, in millions of euros)	2020	2019 data on a comparable basis (1)	2019 data on a historical basis	% change data on a comparable basis (1)	% change data on a historical basis
Revenue	4,951	5,263	5,280	(5.9) %	(6.2) %
EBITDAaL	1,433	1,646	1,646	(13.0) %	(13.0) %
EBITDAaL/Revenue	28.9%	31.3%	31.2%	(2.3 pts.)	(2.2 pts.)
Operating Income	407		626		(34.9) %
eCAPEX	969	812	812	19.3%	19.3%
eCAPEX/Revenue	19.6%	15.4%	15.4%	4.1 pts.	4.2 pts.
Telecommunication licenses	6	298	298	(97.9) %	(97.9) %
Average number of employees	7,052	6,931	6,931	1.7%	1.7%

 

(1)   See Section 3.1.5.1 Data on a comparable basis.

Revenue - Spain

Spain (at December 31, in millions of euros)	2020	2019 data on a comparable basis (1)	2019 data on a historical basis	% change data on a comparable basis (1)	% change data on a historical basis
Revenue	4,951	5,263	5,280	(5.9) %	(6.2) %
Retail services	3,476	3,760	3,760	(7.6) %	(7.6) %
Convergent services	1,984	2,092	2,092	(5.1) %	(5.1) %
Mobile only services	1,012	1,161	1,161	(12.9) %	(12.9) %
Fixed only services	471	501	501	(5.9) %	(5.9) %
IT & integration services	8	6	6	37.4%	37.4%
Wholesale services	916	901	901	1.7%	1.7%
Equipment sales	547	602	620	(9.2) %	(11.7) %
Other revenues	12	0	0	-	-

 

(1)   See Section 3.1.5.1 Data on a comparable basis.

Change in data on a historical basis

In data on a historical basis, the 330 million euro decrease in revenue from Spain between 2019 and 2020 stems from (i) the negative impact of changes in the scope of consolidation and other changes amounting to 18 million euros, and (ii) organic change on a comparable basis representing a 312 million euro decrease in revenue.

Change in data on a comparable basis

In data on a comparable basis, the 312 million euro decrease in revenue from Spain between 2019 and 2020 is largely attributable to the decline in Mobile only services and Convergent services, and to a lesser extent, the reduction in Equipment sales and Fixed only services.

For fixed broadband and mobile, sales performance between 2019 and 2020 was impacted by the Covid-19 health crisis and the continued very strong promotional drive, causing the market to migrate towards low-cost offers:

−    the total mobile access base fell by 2.4% year-on-year, with 15.9 million customers at December 31, 2020. Contract customers increased by 1.7% year-on-year, whilst prepaid customers (1.9 million customers at December 31, 2020) fell by 24.7% year-on-year;

−    the total fixed broadband access base shrank by 1.0% year-on-year, although the very high-speed fixed broadband access base continued to grow at a rate of 4.8% year-on-year to reach 3.4 million customers at December 31, 2020, or 83.2% of the total fixed broadband access base. In addition, digital TV packages (IPTV and satellite TV) increased by 0.9% year-on-year, driven by content offers (broadcasts of championship football matches and optional premium content).

The 312 million euro fall in revenue from Spain between the two periods (i.e. a reduction of 5.9%) is mainly attributable to:

−    the 150 million euro decline in revenue from Mobile only services, mainly due to the migration of the market towards low-cost offers, resulting in (i) a 6.4% drop in 12-month mobile only ARPO between December 31, 2019 and December 31, 2020, and (ii) a 5.2% year-on-year contraction in the mobile only access base, particularly for prepaid offers;

−    the 107 million euro decrease in revenue from Convergent services, due to the challenging competitive environment and the effects of the Covid-19 health crisis, particularly for packages that include football content. The convergent customer base had 3 million customers at December 31, 2020, up 0.1% year-on-year. 12-month convergent ARPO fell 2.5% between December 31, 2019 and December 31, 2020; and

−    to a lesser extent (i) the 55 million euro decrease in Equipment sales, owing to lower volumes due to the Covid-19 health crisis (store closures during lockdown periods), and (ii) the 30 million euro fall in revenue from Fixed only services, impacted by a tough competitive environment and the Covid-19 health crisis, leading to a 4.3% year-on-year contraction in the fixed only broadband access base and a 3.8% fall in 12-month fixed only broadband ARPO.

EBITDAaL - Spain

In both data on a historical basis and data on a comparable basis, the 214 million euro decline in EBITDAaL in Spain between 2019 and 2020 is mainly due to:

−    (i) the 312 million euro fall in revenue, (ii) the decrease in other operating income (decline in rebilling linked to network sharing, increase in impairment and losses on trade receivables due to the Covid-19 health crisis), and (iii) to a lesser extent, higher content costs;

−    partly offset by (i) the decrease in commercial expenses and equipment costs, related to the Covid-19 health crisis (decrease in the costs of handsets and other products sold and fall in distribution fees due to the downturn in activity), (ii) the reduction in network expenses, and (iii) to a lesser extent, the decline in depreciation and amortization of rights-of-use assets, mainly linked to the reduced use of network access leasing due to the development of the FTTH network and the increase in customer connections to directly owned assets.

Operating income - Spain

In data on a historical basis, the 218 million euro decrease in operating income for Spain between 2019 and 2020 is mainly due to the 214 million euro fall in EBITDAaL on a historical basis.

Economic CAPEX - Spain

In both data on a historical basis and data on a comparable basis, the 157 million euro increase in economic CAPEX in Spain between 2019 and 2020 is mainly due to (i) the decrease in disposals of fixed assets between the two periods (with the disposal of non-strategic mobile sites to Cellnex for 75 million euros in 2020, compared to 185 million euros in 2019), and (ii) an increase in investments in mobile networks (particularly 5G networks), despite the delayed rollout caused by the Covid-19 health crisis.

Telecommunication licenses - Spain

Telecommunication licenses in Spain amounted to 6 million euros in 2020 and 298 million euros in 2019 on a historical basis.

3.1.3.3    Africa & Middle East

Africa & Middle East (at December 31, in millions of euros)	2020	2019 data on a comparable basis (1)	2019 data on a historical basis	% change data on a comparable basis (1)	% change data on a historical basis
Revenue	5,834	5,543	5,646	5.2%	3.3%
EBITDAaL	1,964	1,785	1,814	10.0%	8.3%
EBITDAaL/Revenue	33.7%	32.2%	32.1%	1.5 pts.	1.5 pts.
Operating Income	1,027		940		9.3%
eCAPEX	1,036	977	987	6.0%	5.0%
eCAPEX/Revenue	17.8%	17.6%	17.5%	0.1 pts.	0.3 pts.
Telecommunication licenses	20	203	212	(90.1) %	(90.5) %
Average number of employees	14,501	14,454	14,824	0.3%	(2.2) %

 

(1)   See Section 3.1.5.1 Data on a comparable basis.

Africa & Middle East continue to suffer political, security or economic instability and sometimes tax or regulatory pressures that may affect the general business climate, the activity and earnings of subsidiaries and shareholdings, and could continue to affect them in the future. In some cases, these situations have led the Group to book impairments on assets (see Notes 8, 9.3 and 12 to the Consolidated Financial Statements). For further information on these risk factors, see Section 2.1 Risk factors.

3.1.3.3.1      Revenue - Africa & Middle East

Africa & Middle East (at December 31, in millions of euros)	2020	2019 data on a comparable basis (1)	2019 data on a historical basis	% change data on a comparable basis (1)	% change data on a historical basis
Revenue	5,834	5,543	5,646	5.2%	3.3%
Retail services	5,007	4,644	4,738	7.8%	5.7%
Mobile only services	4,420	4,143	4,230	6.7%	4.5%
Fixed only services	562	487	493	15.5%	13.9%
IT & integration services	25	14	14	75.4%	74.0%
Wholesale services	695	764	780	(9.0) %	(11.0) %
Equipment sales	89	95	96	(6.8) %	(7.5) %
Other revenues	43	41	32	6.0%	36.6%

 

(1)   See Section 3.1.5.1 Data on a comparable basis.

Africa & Middle East (at December 31, in millions of euros)	2020	2019 data on a comparable basis (1)	2019 data on a historical basis	% change data on a comparable basis (1)	% change data on a historical basis
Revenue	5,834	5,543	5,646	5.2%	3.3%
Sonatel sub-group (2)	1,838	1,758	1,797	4.5%	2.3%
Côte d’Ivoire sub-group (3)	1,328	1,194	1,195	11.3%	11.1%
Egypt	891	831	796	7.2%	11.9%
Morocco	611	599	602	2.1%	1.6%
Jordan	392	394	402	(0.5) %	(2.5) %
Cameroon	329	312	312	5.6%	5.6%
Congo (DRC)	280	306	312	(8.3) %	(10.0) %
Other countries (4)	220	199	285	10.6%	(22.9) %
Eliminations	(56)	(49)	(55)	14.1%	2.1%

 

(1)   See Section 3.1.5.1 Data on a comparable basis.

(2)   Sonatel sub-group: entities in Senegal, Mali, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau and Sierra Leone.

(3)   Côte d’Ivoire sub-group: entities in Côte d’Ivoire, Burkina Faso and Liberia.

(4)   Other countries: mainly Botswana, Central African Republic (CAR), Madagascar, and Niger until its disposal on November 22, 2019.

Change in data on a historical basis

In data on a historical basis, the 188 million euro increase in revenue from countries in the Africa & Middle East segment between 2019 and 2020 includes (i) the unfavorable effect of changes in the scope of consolidation and other changes for 69 million euros, mostly corresponding to the disposal of Orange Niger on November 22, 2019 (for 63 million euros), (ii) the negative impact of foreign exchange fluctuations for 33 million euros, mainly taking into account movements in the Guinean franc (for 31 million euros), and, to a lesser extent, the Jordanian dinar, against the euro, (iii) more than offset by organic change on a comparable basis, amounting to a 291 million euro increase in revenue.

Change in data on a comparable basis

In data on a comparable basis, the 291 million euro increase in revenue from countries in the Africa & Middle East segment between 2019 and 2020 is mainly due to business growth of (i) the Côte d’Ivoire sub-group, led by Côte d’Ivoire and Burkina Faso, (ii) the Sonatel sub-group, primarily driven by Guinea, Mali and Sierra Leone, (iii) Egypt, and (iv) to a lesser extent, Cameroon.

The growth in revenue from countries in the Africa & Middle East segment between the two periods is mainly attributable to:

−    the 278 million euro increase in Mobile only services, due in large part to (i) the 23.7% growth in data services, boosted by the 38.8% increase in the 4G customer base, which had 33.0 million customers at December 31, 2020, and (ii) the 21.1% growth in Orange Money’s revenue, which stood at 507 million euros in 2020, despite the regulatory measures introduced by central banks for mobile payment services in the context of the Covid-19 health crisis. At December 31, 2020, the mobile only access base had 128.4 million accesses, up 5.2% year-on-year, mainly due to the sales performance recorded in Cameroon and in the Sonatel and Côte d’Ivoire sub-groups; and

−    to a lesser extent, the 75 million euro increase in Fixed only services, largely as a result of the development of broadband services (particularly in Morocco), in turn due to the accelerated rollout of fiber and lifestyle changes during the pandemic. The fixed broadband access base, up 39.3% year-on-year, has therefore grown in almost all countries;

−    partially offset by the 69 million euro reduction in Wholesale services, impacted by the fall in incoming international traffic volumes and the decline in visitor roaming linked to the Covid-19 travel restrictions.

3.1.3.3.2      EBITDAaL - Africa & Middle East

Change in data on a historical basis

In data on a historical basis, the 151 million euro increase in EBITDAaL in countries in the Africa & Middle East segment between 2019 and 2020 includes (i) the unfavorable impact of changes in the scope of consolidation and other changes for 15 million euros, and (ii) the negative effect of foreign exchange fluctuations for 13 million euros, (iii) more than offset by organic change on a comparable basis, representing a 179 million euro increase in EBITDAaL.

Change in data on a comparable basis

In data on a comparable basis, the 179 million euro increase in EBITDAaL in countries in the Africa & Middle East segment between 2019 and 2020 is primarily explained by:

−    revenue growth of 291 million euros, and to a lesser extent, the fall in interconnection costs (due to the decline in domestic call termination and the slowdown in international transit activity), as well as the reduction in other operating expenses;

−    partially offset by (i) the increase in operating taxes and levies, mostly due to business growth, (ii) the increase in other network expenses and IT expenses (continued network rollout in all countries, development of data services), and (iii) the increase in distribution commissions, linked to the strong sales momentum and, in particular, the expansion of Orange Money.

3.1.3.3.3      Operating income - Africa & Middle East

In data on a historical basis, the 87 million euro increase in operating income in countries in the Africa & Middle East segment between 2019 and 2020 was largely due to the 151 million increase in EBITDAaL on a historical basis, partially offset by:

−    the 35 million euro increase in impairment of goodwill and fixed assets (see Notes 8 and 9.3 to the Consolidated Financial Statements), due to the counter-effect of the recognition, in 2019, (i) of a reversal of provisions for fixed assets in Egypt for 89 million euros, reflecting notably an improvement in the country’s economic situation, (ii) partially offset by impairment of goodwill in Jordan for 54 million euros, which reflected the effects of an uncertain political and economic climate and strong competitive pressure in the fixed and mobile data markets;

−    and the 39 million euro increase in depreciation and amortization of fixed assets (see Note 9.2 to the Consolidated Financial Statements).

3.1.3.3.4      Economic CAPEX - Africa & Middle East

Change in data on a historical basis

In data on a historical basis, the 49 million euro increase in economic CAPEX in countries in the Africa & Middle East segment between 2019 and 2020 included (i) the negative effect of foreign exchange fluctuations for 6 million euros, and (ii) the unfavorable impact of foreign exchange fluctuations and changes in the scope of consolidation for 4 million euros, (iii) more than offset by organic change on a comparable basis, representing a 59 million euro increase in economic CAPEX.

Change in data on a comparable basis

In data on a comparable basis, the 59 million euro increase in economic CAPEX in countries in the Africa & Middle East segment between 2019 and 2020 is mainly due to the increase in investments in very high-speed mobile and fixed broadband networks (4G and FTTH) to support changes in usage. The 4G customer base reached 33.0 million customers at the end of December 2020, up 38.8% year-on-year. In addition, Africa & Middle East countries had 1.6 million households connectable with very high-speed broadband at December 31, 2020, up 61.9% year-on-year.

3.1.3.3.5      Telecommunication licenses - Africa & Middle East

In 2020, telecommunication licenses for countries in the Africa & Middle East segment totaled 20 million euros. These mainly concerned Senegal for 11 million euros and Morocco for 9 million euros.

In 2019, telecommunication licenses in countries in the Africa & Middle East segment amounted to 212 million euros in data on a historical basis, mostly relating to (i) Burkina Faso for 119 million euros, with the acquisition of a technology-neutral 2G/3G/4G license, and (ii) Guinea for 82 million euros, including the renewal of the current license with additional spectrum resources and the acquisition of a 4G license, plus the acquisition of a new technology-neutral 2G/3G/4G license.

3.1.3.3.6      Additional information - Africa & Middle East

Africa & Middle East (at December 31, in thousands, at the end of the period)	2020	2019 data on a comparable basis (1)	2019 data on a historical basis	% change data on a comparable basis (1)	% change data on a historical basis
Mobile services
Number of mobile accesses (2)	128,351	121,969	121,969	5.2%	5.2%
o/w: Contract customers	6,424	5,447	5,447	17.9%	17.9%
Prepaid customers	121,927	116,522	116,522	4.6%	4.6%
o/w: Sonatel sub-group (3)	35,453	32,301	32,301	9.8%	9.8%
Côte d’Ivoire sub-group (4)	25,693	23,762	23,762	8.1%	8.1%
Egypt	27,501	28,098	28,098	(2.1) %	(2.1) %
Morocco	13,304	12,884	12,884	3.3%	3.3%
Jordan	2,099	2,080	2,080	0.9%	0.9%
Cameroon	9,262	7,872	7,872	17.7%	17.7%
Congo (DRC)	10,495	10,661	10,661	(1.5) %	(1.5) %
Other countries (5)	4,542	4,311	4,311	5.3%	5.3%
Fixed services
Number of fixed accesses (6)	2,542	2,052	2,052	23.9%	23.9%
Number of fixed Retail accesses	2,542	2,052	2,052	23.9%	23.9%
o/w: Number of broadband accesses	1,712	1,229	1,229	39.3%	39.3%
Number of fixed narrowband accesses	829	823	823	0.8%	0.8%

 

(1)   See Section 3.1.5.1 Data on a comparable basis.

(2)   Excluding customers of Mobile Virtual Network Operators (MVNOs).

(3)   Sonatel sub-group: entities in Senegal, Mali, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau and Sierra Leone.

(4)   Côte d’Ivoire sub-group: entities in Côte d’Ivoire, Burkina Faso and Liberia.

(5)   Other countries: mainly Botswana, Central African Republic (CAR) and Madagascar.

(6)   Change in the recognition method of fixed accesses on January 1, 2020 (see Section 3.1.2.1.2 Number of customers).

3.1.3.4    Enterprise

Enterprise (at December 31, in millions of euros)	2020	2019 data on a comparable basis (1)	2019 data on a historical basis	% change data on a comparable basis (1)	% change data on a historical basis
Revenue	7,807	7,914	7,820	(1.4) %	(0.2) %
EBITDAaL	1,023	1,202	1,191	(14.9) %	(14.1) %
EBITDAaL/Revenue	13.1%	15.2%	15.2%	(2.1) pts.	(2.1) pts.
Operating Income	621		772		(19.6) %
eCAPEX	339	403	404	(16.0) %	(16.2) %
eCAPEX/Revenue	4.3%	5.1%	5.2%	(0.8) pts.	(0.8) pts.
Average number of employees	27,429	26,505	25,979	3.5%	5.6%

 

(1)   See Section 3.1.5.1 Data on a comparable basis.

3.1.3.4.1      Revenue - Enterprise

Enterprise (at December 31, in millions of euros)	2020	2019 data on a comparable basis (1)	2019 data on a historical basis	% change data on a comparable basis (1)	% change data on a historical basis
Revenue	7,807	7,914	7,820	(1.4) %	(0.2) %
Fixed only services	3,851	3,950	3,963	(2.5) %	(2.8) %
Voice services (2)	1,237	1,285	1,289	(3.8) %	(4.0) %
Data services (3)	2,614	2,664	2,674	(1.9) %	(2.2) %
IT & integration services	3,086	3,015	2,909	2.3%	6.1%
Services and mobile equipment (4)	870	949	949	(8.3) %	(8.3) %
Mobile only services	649	727	727	(10.7) %	(10.7) %
Wholesale services	45	34	34	33.0%	33.0%
Equipment sales	175	187	187	(6.5) %	(6.5) %

 

(1)   See Section 3.1.5.1 Data on a comparable basis.

(2)   Voice services include (i) legacy voice offers (PSTN access), (ii) Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) products, (iii) audio-conference services, and (iv) incoming traffic for call centers.

(3)   Data services include (i) legacy data solutions still offered by Orange Business Services (Frame Relay, Transrel, leased lines, narrowband), (ii) services having reached a certain maturity such as IP-VPN, and broadband infrastructure products such as satellite or fiber optic access, (iii) satellite TV broadcast services, and (iv) Business Everywhere roaming offers.

(4)   Services and mobile equipment include (i) mobile only services, (ii) wholesale services, corresponding to incoming mobile B2B traffic invoiced to other carriers, and (iii) mobile equipment sales invoiced to businesses.

Change in data on a historical basis

In data on a historical basis, the 13 million euro decrease in Enterprise revenue between 2019 and 2020 includes:

−    the positive impact of changes in the scope of consolidation and other changes in the amount of 127 million euros, resulting mainly from the acquisitions of SecureLink on July 8, 2019 (representing 122 million euros) and SecureData on January 31, 2019;

−    the negative effect of foreign exchange fluctuations of 33 million euros, mainly resulting from the performance of the US dollar against the euro; and

−    organic change on a comparable basis, representing a 107 million euro fall in revenue.

Change in data on a comparable basis

In data on a comparable basis, the 107 million euro decrease in Enterprise revenue between 2019 and 2020 is attributable to:

−    the 79 million euro decrease in revenue from Mobile services and equipment (see above definition in the table footnote), largely linked to the Covid-19 health crisis, with a decline of 78 million euros in revenue from mobile only services (revenues from roaming), and to a lesser extent, a 12 million euro decline in mobile equipment sales;

−    the 50 million euro fall in revenue from Data services (see above definition in the table footnote), mainly outside France, heavily impacted by the 11.3% drop in revenue from satellite broadcasting services (Globecast), due to postponements and cancellations of sporting and cultural events due to the Covid-19 health crisis;

−    the 48 million euro decline in revenue from Voice services (see above definition in the table footnote), mainly due to the structural decline in conventional services (conventional fixed telephony was down 73 million euros), partially offset by the growth of 16 million euros in audio-conferencing services, the use of which increased during the Covid-19 health crisis;

−    partially offset by the 70 million euro growth in revenue from IT & integration services, which continued to increase between the two periods despite the effects of the Covid-19 health crisis in 2020. This growth was mainly driven by the increase in cybersecurity services (with revenue of 768 million euros in 2020, up 9.0% year-on-year) and Cloud services (up 5.9% year-on-year).

3.1.3.4.2      EBITDAaL - Enterprise

Change in data on a historical basis

In data on a historical basis, the 168 million euro decrease in Enterprise EBITDAaL between 2019 and 2020 includes (i) the positive effect of foreign exchange fluctuations for 10 million euros, (ii) the favorable impact of changes in the scope of consolidation and other changes for 1 million euros, and (iii) organic change on a comparable basis, amounting to a decrease of 179 million euros in EBITDAaL.

Change in data on a comparable basis

In data on a comparable basis, the 179 million euro decrease in Enterprise EBITDAaL between 2019 and 2020 can essentially be attributed to:

−    (i) the 107 million euro fall in revenue, (ii) the increase in labor expenses, mainly related to the increase in the average number of employees (full-time equivalents) linked to the development of Cloud and cybersecurity activities, (iii) the increase in other network expenses and IT expenses, corresponding to the increase in operating and maintenance costs for IT infrastructure and applications (in line with the increase in IT & integration services), and (iv) the increase in impairment and losses on trade receivables due to the Covid-19 health crisis;

−    partially offset by the reduction in commercial expenses and equipment costs, in line with the decline in activity.

3.1.3.4.3      Operating income - Enterprise

In data on a historical basis, the 152 million euro fall in Enterprise operating income between 2019 and 2020 is largely due to the 168 million euro decrease in EBITDAaL on a historical basis, partially offset by the recognition, in 2020, of a 14 million euro gain on disposal of fixed assets.

3.1.3.4.4      Economic CAPEX - Enterprise

Change in data on a historical basis

In data on a historical basis, the 66 million euro decrease in Enterprise economic CAPEX between 2019 and 2020 includes (i) the negative effect of foreign exchange fluctuations for 3 million euros, (ii) the favorable impact of changes in the scope of consolidation and other changes for 2 million euros, and (iii) organic change on a comparable basis, amounting to a decrease of 64 million euros in economic CAPEX.

Change in data on a comparable basis

In data on a comparable basis, the 64 million euro decrease in Enterprise economic CAPEX between 2019 and 2020 is due to (i) postponements of projects (real estate and customer projects), due partly to the Covid-19 health crisis, and (ii) the discontinuation of a major customer project with the resale of the assets to the customer.

3.1.3.4.5      Additional information - Enterprise

Enterprise (at December 31, in thousands, at the end of the period)	2020	2019 data on a comparable basis (1)	2019 data on a historical basis	% change data on a comparable basis (1)	% change data on a historical basis
Mobile services
Number of mobile accesses in France (2)	13,287	12,513	12,513	6.2%	6.2%
Fixed services
Number of fixed accesses in France (3)	1,404	1,523	1,523	(7.8) %	(7.8) %
Number of fixed Retail accesses	1,404	1,523	1,523	(7.8) %	(7.8) %
o/w: Number of fixed broadband accesses	241	251	251	(3.9) %	(3.9) %
Number of fixed narrowband accesses	1,163	1,271	1,271	(8.6) %	(8.6) %
Number of IP-VPN accesses worldwide (4)	366	360	360	1.5%	1.5%
o/w: Number of IP-VPN accesses in France 4)	307	302	302	1.3%	1.3%

 

(1)   See Section 3.1.5.1 Data on a comparable basis.

(2)   Contract customers. Excluding customers of Mobile Virtual Network Operators (MVNOs).

(3)   Change in the recognition method of fixed accesses on January 1, 2020 (see Section 3.1.2.1.2 Number of customers).

(4)   Access of customers outside the Orange group, not including carrier market.

3.1.3.5    International Carriers & Shared Services

International Carriers & Shared Services (at December 31, in millions of euros)	2020	2019 data on a comparable basis (1)	2019 data on a historical basis	% change data on a comparable basis (1)	% change data on a historical basis
Revenue	1,450	1,495	1,498	(3.0) %	(3.2) %
EBITDAaL	(244)	(276)	(261)	11.4%	6.3%
EBITDAaL/Revenue	(16.9) %	(18.5) %	(17.4) %	1.6 pts.	0.5 pts.
Operating Income	(538)		(499)		(7.9) %
eCAPEX	133	128	141	3.7%	(5.4) %
eCAPEX/Revenue	9.2%	8.6%	9.4%	0.6 pts.	(0.2 pts.)
Average number of employees	12,726	12,581	12,529	1.1%	1.6%

 

(1)   See Section 3.1.5.1 Data on a comparable basis.

3.1.3.5.1      Revenue - International Carriers & Shared Services

International Carriers & Shared Services (at December 31, in millions of euros)	2020	2019 data on a comparable basis (1)	2019 data on a historical basis	% change data on a comparable basis (1)	% change data on a historical basis
Revenue	1,450	1,495	1,498	(3.0) %	(3.2) %
Wholesale services	1,038	1,077	1,077	(3.6) %	(3.6) %
Other revenues	412	418	421	(1.4) %	(2.1) %

 

(1)   See Section 3.1.5.1 Data on a comparable basis.

Change in data on a historical basis

In data on a historical basis, the 48 million euro decrease in International Carriers & Shared Services revenue between 2019 and 2020 can be attributed to (i) the adverse effect of foreign exchange fluctuations for 4 million euros, and (ii) organic change on a comparable basis, namely a 44 million euro decrease in revenue.

Change in data on a comparable basis

In data on a comparable basis, the 44 million euro decrease in revenue from International Carriers & Shared Services between 2019 and 2020 is attributable to:

−    the 38 million euro decrease in Wholesale services, owing to the decline in international wholesale services (mainly voice activities and roaming services), impacted by the Covid-19 health crisis; and

−    the 6 million euro contraction in Other revenues, mainly due to the decline in Orange Marine installation activities and the fall in cinema revenues (Orange Studio), impacted by the restrictions (closure of movie theaters) linked to the Covid-19 health crisis.

3.1.3.5.2      EBITDAaL - International Carriers & Shared Services

Change in data on a historical basis

In data on a historical basis, the 16 million euro increase in EBITDAaL of International Carriers & Shared Services between 2019 and 2020 includes (i) the positive effect of foreign exchange fluctuations for 3 million euros, (ii) the unfavorable effect of changes in the scope of consolidation and other changes for 18 million euros, and (iii) organic change on a comparable basis, namely a 31 million euro increase in EBITDAaL.

Change in data on a comparable basis

In data on a comparable basis, the 31 million euro increase in EBITDAaL for International Carriers & Shared Services between 2019 and 2020 is mainly due to:

−    (i) the fall in other external purchases, essentially linked to the reduction in overheads of shared services, largely on account of the Covid-19 health crisis (travel savings, cancellation of events, decline in activity), and (ii) the reduction in labor expenses;

−    partially offset by (i) the 44 million euro drop in revenue, (ii) the fall in other operating income (net of other operating expenses), and (iii) the reduction in IT expenses.

3.1.3.5.3      Operating income - International Carriers & Shared Services

In data on a historical basis, the 39 million euro decrease in the operating income for International Carriers & Shared Services between 2019 and 2020 is mainly attributable to:

−    (i) the fall in gains on disposal of fixed assets between the two periods (counter-effect of the significant disposals carried out in 2019 as part of the optimization of the real estate portfolio), (ii) the increase in restructuring program costs (mainly due to the optimization of the real estate portfolio), and (iii) the increase in specific labor expenses in respect of the French part-time for seniors plans (TPS, plans relating to agreements for the employment of older workers in France) and related bonuses (see Note 7 to the Consolidated Financial Statements);

−    partially offset by (i) the counter-effect of the recognition, in 2019, of a 49 million euro expense in respect of significant litigation, and (ii) the 16 million euro increase in EBITDAaL on a historical basis.

3.1.3.5.4      Economic CAPEX - International Carriers & Shared Services

Change in data on a historical basis

In data on a historical basis, the 8 million euro decrease in the economic CAPEX of International Carriers & Shared Services between 2019 and 2020 stems from (i) the adverse impact of changes in the scope of consolidation and other changes for 12 million euros, (ii) partially offset by organic change on a comparable basis, i.e. a 5 million euro increase in economic CAPEX.

Change in data on a comparable basis

In data on a comparable basis, the 5 million euro increase in the economic CAPEX of International Carriers & Shared Services between 2019 and 2020 mainly results from the fall in disposals of fixed assets (counter-effect of the significant disposals made in 2019 as part of the real estate optimization program).

3.1.3.6    Mobile Finance Services

In 2020, the Mobile Finance Services business continued to grow, particularly:

−    in Europe, with (i) the integration, within the Orange Bank business, of the subsidiary Orange Courtage, which notably provided insurance for mobile handsets to 549,000 B2C customers at December 31, 2020, (ii) the launch of new value plans (including the Premium Pack aimed at families) and new bank cards, and (iii) the development project in the small business, corporate and non-profits market with the acquisition of the neobank Anytime (see Section 3.1.1.3 Significant events). At December 31, 2020, Orange Bank had nearly 1.2 million customers in France and Spain (this number includes customers of all products sold by Orange Bank: accounts, loans and mobile insurance); and

−    in Africa, with the commercial launch of Orange Bank Africa in Côte d’Ivoire in July 2020 (see Section 3.1.1.3 Significant events).

Mobile Finance Services (at December 31, in millions of euros)	2020	2019 data on a comparable basis (1)	2019 data on a historical basis	% change data on a comparable basis (1)	% change data on a historical basis
Net banking income (NBI) (2)	69	40	40	70.6%	70.6%
Cost of bank credit risk (3)	(31)	(10)	(10)	207.2%	207.2%
Operating Income	(195)		(186)		(5.3) %
eCAPEX	30	28	28	8.5%	8.5%
Average number of employees	848	849	849	(0.1) %	(0.1) %

 

(1)   See Section 3.1.5.1 Data on a comparable basis.

(2)   Net Banking Income (NBI) recognized as other operating income (see Notes 1.2, 1.3 and 5.2 to the Consolidated Financial Statements).

(3)   Cost of bank credit risk recognized in other operating expenses (see Notes 1.2, 1.3 and 6.2 to the Consolidated Financial Statements).

3.1.3.6.1      Operating activities

The segment information for Mobile Finance Services (operating income, investments in property, plant and equipment and intangible assets) is presented in Notes 1.2 and 1.3 to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

In data on a historical basis, the operating income of Mobile Finance Services was negative at 195 million euros. Between 2019 and 2020, the 10 million euro decrease in operating income is mainly due to:

−    the increase in the cost of bank credit risk (see Notes 1.2, 1.3 and 6.2 to the Consolidated Financial Statements), including 15 million euros related to the Covid-19 health crisis (see Section 3.1.1.3 Significant events and Note 17.2.3 to the Consolidated Financial Statements);

−    the increase in operating expenses resulting in particular from the development of offers in Europe and the launch of Orange Bank Africa;

−    partially offset by the 29 million euro increase in Net Banking Income (NBI, see Notes 1.2, 1.3 and 5.2 to the Consolidated Financial Statements), essentially due to lower acquisition and distribution costs.

In both data on a historical basis and data on a comparable basis, the economic CAPEX of Mobile Finance Services rose by 2 million euros between 2019 and 2020, primarily due to the increase in investments in Europe and the launch of the banking activities of Orange Bank Africa (see Section 3.1.1.3 Significant events).

3.1.3.6.2      Assets, liabilities and cash flows

The segment information for Mobile Finance Services (operating income, investments in property, plant and equipment and intangible assets, assets, liabilities and cash flows) are presented in Note 1 to the Consolidated Financial Statements, and the activities of Mobile Finance Services (financial assets and liabilities, management of market risks connected with the activities, and unrecognized contractual commitments) are described in Note 17 to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

Orange Spain has set up a non-recourse program with Orange Bank for the sale of receivables due in instalments, replacing an existing program with a third-party bank. This program led to these receivables being derecognized from the balance sheet of Orange Spain (within telecom activities) and presented as customer loans and receivables within Mobile Finance Services activities (see Notes 5.3 and 17.1.1 to the Consolidated Financial Statements).

Outstanding loans and receivables to customers at December 31, 2020 came to 2.0 billion euros, an increase of 63 million euros from December 31, 2019 due to the development of the business in Spain. Loans to B2C customers made up 93.5% of that total. 49.3% were consumer loans (see Note 17.1.1 to the Consolidated Financial Statements).

Outstanding customer debts (deposits and savings) at December 31, 2020 amounted to 1.9 billion euros, down 1.5 billion euros from December 31, 2019 due to the discontinuation of activities carried out on behalf of Groupama group companies, particularly the management of current accounts and payment systems (see Note 17.1.2 to the Consolidated Financial Statements).

For more information on the risks related to Mobile Finance Services activities, see Section 2.1.3 Financial risks.

3.1.4      Cash flow, equity and financial debt

To ensure the transparency of the financial statements and separate out the performance of telecom activities and Mobile Finance Services activities, the analysis and financial commentary are split to reflect these two business areas. Accordingly, Sections 3.1.4.1 Liquidity and cash flows from telecom activities and 3.1.4.2. Financial debt and liquidity position of telecom activities deal with telecom activities, and Section 3.1.3.7 Mobile Finance Services covers the Group’s banking activities.

For the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic on the Group’s activities and financial position, see Section 3.1.1.3 Significant events.

3.1.4.1    Liquidity and cash flows from telecom activities

3.1.4.1.1      Organic cash flow from telecom activities

Organic cash flow from telecom activities is not a financial indicator defined by IFRS. For further information on the calculation of organic cash flow from telecom activities and the reasons why the Orange group uses this indicator, see Section 3.1.5 Financial indicators not defined by IFRS and Section 7.2.1 Financial glossary.

Organic cash flow from telecom activities stood at 2,494 million euros in 2020, compared with 2,345 million euros in 2019 (see Note 1.8 to the Consolidated Financial Statements).

Organic cash flow from telecom activities (at December 31, in millions of euros)	2020	2019 data on a historical basis
EBITDAaL from telecom activities	12,839	13,015
eCAPEX of telecom activities	(7,102)	(7,265)
EBITDAaL - eCAPEX of telecom activities	5,736	5,750
Increase (decrease) in eCAPEX trade payables (1)	307	45
Decrease (increase) in working capital requirement (2)	(500)	(204)
Interest paid and interest rate effects on derivatives, net (net of dividends received) (3)	(1,127)	(1,195)
Income tax paid (4)	(1,085)	(1,079)
Other operating items (5)	(838)	(971)
Organic cash flow from telecom activities	2,494	2,345

 

(1)   Including investment grant advances.

(2)   See Section 7.2.1 Financial glossary.

(3)   Excluding (i) interest paid on lease liabilities for 131 million euros in 2020 and 104 million euros in 2019, and (ii) interest paid on liabilities related to financed assets for 1 million euros in 2020 and 2019 (see Note 1.8 to the Consolidated Financial Statements).

(4)   Excluding, in 2020, tax income relating to the settlement of the tax dispute in France in respect of fiscal years 2005-2006 for 2,246 million euros (see Section 3.1.1.3 Significant events and Note 11.2 to the Consolidated Financial Statements). By definition, organic cash flow from telecom activities excludes amounts received or paid in respect of the main disputes.

(5)   Including (i) disbursements related to the French part-time for seniors plans (TPS, plans relating to agreements for the employment of older workers in France) and restructuring and integration costs, (ii) repayment of lease liabilities and payables related to financed assets, (iii) change in receivables and payables related to operating taxes and levies, and (iv) elimination of non-monetary effects.

Between 2019 and 2020, organic cash flow from telecom activities grew by 149 million euros, mainly due to:

−    (i) the 262 million euro increase in economic CAPEX trade payables for telecom activities, due to the significant increase in investments at end-2020 compared with end-2019, notably to make up for the delay caused by the Covid-19 health crisis, (ii) the 163 million euro fall in economic CAPEX for telecom activities on a historical basis (increase in co-financing received from other operators, slowdown in the rollout of very high-speed fixed broadband networks (FTTH) in Spain due to delays caused by the Covid-19 health crisis; see Section 3.1.2.5.1.1 Economic CAPEX), (iii) the 134 million euro decrease in other operating items (mostly cash outflows related to the French part-time for seniors (TPS) plans and restructuring and integration costs), and (iv) to a lesser extent, the 68 million fall in net interest paid and the net interest rate effect of derivatives (excluding interest paid on lease liabilities and on payables related to financed assets, net of dividends received);

−    partially offset by (i) the change in working capital requirement between the two periods of 296 million euros, mainly related to the change in gross trade receivables in France, and (ii) the 176 million euro decline in EBITDAaL on a historical basis (see Section 3.1.2.2.1 Group EBITDAaL).

3.1.4.1.2      Cash flows from telecom activities

Cash flows from telecom activities are presented in Note 1.8 to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

Simplified statement of cash flows from telecom activities (1) (at December 31, in millions of euros)	2020	2019 data on a historical basis
Net cash provided by operating activities (2)	12,961	11,014
Net cash used in investing activities	(5,634)	(9,707)
Net cash used in financing activities	(5,490)	(278)
Cash change in cash and cash equivalents	1,839	1,029
Cash and cash equivalents in the opening balance	6,112	5,081
Cash change in cash and cash equivalents	1,839	1,029
Non-cash change in cash and cash equivalents	(59)	3
Cash and cash equivalents in the closing balance	7,891	6,112

 

(1)   See Note 1.8 to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

(2)   Including, in 2020, the effect of tax income relating to the settlement of the tax dispute in France in respect of fiscal years 2005-2006 for 2,246 million euros (see Section 3.1.1.3 Significant events and Note 11.2 to the Consolidated Financial Statements).

3.1.4.1.2.1       Net cash provided by operating activities (telecom activities)

Net cash provided by telecom activities was 12,961 million euros in 2020, versus 11,014 million euros in 2019.

In 2020, Orange pursued its policy of managing its working capital requirement. The effects on the change in working capital requirement (i) of the sale of receivables, and (ii) the extended payment terms on certain suppliers of goods and services and fixed assets, are described in Notes 5.3 and 6.6, respectively, to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

Change in net cash provided by operating activities (telecom activities) - 2020 vs. 2019 (at December 31, in millions of euros)	Decrease/ (Increase)
Net cash provided by operating activities in 2019	11,014
Increase (decrease) in operating income	(399)
Change in working capital requirement	(296)
Decrease (increase) in operating taxes and levies paid	8
Decrease (increase) in interest paid and interest rate effects on derivatives, net (net of dividends received)	40
Decrease (increase) in income tax paid	(6)
Tax dispute in France concerning fiscal years 2005-2006 (1)	2,246
Change in non-cash items included in operating income and reclassified items for presentation (2)	354
Net cash provided by operating activities in 2020	12,961

 

(1)   See Section 3.1.1.3 Significant events and Note 11.2 to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

(2)   Reclassified items for presentation include the elimination of operating taxes and levies included in operating income and presented separately above.

Between 2019 and 2020, the 1,947 million euro increase in net cash provided by telecom activities was largely attributable to:

−    the effect, in 2020, of tax income relating to the settlement of the tax dispute in France in respect of fiscal years 2005-2006 for 2,246 million euros (see Section 3.1.1.3 Significant events and Note 11.2 to the Consolidated Financial Statements);

−    partially offset by (i) the 399 million euro decrease in operating income from telecom activities, and (ii) the change of 296 million euros in working capital requirement between the two periods, mainly related to the change in gross trade receivables in France.

3.1.4.1.2.2       Net cash used in investing activities (telecom activities)

The net cash used in investing activities of telecom activities amounted to a negative 5,634 million euros in 2020, as against a negative 9,707 million euros in 2019.

Between 2019 and 2020, the 4,074 million euro decrease in net cash used in investing activities of telecom activities was largely attributable to:

−    the change in investments and other financial assets, with a decrease in investments at fair value of 1,489 million euros in 2020, versus an increase of 2,019 million euros in 2019 related to active management of the Group’s liquidity (effect of the cash received from bond issuance in 2019; see below);

−    the 510 million euro decrease in acquisitions of investment securities (net of cash acquired), mainly due to the counter-effect of the acquisitions made in 2019 (notably SecureLink, SecureData, BKM and BlueSoft; see Note 4.2 to the Consolidated Financial Statements);

−    the 409 million euro decrease in purchases and disposals of intangible assets and property, plant and equipment (net of the change in trade payables on fixed assets), essentially linked to the 425 million euro fall in economic CAPEX paid out (increase in co-financing received from other operators, slowdown in the rollout of very high-speed fixed broadband networks (FTTH) in Spain due in particular to the delays caused by the Covid-19 health crisis, decline in disposals of intangible assets and property, plant and equipment; see Section 3.1.2.5.1.1 Economic CAPEX);

−    partially offset by the counter-effect of the disposal of BT shares in 2019 for 543 million euros (see Note 13.7 to the Consolidated Financial Statements).

Purchases and sales of property, plant and equipment and intangible assets

Purchases and sales of property, plant and equipment and intangible assets (at December 31, in millions of euros, net of change in trade payables on fixed assets)		2020	2019 data on a historical basis
Purchases of property, plant and equipment and intangible assets (1)		(8,516)	(8,394)
	eCAPEX	(7,102)	(7,265)
	Elimination of proceeds from sales of property, plant and equipment and intangible assets (2)	(444)	(610)
	Telecommunication licenses	(969)	(519)
Increase (decrease) in fixed asset trade payables (3)		996	211
Sales of property, plant and equipment and intangible assets (4)		374	628
Total telecom activities		(7,146)	(7,555)

 

(1)   Financed assets have no effect on cash flows when acquired (see Section 3.1.2.5 Group capital expenditures and Notes 1.5 and 9.5 to the Consolidated Financial Statements).

(2)   Elimination of proceeds from sales of property, plant and equipment included in economic CAPEX (eCAPEX).

(3)   Including investment grant advances.

(4)   Net of change in receivables and advance on disposal of fixed assets.

Acquisitions and sales of investment securities

Acquisitions and sales of investment securities (1) (at December 31, in millions of euros, net of cash acquired or transferred)		2020	2019 data on a historical basis
Acquisitions of investment securities (net of cash acquired)		(89)	(599)
	Acquisition of 100% of SecureLink	-	(371)
	Acquisition of 100% of SecureData	-	(95)
	Acquisition of 100% of BKM	-	(34)
	Acquisition of 100% of BlueSoft	-	(28)
	Other acquisitions	(89)	(72)
Disposals of investment securities (net of cash transferred)		5	529
	Disposal of BT shares (2)	-	543
	Other disposals	5	(14)
Total telecom activities		(85)	(71)

 

(1)   See Note 4.2 to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

(2)   See Note 13.7 to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

Other changes in shareholdings and other financial assets

Other decreases (increases) in shareholdings and other financial assets (at December 31, in millions of euros)	2020	2019 data on a historical basis
Investments at fair value (excluding cash equivalents)	1,489	(2,019)
Other	108	(63)
Total telecom activities	1,596	(2,082)

 

3.1.4.1.2.3       Net cash used in financing activities (telecom activities)

The net cash used in the financing of telecom activities was a negative 5,490 million euros in 2020, versus a negative 278 million euros in 2019.

Net cash used in financing activities (at December 31, in millions of euros)		2020	2019 data on a historical basis
Change in medium- and long-term debt (1)		(782)	3,701
	Medium and long-term debt issuances	2,694	8,351
	Medium and long-term debt redemptions and repayments	(3,476)	(4,650)
Repayment of lease liabilities		(1,394)	(1,426)
Increase (decrease) in bank overdrafts and short-term borrowings (1)		(299)	(1,082)
Net change in cash collateral deposits (1)		(749)	609
Exchange rate effects on derivatives, net		37	26
Issues (redemptions) and other fees on subordinated notes (2) (3)		(12)	419
Coupons on subordinated notes (2) (3)		(280)	(276)
Proceed (purchase) of treasury shares (2)		7	(34)
	Purchase of treasury shares - Orange Vision 2020 free share award plan	-	(27)
	Other proceeds (purchases) of treasury shares	7	(7)
Capital increase (decrease) (2)		(195)	(108)
	Capital increase (decrease) of owners of the parent company	-	-
	Capital increase (decrease) of non-controlling interests	(195)	(108)
Changes in ownership interests with no gain or loss of control		(3)	(7)
Dividends paid (2)		(1,820)	(2,100)
	Dividends paid to owners of the parent company (3)	(1,595)	(1,857)
	Dividends paid to non-controlling interests	(225)	(243)
Total telecom activities		(5,490)	(278)

 

(1)   See Note 13 to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

(2)   See Note 15 to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

(3)   See Section 3.1.4.3 Equity.

Between 2019 and 2020, the 5,212 million euro decrease in net cash used in the financing of telecom activities is largely attributable to:

−    the 5,657 million euro decrease in medium- and long-term debt issuance (see Notes 13.5 and 13.6 to the Consolidated Financial Statements), mainly from bonds;

−    the net change in cash collateral deposits (with a deterioration of 749 million euros in 2020 compared with an improvement of 609 million euros in 2019), reflecting the change in the fair value of derivatives used mainly for hedging bonds denominated in the Group’s currencies (see Note 13.8 to the Consolidated Financial Statements);

−    the 431 million euro decrease in issuance (net of redemptions) and other fees on subordinated notes (see Note 15.4 to the Consolidated Financial Statements);

−    partially offset by (i) the 1,175 million euro decrease in repayments of medium- and long-term debt (see Notes 13.5 and 13.6 to the Consolidated Financial Statements), mainly bond redemptions, (ii) the change in bank overdrafts and short-term borrowings for 783 million euros, and (iii) to a lesser extent, the 262 million euro decrease in dividends paid to the owners of the parent company, linked to the decrease of 0.20 euro cents per share in the dividend for fiscal year 2019 in the context of the Covid-19 health crisis (see Section 3.1.1.3 Significant events), partially offset by the increase of 0.10 euro cents per share in the interim dividend for fiscal year 2020 (see Section 3.1.4.3 Equity and Note 15.3 to the Consolidated Financial Statements).

3.1.4.2    Financial debt and liquidity position of telecom activities

For further information on the risks relating to the Orange group’s financial debt, see Section 2.1.3 Financial risks.

3.1.4.2.1      Net financial debt

Net financial debt (see Note 13.3 to the Consolidated Financial Statements) and the ratio of net financial debt to EBITDAaL of telecom activities are financial indicators that are not defined by IFRS. For further information on the calculation of these indicators and the reasons why the Orange group uses them, see Section 3.1.5 Financial indicators not defined by IFRS and Section 7.2.1 Financial glossary. Net financial debt as defined and used by Orange does not take into account Mobile Finance Services activities, for which this concept is not relevant.

(at December 31)	2020	2019 data on a historical basis
Net financial debt (1) (2)	23,489	25,466
Ratio of Net financial debt/EBITDAaL from telecom activities (1)	1.83	1.96

 

(1)   See Section 3.1.5 Financial indicators not defined by IFRS.

(2)   In millions of euros.

Between December 31, 2019 and December 31, 2020, net financial debt fell by 1,976 million euros.

Change in net financial debt - 2020 vs. 2019 (at December 31, in millions of euros)	Decrease/ (Increase)
Net financial debt at December 31, 2019	(25,466)
Organic cash flow from telecom activities (1)	2,494
Telecommunication licenses paid	(351)
Significant litigation paid (and received) (2)	2,217
Purchases and disposals of investment securities (net of cash acquired or transferred) and changes in ownership interests with no gain or loss of control	(88)
Issues (redemptions) and other fees on subordinated notes (3)	(12)
Coupons on subordinated notes (3)	(280)
Dividends paid to owners of the parent company (3)	(1,595)
Dividends paid to non-controlling interests	(225)
Other financial items	(185)
Orange Bank capital increase subscribed by the Group (4)	(197)
Other (5)	12
Decrease (increase) in net financial debt	1,976
Net financial debt at December 31, 2020	(23,489)

 

(1)   See Section 3.1.4.1.1 Organic cash flow from telecom activities and Note 1.8 to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

(2)   Mainly tax income relating to the settlement of the tax dispute in France in respect of fiscal years 2005-2006 for 2,246 million euros (see Section 3.1.1.3 Significant events and Note 11.2 to the Consolidated Financial Statements).

(3)   See Section 3.1.4.3 Equity and Note 15.4 to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

(4)   See Note 1.8 to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

(5)   Including the effect of recognizing payables on financed assets.

3.1.4.2.2      Management of financial debt and liquidity position

Financial assets, liabilities and income (excluding Mobile Finance Services activities) and information relating to market risks and the fair value of financial assets and liabilities (excluding Mobile Finance Services activities) are described in Notes 13 and 14 respectively to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

At December 31, 2020, the liquidity position of telecom activities amounted to 17,243 million euros and exceeded the repayment obligations of gross financial debt in 2021. At December 31, 2020, the liquidity position of telecom activities mainly comprised 7,891 million euros in cash and cash equivalents and 3,206 million euros in investments at fair value (see Note 14.3 to the Consolidated Financial Statements).

3.1.4.2.3      Exposure to market risks and financial instruments

The management of interest rate risk, foreign exchange risk, liquidity risk, credit risk and counterparty risk, financial covenants and equity market risk, is described in Note 14 to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

For further information on risks relating to financial markets, see Section 2.1.3 Financial risks.

3.1.4.2.4      Change in Orange’s credit rating

Orange’s credit rating is an additional overall performance indicator used to assess the Group’s financial policy and risk management policy and, in particular, its solvency and liquidity risk. It is not a substitute for an analysis carried out by investors. Rating agencies regularly review the ratings they award. Any change in the rating could have an effect on the cost of future financing or access to liquidity.

In addition, a change in Orange’s credit rating will, for some outstanding financing, affect the compensation paid to investors via Step-up clauses (a clause that triggers an increase in interest payments in the event of a downgrading of Orange’s long-term credit rating by the rating agencies, according to contractually defined rules - this clause may also stipulate a downward revision of the coupon interest rate in the event of an improvement in the rating, as long as the interest rate does not drop below the initial interest rate on the loan - see Note 14.3 to the Consolidated Financial Statements).

Orange’s credit rating at December 31, 2020 was as follows:

Orange’s credit rating (at December 31, 2020)	Standard & Poor’s	Moody’s	Fitch Ratings
Long-term debt	BBB+	Baa1	BBB+
Outlook	Stable	Stable	Stable
Short-term debt	A2	P2	F2

 

For further information on risks related to the financial markets and a history of the Company’s credit ratings, see Section 2.1.3 Financial risks.

3.1.4.3    Equity

At December 31, 2020, the French State held 22.95% of the capital of Orange SA and 29.43% of the voting rights, directly or in concert with Bpifrance Participations (see Note 15 to the Consolidated Financial Statements).

The payment of dividends by Orange took place as follows (see Note 15.3 to the Consolidated Financial Statements):

−    in 2020, payment of (i) the balance of the dividend of 0.20 euro per share in respect of the 2019 fiscal year (see Section 3.1.1.3 Significant events), and (ii) the interim dividend of 0.40 euro per share in respect of the 2020 fiscal year;

−    in 2019, payment of (i) the balance of the dividend of 0.40 euro per share in respect of the 2018 fiscal year, and (ii) the interim dividend of 0.30 euro per share in respect of the 2019 fiscal year.

Additionally, Orange has not exercised its right to defer the coupon related to the deeply subordinated notes since their issuance. Accordingly, it paid the noteholders (i) 258 million euros in 2020, and (ii) 297 million euros in 2019 (of which 21 million euros in coupons on subordinated notes reclassified in short-term borrowings at end-2019 and paid in 2020 (see Note 15.4 to the Consolidated Financial Statements).

Given (i) the issuance by Orange of 700 million euros in subordinated notes on October 15, 2020 as part of its EMTN program, and (ii) the partial redemption of existing subordinated notes by a contractual offer for part of the subordinated notes in several tranches (see Note 15.4 to the Consolidated Financial Statements), at December 31, 2020, the Group’s outstanding subordinated notes remained unchanged from December 31, 2019.

Capital management is described in Note 14.7 to the Consolidated Financial Statements. Changes in equity are described in the Consolidated statement of changes in equity and in Note 15 to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

3.1.5      Financial indicators not defined by IFRS

In this document, in addition to the financial indicators reported in accordance with IFRS (International Financial Reporting Standards), Orange publishes financial indicators that are not defined by IFRS. As described below, these figures are presented as additional information and are not meant to be substitutes for or to be confused with financial indicators as defined by IFRS.

3.1.5.1    Data on a comparable basis

In order to allow investors to track the annual changes in the Group’s operations, data on a comparable basis are presented for the previous period. The transition from data on a historical basis to data on a comparable basis consists of keeping the results for the year ended and restating the previous year in order to present financial data with comparable methods, scope of consolidation and exchange rates over comparable periods. Orange provides the details of the effect of changes in method, scope of consolidation and exchange rates on its key operating indicators in order to isolate the intrinsic business effect. The method used is to apply to the data of the corresponding period of the preceding year the methods and the scope of consolidation for the period ended, as well as the average exchange rates used for the Consolidated income statement for the period ended.

Orange’s management believes that the presentation of these indicators on a comparable basis is relevant because these are indicators used internally by the Group for monitoring its operating activities. Changes in data on a comparable basis better reflect organic business changes.

Data on a comparable basis are not financial indicators defined by IFRS and may not be comparable to similarly-titled indicators used by other companies. It is provided as additional information only and should not be considered as a substitute for an analysis of the Group’s historical data for the past year or previous periods.

3.1.5.1.1      2019 fiscal year - Group

The following table presents, for the Orange group, the transition from data on a historical basis to data on a comparable basis for the 2019 fiscal year for the key operating data.

2019 fiscal year - Group (at December 31, 2019, in millions of euros)		Revenue	EBITDAaL	eCAPEX	Average number of employees
Data on a historical basis		42,238	12,856	7,293	135,619
Foreign exchange fluctuations (1)		(156)	(23)	(22)	-
	Polish zloty (PLN)	(86)	(21)	(13)	-
	Guinean franc (GNF)	(31)	(15)	(5)	-
	US dollar (USD)	(19)	(4)	(2)	-
	Jordanian dinar (JOD)	(8)	(3)	(1)	-
	Egyptian pound (EGP)	34	11	6	-
	Other	(46)	9	(7)	-
Changes in the scope of consolidation and other changes		68	(22)	(14)	336
	Acquisition of SecureLink	122	8	2	472
	Acquisition of BKM	22	(1)	-	146
	Acquisition of SecureData	5	-	-	53
	Disposal of Orange Niger	(63)	(15)	(2)	(331)
	Other	(18)	(14)	(14)	(4)
Data on a comparable basis		42,151	12,812	7,257	135,954

 

(1)   Foreign exchange fluctuations between the average exchange rates for the 2019 fiscal year and average rates for the 2020 fiscal year.

The changes included in the transition from data on a historical basis to data on a comparable basis for the 2019 fiscal year incorporate (i) foreign exchange fluctuations between the average exchange rates for the 2019 fiscal year and the average exchange rates for the 2020 fiscal year, (ii) changes in the scope of consolidation (see Note 4.2 to the Consolidated Financial Statements) and other changes, with mainly:

−    the acquisition of SecureLink (Enterprise) on July 8, 2019, taking effect on January 1, 2019, on a comparable basis;

−    the acquisition of BKM (Europe) on July 30, 2019, taking effect on January 1, 2019, on a comparable basis;

−    the acquisition of SecureData (Enterprise) on January 31, 2019, taking effect on January 1, 2019, on a comparable basis; and

−    the sale of Orange Niger (Africa & Middle East) on November 22, 2019, taking effect on January 1, 2019, on a comparable basis.

3.1.5.1.2      2019 fiscal year - Segments

The following table presents, for each segment of the Orange group, the transition from data on a historical basis to data on a comparable basis for the 2019 fiscal year for the key operating data.

2019 fiscal year - Segments (at December 31, 2019, in millions of euros)		Revenue	EBITDAaL	eCAPEX	Average number of employees
France
Data on a historical basis		18,154	7,135	4,052	53,720
Foreign exchange fluctuations (1)		-	-	-	-
Changes in the scope of consolidation and other changes (2)		11	11	-	(21)
Data on a comparable basis		18,165	7,146	4,052	53,698
Europe
Data on a historical basis		11,051	3,136	1,681	27,718
Foreign exchange fluctuations (1)		(88)	(23)	(13)	-
Changes in the scope of consolidation and other changes (2)		5	(1)	-	150
	Acquisition of BKM	22	(1)	-	146
	Other changes (2)	(17)	0	-	4
Data on a comparable basis		10,968	3,112	1,668	27,867
Africa & Middle East
Data on a historical basis		5,646	1,814	987	14,824
Foreign exchange fluctuations (1)		(33)	(13)	(6)	-
Changes in the scope of consolidation and other changes (2)		(69)	(15)	(4)	(370)
	Disposal of Orange Niger	(63)	(15)	(2)	(331)
	Other changes (2)	(6)	(0)	(2)	(39)
Data on a comparable basis		5,543	1,785	977	14,454
Enterprise
Data on a historical basis		7,820	1,191	404	25,979
Foreign exchange fluctuations (1)		(33)	10	(3)	-
Changes in the scope of consolidation and other changes (2)		127	1	2	525
	Acquisition of SecureLink	122	8	2	472
	Acquisition of SecureData	5	-	-	53
	Other changes (2)	(0)	(7)	(0)	0
Data on a comparable basis		7,914	1,202	403	26,505
International Carriers & Shared Services
Data on a historical basis		1,498	(261)	141	12,529
Foreign exchange fluctuations (1)		(4)	3	0	-
Changes in the scope of consolidation and other changes (2)		-	(18)	(12)	52
Data on a comparable basis		1,495	(276)	128	12,581
Mobile Finance Services
Data on a historical basis		-	(160)	28	849
Foreign exchange fluctuations (1)		-	-	-	-
Changes in the scope of consolidation and other changes (2)		-	-	-	-
Data on a comparable basis		-	(160)	28	849

 

(1)   Foreign exchange fluctuations between the average exchange rates for the 2019 fiscal year and average rates for the 2020 fiscal year.

(2)   Including the effect of internal reorganizations between segments, which have no effect at Group level.

3.1.5.2    EBITDAaL

EBITDAaL (or "EBITDA after Leases") relates to operating income (i) before depreciation and amortization of fixed assets, effects resulting from business combinations, reclassification of cumulative translation adjustment from liquidated entities, impairment of goodwill and fixed assets, share of profits (losses) of associates and joint ventures, (ii) after interest on lease liabilities and interest on debts related to financed assets, and (iii) adjusted for significant litigation, specific labor expenses, the fixed asset, investment and businesses portfolio review, restructuring program costs, acquisition and integration costs and, where appropriate, other specific items that are systematically specified in relation to income or expenses (see Note 1.9 to the Consolidated Financial Statements).

The reconciliation between EBITDAaL and consolidated net income is shown below.

(at December 31, in millions of euros)	2020			2019 data on a historical basis
	Adjusted data	Presentation adjustments (1)	Consolidated income statement	Adjusted data	Presentation adjustments (1)	Consolidated income statement
Revenue	42,270	-	42,270	42,238	-	42,238
External purchases	(17,684)	(6)	(17,691)	(17,860)	-	(17,860)
Other operating income	604	-	604	720	-	720
Other operating expenses	(560)	(229)	(789)	(527)	(72)	(599)
Labor expenses	(8,465)	(25)	(8,490)	(8,470)	(24)	(8,494)
Operating taxes and levies	(1,924)	-	(1,924)	(1,827)	-	(1,827)
Gains (losses) on disposal of fixed assets, investments and activities	-	228	228	-	277	277
Restructuring costs	-	(25)	(25)	-	(132)	(132)
Depreciation and amortization of financed assets	(55)	-	(55)	(14)	-	(14)
Depreciation and amortization of right-of-use assets	(1,384)	-	(1,384)	(1,274)	-	(1,274)
Impairment of right-of-use assets	-	(57)	(57)	-	(33)	(33)
Interest on debts related to financed assets	(1)	1	N/A	(1)	1	N/A
Interest on lease liabilities	(120)	120	N/A	(129)	129	N/A
EBITDAaL	12,680	6	N/A	12,856	144	N/A
Significant litigations	(211)	211	N/A	(49)	49	N/A
Specific labor expenses	(12)	12	N/A	(23)	23	N/A
Fixed asset, investment and business portfolio review	228	(228)	N/A	277	(277)	N/A
Restructuring program costs	(83)	83	N/A	(165)	165	N/A
Acquisition and integration costs	(37)	37	N/A	(24)	24	N/A
Depreciation and amortization of fixed assets	(7,134)	-	(7,134)	(7,110)	-	(7,110)
Reclassification of translation adjustment from liquidated entities	-	-	-	12	-	12
Impairment of goodwill	-	-	-	(54)	-	(54)
Impairment of fixed assets	(30)	-	(30)	73	-	73
Share of profits (losses) of associates and joint ventures	(2)	-	(2)	8	-	8
Elimination of interest on debts related to financed assets (2)	1	(1)	N/A	1	(1)	N/A
Elimination of interest on lease liabilities (2)	120	(120)	N/A	129	(129)	N/A
Operating Income	5,521	-	5,521	5,930	-	5,930
Finance costs, net	-	-	(1,314)	-	-	(1,261)
Income taxes	-	-	848	-	-	(1,447)
Consolidated net income	-	-	5,055	-	-	3,222
Net income attributable to owners of the parent company	-	-	4,822	-	-	3,004
Net income attributable to non-controlling interests	-	-	233	-	-	218

 

(1)   The presentation adjustments allow reassignment of specific line items identified in the segment information (see Note 1 to the Consolidated Financial Statements) to the lines for operating income and expenses presented in the consolidated income statement.

(2)   Interest on debts related to financed assets and interest on lease liabilities are included in segment EBITDAaL. They are excluded from segment operating income and included in net finance costs presented in the Consolidated Financial Statements.

Orange’s management believes that the presentation of the EBITDAaL indicator is relevant because, by including lease expenses in its calculation, this indicator enables better reflection of the operational performance of business segments, while retaining consistency with the adjusted EBITDA indicator used in segment information until December 31, 2018. This is the operational performance indicator used internally by the Group since January 1, 2019 to (i) manage and assess its operating results and segment results, and (ii) implement its investments and resource allocation strategy. EBITDAaL, or similar management indicators used by Orange’s competitors, are indicators that are often disclosed and widely used by analysts, investors and other players in the telecommunication industry.

EBITDAaL is not a financial indicator defined by IFRS and may not be comparable to similarly-titled indicators used by other companies. It is provided as additional information only and should not be considered as a substitute for operating income or net cash provided by operating activities.

3.1.5.3    eCAPEX

eCAPEX (or "economic CAPEX") relates both to (i) investments in property, plant and equipment and intangible assets, excluding telecommunication licenses and financed assets sold, less the price of disposal of property, plant and equipment and intangible assets, and (ii) acquisitions of property, plant and equipment and intangible assets excluding telecommunication licenses and changes in fixed asset payables, less the price of disposal of property, plant and equipment and intangible assets sold.

The table below shows the transition of (i) investments in property, plant and equipment and intangible assets as presented in Note 1.5 to the Consolidated Financial Statements, and (ii) acquisitions of property, plant and equipment and intangible assets, excluding fixed asset payables, as presented in the Consolidated statement of cash flows in the Consolidated Financial Statements, to (iii) eCAPEX.

(at December 31, in millions of euros)	2020	2019 data on a historical basis
Investments in property, plant and equipment and intangible assets	8,787	8,565
Financed assets	(241)	(144)
Purchases of property, plant and equipment and intangible assets (1)	8,546	8,422
Proceeds from sales of property, plant and equipment and intangible assets	(444)	(610)
Telecommunication licenses	(969)	(519)
eCAPEX	7,132	7,293

 

(1)   See Consolidated statement of cash flows. Excluding the change in fixed asset payables. Investments financed through finance leases have no effect on cash flow upon acquisition.

Orange’s management believes that the presentation of economic CAPEX is relevant because this indicator (i) does not include investments in telecommunication licenses (the acquisition of these licenses is not part of the daily monitoring of operating investments) and financed assets (no effect on cash flow upon acquisition), and (ii) allows, in a context of asset rotation primarily linked to the fiber-optic economic model, to measure more accurately the actual amount of investments by excluding the proceeds from sales of property, plant and equipment and intangible assets that have been sold. It is the indicator used internally by the Group since January 1, 2019 in allocating resources, in order to measure the operating efficiency of the use of investments for each of its business segments.

eCAPEX is not a financial indicator defined by IFRS and may not be comparable to similarly-titled indicators used by other companies. It is provided as additional information only and should not be considered as a substitute for purchases of or investments in property, plant and equipment and intangible assets.

3.1.5.4    EBITDAaL - eCAPEX

The indicator "EBITDAaL - eCAPEX" is equivalent to EBITDAaL (see Section 3.1.5.2 EBITDAaL) minus eCAPEX (see Section 3.1.5.3 eCAPEX).

Orange’s management considers that presenting the "EBITDAaL - eCAPEX" indicator is relevant because it is the operational performance indicator used internally by the Group since January 1, 2019 to (i) manage and assess its operating results and segment results, and (ii) implement its investments and resource allocation strategy.

The "EBITDAaL - eCAPEX" indicator is not a financial indicator defined by IFRS and may not be comparable to similarly-titled indicators used by other companies. It is provided as additional information only and should not be considered as a substitute for analysis of net cash provided by operating activities and net cash used in the Group’s investing activities.

3.1.5.5    Organic cash flow from telecom activities

Organic cash flow from telecom activities refers to net cash provided by operating activities, minus (i) repayment of lease liabilities and debts related to financed assets, and (ii) purchases and sales of property plant and equipment and intangible assets, net of the change in fixed asset trade payables, (iii) excluding telecommunication licenses paid and the effect of the main litigations paid (and received).

The following table presents, for telecom activities, the transition from net cash provided by operating activities to organic cash flow from telecom activities as presented in Note 1.8 to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

Organic cash flow from telecom activities (at December 31, in millions of euros)	2020	2019 data on a historical basis
Net cash provided by operating activities (telecom activities) (1)	12,961	11,014
Purchases and sales of property, plant and equipment and intangible assets	(7,146)	(7,555)
Repayment of lease liabilities	(1,394)	(1,426)
Repayment of debt related to financed assets	(60)	(17)
Elimination of telecommunication licenses paid	351	334
Elimination of significant litigation paid (and received) (1)	(2,217)	(5)
Organic cash flow from telecom activities	2,494	2,345

 

(1)   Including, in 2020, tax income relating to the settlement of the tax dispute in France in respect of fiscal years 2005-2006 for 2,246 million euros (see Section 3.1.1.3 Significant events and Note 11.2 to the Consolidated Financial Statements).

Orange’s management believes that the presentation of organic cash flow from telecom activities is relevant for measuring the Group’s capacity to free up cash through its telecom activities taken as a whole, excluding the main items that are not under its control and which may vary significantly from one year to the next, which is particularly the case of the disbursements (and receipts) relating to significant litigation and the disbursements relating to acquisitions of telecommunication licenses. It is a more comprehensive indicator than "EBITDAaL - eCAPEX" (used internally to manage and assess operating and segment results and to implement its investment and resource allocation strategy), since it notably includes the effects of financial costs, income taxes and changes in working capital requirements. For this reason, this indicator has been chosen by Orange as a key performance indicator for telecom activities for its Engage 2025 strategic plan. This indicator is commonly used by companies in the telecommunication sector.

Organic cash flow from telecom activities is not a financial indicator defined by IFRS and may not be comparable to similarly-titled indicators used by other companies. It is not a substitute for cash generated by operating activities or allocated to investing activities.

3.1.5.6    Net financial debt

Net financial debt as defined and used by Orange does not take into account Mobile Finance Services activities, for which this concept is not relevant. It consists of (i) financial liabilities excluding operating payables (translated into euros at the year-end closing rate) including derivative instruments (assets and liabilities), (ii) less cash collateral deposits, cash and cash equivalents and investments at fair value. Furthermore, financial instruments designated as cash flow hedges, included in net financial debt are mainly set up to hedge items that are not included therein, such as future cash flows. As a result, the portion relating to these unmatured hedging instruments recorded in other comprehensive income is added to gross financial debt to offset this temporary difference.

The breakdown of net financial debt is shown in Note 13.3 to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

Net financial debt is an indicator of financial position used by the Group. Net financial debt is a frequently disclosed indicator. It is widely used by analysts, investors, rating agencies and most groups in all business sectors in Europe.

Net financial debt is not a financial indicator defined by IFRS and may not be comparable to similarly-titled indicators used by other companies. It is provided as additional information only and should not be considered as a substitute for an analysis of all the Group’s assets and liabilities.

3.1.5.7    Ratio of net financial debt to EBITDAaL from telecom activities

The ratio of net financial debt to EBITDAaL from telecom activities is calculated as the ratio of the Group’s net financial debt (see Section 3.1.5.6 Net financial debt) to EBITDAaL from telecom activities (see Section 3.1.5.2 EBITDAaL) calculated over the previous 12 months. As net financial debt (as defined and used by Orange) does not take into account Mobile Finance Services activities, for which this concept is not relevant, net financial debt is divided by EBITDAaL from telecom activities. In addition, when changes in scope significantly affect the Group’s net financial debt at the end of the period, the calculation of the ratio of net financial debt to EBITDAaL from telecom activities is adjusted to take into account the EBITDAaL from those entities over the previous 12 months.

(at December 31, in millions of euros)	2020	2019 data on a historical basis
Net financial debt (a)	23,489	25,466
EBITDAaL from telecom activities (b)	12,839	13,015
Ratio of net financial debt/EBITDAaL from telecom activities (a/b)	1.83	1.96

 

The ratio of net financial debt to EBITDAaL from telecom activities is used by Orange to measure the Group’s ability to repay its debt, and more broadly to measure its financial strength. This ratio is commonly used by companies in the telecommunication sector.

Ratio of net financial debt to EBITDAaL from telecom activities is not a financial indicator defined by IFRS and may not be comparable to similarly-titled indicators used by other companies.

3.1.6      Additional information

Unrecognized contractual commitments

Unrecognized contractual commitments are described in Notes 16 and 17.3 to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

3.2    Recent events and Outlook

3.2.1      Recent events

On March 2, 2021, Orange announced its intention to redeem its USD 1 billion aggregate principal amount of 4.125% Notes due September 2021, which represents all of the remaining principal amount outstanding. The Notes are expected to be redeemed on or about April 1, 2021.

In 2015, SFR filed an action for damages allegedly suffered as a result of Orange’s anticompetitive practices in the "Enterprise" market segment. On March 16, 2021, Orange and SFR entered into a memorandum of understanding, notably putting an end to this dispute. As part of this agreement, SFR is expected to withdraw its claim for 3 billion euros. This agreement will not have a material impact on the Group’s earnings and net financial debt in 2021.

3.2.2      Outlook

The Group’s financial targets take into account the allocation of the tax refund of 2.2 billion euros received at the end of 2020 following the settlement of the tax dispute in France in respect of fiscal years 2005-2006 (see Section 3.1.1.3 Significant events). This balanced allocation of funds for the benefit of the company’s development, its employees and its shareholders, with a reinforced commitment to society, is intended to generate added value for the Group in the long term. It will nevertheless have an impact on short-term objectives.

For 2021, therefore, the Group forecasts:

−    stable but negative EBITDAaL (see Section 3.1.5.2 EBITDAaL) (around +1% before the allocation of the tax refund);

−    economic CAPEX (see Section 3.1.5.3 eCAPEX) of between 7.6 and 7.7 billion euros (around 7.3 billion euros before the allocation of the tax refund);

−    organic cash flow from telecom activities (see Section 3.1.5.5 Organic cash flow from telecom activities) of more than 2.2 billion euros (more than 2.6 billion euros before the allocation of the tax refund); and

−    a ratio of net financial debt to EBITDAaL from telecom activities (see Section 3.1.5.7 Ratio of net financial debt to EBITDAaL from telecom activities) maintained at around 2x in the medium term.

These objectives are based on the assumptions stated in the presentation of the global digital services market and the Group strategy (see Section 1.2 Market, strategy and business model) as well as in the presentation of the Group’s operating activities, which include a description of the various business segments’ markets (see Section 1.4 Operating activities). They take into account the events known on the date of this document mentioned in Section 3.2.1 above.

They were compiled and prepared on a basis comparable with the historical financial information and consistent with the Group’s accounting policies.

The Group also confirms its objective to generate between 3.5 and 4 billion euros in organic cash flow from telecom activities in 2023.

For more information on the outlook beyond 2021, see Section 1.2.2 The Orange group strategy.

By nature, achievement of these targets is subject to numerous risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from the targets announced. The most significant risks are detailed in Section 2.1 Risk factors.