registration document France Telecom 2009 - Orange.com

6 OVERVIEW
overview of the Group’s Business
OF BUSINESS
Belgium
The Network
Z COVERAGE (AS A % OF THE POPULATION) 2009e 2008 2007
GSM Voice / Edge 99% 99% 99%
3G (UMTS) / HSDPA 87 % 77% 48%
Number of 2G radio sites (000s) 4.6 4.3 3.7
Number of 3G radio sites (000s) 1.5 1.2 0.5
Source: Mobistar
In 2009, Mobistar pursued a deep indoor roll-out strategy aimed
at reinforcing its interior coverage of customers’ homes, allowing
swift and inexpensive extension of 3G (mainly in HSDPA), and
introducing an improved version of UMTS allowing speeds up
to three times faster. HSDPA technology is available throughout
Mobistar’s 3G network.
At end 2009, 3G coverage was available to 87 % of the
population, in accordance with commitments made to the
regulator. With more than 99% of the population covered,
Mobistar is also the only operator in a position to offer mobile
broadband access over its entire network, thanks to the
complementary fi t of its Edge and 3G networks.
At end 2009, Mobistar’s network comprised 4,861 sites,
including 608 shared sites, representing 14,583 cells . On
October 8, 2009, Mobistar and KPN Belgium signed an
agreement aimed at maximizing synergies in terms of purchasing,
building and running new sites destined for the development of
their respective mobile networks. Their collaboration will allow
Mobistar to cut its costs considerably over the coming years.
The migration of the base network to an NGN (Next Generation
Network), carried out in partnership with Huawei, was completed
at the end of 2009. NGN technology is the fi rst step towards the
development of fully convergent services (in all-IP mode), and
will help support growth in voice traffi c at reasonable cost. It will
also help develop a strategy based on site concentration.
Key Events
February Mobistar and Telenet renewed their strategic partnership for a period of at least three years. The partnership has evolved
into a full MVNO (mobile virtual network operator) agreement. Telenet will use Mobistar’s wireless infrastructure, and is to
develop its own MSC (mobile switching center). Mobistar will be able to use Telenet’s fi ber optic network to optimize its
transmission network.
June Mobistar launched the new 3GS iPhone in Belgium. The iPhone 3GS switches seamlessly from Edge to the ultra-fast 3G/
HSDPA or WiFi. With the new phone and Mobistar’s broadband network, customers can make optimum use of mobile
Internet .
September Mobistar launched HD technology for mobile television on the iPhone 3G and 3GS, and expanded its mobile television
range in a partnership with Belgium’s public broadcasting companies.
October Mobistar and KPN Group Belgium (BASE) announced a cooperation agreement to jointly acquire and build new sites for
their respective mobile telecommunication networks. They will operate the shared sites on their own account
October VOXmobile, Mobistar’s subsidiary in Luxembourg, switched to the Orange brand. The rebranding had no infl uence on
VOXmobile’s shareholder structure. VOXmobile remains a wholly owned subsidiary of Mobistar S.A.
November Mobistar acquired KPN’s B2B and operator activities in Belgium. The agreement included the purchase of the fi ber
network, the takeover of business customers and the wholesale activities from the former Versatel S.A. The acquisition was
in line with Mobistar’s convergence strategy, and will enable it to reinforce its position as a provider of fi xed telephony and
data to the business market .
Outlook
In 2009, Mobistar conducted an assessment of its IT systems
and services platforms with a view to updating and simplifying
them. The change will concern all added-value customercontact
and service applications, and will involve a profound
overhaul of commercial and technical processes in the aim of
bringing new products and services to the market more quickly,
increasing fl exibility and reducing costs. The implementation of
the transformation program for the renewal of IT and network
infrastructure, as well as customer services, all of which were
included in the Odyssey 2011 business plan, will continue in
2010.
In 2010, Mobistar also plans to pursue its convergence strategy,
with the integration of its businesses and those acquired from
KPN on the B2B market.
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2009 REGISTRATION DOCUMENT / FRANCE TELECOM