registration document France Telecom 2009 - Orange.com

analysis of the financial position and earnings
9
ANALYSIS OF THE GROUP’S FINANCIAL POSITION AND EARNINGS
9.1.1.4 Key events in 2009
Changes in rates and new offers
■ In January 2009, Orange and Canal+ signed a multi-annual
agreement to allow Orange triple play customers who are
not eligible for ADSL TV to subscribe to Canal+ and/or
Canalsat, as well as Foot+. Via Astra satellite, Orange triple
play customers with satellite TV can now receive these offers
directly on a single ADSL/satellite hybrid set-top box provided
by Orange.
■ In January 2009, through its subsidiary NordNet, Orange
launched a new “Satellite Internet Package” in France for
34.90 euros per month, including the satellite dish. The Satellite
Internet Package is a bidirectional broadband connection
solution offering all households in Metropolitan France Internet
access at broadband speeds. The subscription includes
the loan of a satellite dish and a WiFi router. Following the
success of France Telecom’s “Broadband for All” plan, which
propelled France into fi rst place in Europe, with 98.4% of the
population eligible for ADSL, the Satellite Internet Package
brought coverage up to 100%.
■ In May 2009, Orange cut the price of its Business Everywhere
mobile broadband offer in the United Kingdom. The offer
allows small and medium-sized businesses that are already
“voice” customers and which opt to subscribe to a Business
Everywhere plan to benefi t from a 50% reduction in rates,
giving them unlimited mobile broadband Internet access for
just 7.5 pounds sterling per month.
■ In June 2009, Orange launched a monthly mobile contract
priced at just 5 pounds sterling per month in the United
Kingdom (offers at 10 pounds sterling and 15 pounds sterling
per month are also available), as well as a SIM Only offer
aimed at customers wishing to have a more advantageous
plan without giving up their mobile phone. The mobile contract
priced at 5 pounds sterling per month is the cheapest on the
market.
■ In June 2009, Orange launched the iPhone 3G S in France.
The new version includes a video function, multimedia
messaging (MMS) and voice control. To accompany the
launch, Orange offered a new Origami for iPhone contract
and special MMS and Modem price options.
■ In June 2009, Orange launched new offers for travelers
as part of its Orange Travel range, which houses all the
Group’s mobile roaming offers, and cut its roaming rates.
New European tariff regulations on mobile communications
made or received in Europe came into force on July 1, 2009.
For Orange, calls made in European countries (excluding
Switzerland and Andorra) are now billed at 51 eurocents
per minute, second-by-second after the fi rst 30-second
block, while calls received in these countries are billed at
23 eurocents per minute, second-by-second from the
fi rst second. Sending an SMS now costs 13 eurocents,
with the incoming messages still free of charge. Prices for
communications outside Europe did not change.
■ In June 2009, Orange Business Services launched “Flexible
Computing,” the new generation of virtual IT infrastructure.
This new virtualization offer backs up Orange Business
Services’ desire to offer private “cloud” computing services,
guaranteeing security and quality of service. Flexible
Computing allows businesses to outsource all or part of
their IT infrastructure, using virtual technology: Intranet (key
applications supported by an Orange Business Services
VPN) or Internet (institutional websites, e-shopping, SaaS
platforms, etc).
■ In July 2009, Orange and BIC launched the BIC phone in Spain,
following its success in France. The BIC phone is a refi llable
mobile telephone, 100% ready-to-use when purchased, with
a fully charged battery and the SIM card already inserted.
Launched in August 2008 in France, the BIC phone has been
a great success, with more than 110,000 units sold.
■ In October 2009, Orange launched a new, more
environmentally friendly, more ergonomic, more economical
and more effi cient Livebox: recyclable components, a sleeker
design, a simplifi ed WiFi modem, making it the real digital
heart of all IT equipment in the home, better coverage and
quicker speeds thanks to the WiFi-n standard.
■ In October 2009, Orange enhanced its Origami contracts
in France. In response to the emergence of new uses and
to satisfy individual users’ needs, Orange is now offering
unlimited multimedia content or access to an exclusive
service that can be integrated into Origami star, Origami fi rst
and Origami jet contracts, including the following advantages:
TV, Orange foot, Orange cinéma séries, music, 3G+ key,
Orange maps and security.
■ In November 2009, Orange started marketing the iPhone
3G and 3G S in the United Kingdom. New and highly
advantageous offers were proposed, including free handsets
for 24-month contracts costing 30 pounds sterling or
more per month. Monthly contracts and prepaid offers
are available, as well as a Business offer for professionals.
These offers will benefi t from the biggest 3G network in the
United Kingdom in terms of population coverage, as well as
extensive national WiFi coverage. Orange is now offering the
iPhone in 28 countries and territories.
Network rollout
■ In March 2009, Orange launched mobile telecommunication
services in Uganda, thereby allowing Ugandan people to
benefi t, thanks to its new GSM network, from a quality service
and innovative offers across the entire country. Orange is now
present in 15 African countries.
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2009 REGISTRATION DOCUMENT / FRANCE TELECOM
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