(Business in Cameroon) - The French telecom group Orange will test, from November 2016, a rural solar-powered electrification program in three African countries. These are Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire and Senegal, we learned in an official communiqué published on 28 July 2016 at the end of the 4^th annual press conference on Orange’s strategy and activity in Africa and the Middle East.

In concrete terms, we learn, “Orange will provide individual solar power kits and mini-power grids to rural communities, to enable them use the solar energy to produce electricity. This first pilot experience will last 6 months and the equipment will be fully subsidised by Orange. Clients will be able to pay for this service via Orange Money”.

While awaiting the launch of this program in the Cameroonian rural areas, where the rate of electrification is estimated to barely reach 18%, the subsidiary in Cameroon of the French telecom group Orange should launch, from August, the online portal #303# My Store.

According to the above-mentioned communiqué, “#303# is an app store based on the USSD technology and through which service providers can offer mobile services for any type of mobile phone. Orange customers can access it to find various kinds of contents offered by the group's partners. Cameroon and Egypt will launch the portal in August 2016”.

Brice R. Mbodiam