PARIS -- France Telecom is today announcing the extension of its presence in Africa through two operations completed by Sonatel, its Senegalese subsidiary (43%).

It has been awarded a third mobile telephony license in Guinea Bissau. The commercial operations of Orange Bissau, the newly formed Sonatel subsidiary, will begin before the end of the first half of 2007 in this country.

In Guinea, Sonatel has purchased the mobile license formerly held by the operator Spacetel, for a renewable term of 15 years. At the end of this operation, Orange Guinea will be created with the intention of launching its commercial operations before the end of this year.

These two acquisitions mark a new advance in the deployment of the Orange brand in Africa and around the world. In Africa, Orange is already present in Botswana, Cameroon, Ivory Coast, Equatorial Guinea, Madagascar, Mali, and Senegal, and serves nearly 10 million customers in this region of the world.

Marc Rennard, International Executive Director for Africa, the Middle East and Asia with France Telecom, and Chairman of the Board of Sonatel: "In all its markets, France Telecom holds leading international positions. Today, with the extension of its operations in Guinea Bissau and Guinea, Orange continues to implement its growth strategy by entering high-potential markets. Present in Senegal, Ivory Coast, and Mali, and now in these two new markets thanks to Sonatel, Orange will be in a position to play a leading role throughout West Africa".

Orange (NYSE: FTE)