Orange, a major digital player in Europe, Africa, and the Middle East, has presented its strategic plan to lead the future. This plan was designed to project Orange into the future and capitalize on its unique strengths in the telecoms sector. The quality of its core assets combined with a solid financial position allow it to address the many structural and economic challenges facing the industry. The explosion of digital uses is accompanied by ever-increasing customer demands, notably in terms of resilience, making the telecoms sector essential for years to come.
Lead the future aims to respond to these challenges and focus Orange on its core business. This ambitious and pragmatic plan will build on the Group’s strengths to create value. Orange, a pioneer in fiber, will continue to deploy, innovate and invest in the best technologies to respond to its customers’ needs for reliability, security and resilience. In addition, Orange will consolidate its strong position in cybersecurity and undertake a complete re-positioning of its B2B activities to better meet the expectations of its customers. Finally, this plan strengthens the position of the Group in Africa and the Middle East, a region of high growth.
The quality of our infrastructure, where we are a pioneer in fiber, our customers’ satisfaction (NPS) and the expertise of our teams as well as our solid finances give us an unrivalled competitive advantage. In addition, thanks to our mastery of connectivity, security and resilience, Orange is uniquely placed in the sector. This plan aims to enhance and develop these strengths to position Orange as the group that builds the future of telecoms and digital solutions. Our aim is to achieve sustainable growth, particularly in cybersecurity, in Africa and in the Middle East. We have already taken the first steps with the sale of OCS, the consolidation projects in Spain and Belgium and targeted acquisitions in cybersecurity. To succeed, three principles will guide the company over the coming years: performance, excellence and trust.
I know I can count on the commitment of Orange employees for the success and flawless execution of this plan. By releasing our energies, “Lead the future” will facilitate the shaping of the future of telecoms as more efficient, more sustainable, more inclusive.
Christel Heydemann, CEO, Orange
Excluding ongoing or future acquisitions, the Group’s 2025 objectives include:
– Low single digit growth in EBITDAaL (CAGR 2022-2025)
– Increased discipline in Capex
– Continued growth of organic cash flow from telecoms activities to reach 4 billion euros in 2025.
– A ratio of net debt to EBITDAaL unchanged at 2x in the medium term
– An increase in the ROCE in 2025 versus 2022
In line with the solid growth in its organic cash flow, the Group expects to increase its dividend floor to 72 cents in respect of the 2023 financial year (payable in 2024), and to reach a new floor of 75 cents in respect of the 2024 financial year (payable in 2025). This remains subject to the approval of the Shareholder Meeting.
