Orange has 8.9 percent higher income than Vodafone

The local division of France Telecom announced financial results for 2007 yesterday. Income from services rose to €1,234 billion, 24 percent higher year-on-year.

Orange’s growth strategy for 2008 is based on expanding its customer portfolio, following 1.7 million new clients in 2007.

The company increased the number of employees by over 40 percent to sustain business growth. Orange is estimating 3,000 employees nationwide in 2008, compared to 2,800 last year. This is the largest increase of employees since it started operations in Romania in 1997.

Orange maintained the average revenue per user (ARPU) at €10.8, while Vodafone announced €11.1 ARPU.

Most of Orange’s income is generated by voice mail, but the company is expecting an increasing ratio of data services.

It is also planning to reach 10.8 million users in 2008 and income from services worth €1.3 bln, according to CEO, Richard Moat.

The company has invested €1.4 bln during its ten years of activity in Romania, and will invest €200 mln to develop its network and launch new products and services.

Orange had over 1 million broadband clients by the end of 2007, 164 percent higher year-on-year.

Richard Moat is estimating a penetration rate of 120 percent for mobile phone services by the end of the year.