Orange revenue growth down to 1.5 percent

The growth rate was lower due a toughening of the local competition, according to the financial report of France Telecom, which controls Orange Romania. For the whole of 2008, growth amounted to 6.2 percent, significantly below the 7–8 percent revenue advance in the first three quarters. The second-largest operator on the local market, Vodafone Romania, posted a 1 percent increase in revenues for the last three months in 2008, compared to 18 percent year-on-year. „In 2009, the evolution of the market will be marked by even fiercer competition, once the sixth mobile operator enters the market and further regulations are enforced,“ Orange CEO, Richard Moat, told Business Standard. The country’s largest landline operator, Romtelecom, won a tender for a mobile license. Five companies are currently operating on the local market: Orange Romania, Vodafone Romania, Cosmote Romania, RCS&RDS, and Telemobil. „A very important variable is the economic climate, still unstable and unpredictable, and growth will certainly be more difficult to promote,“ he added. According to Moat, a segment meant to further provide growth is mobile data. „Companies that already have high-speed will be at an advantage, because they will be able to continue investments in development, and will attempt to make the most of these,“ he added. (M.F.)