By Foday Moriba Conteh
With the dogged objective to avail its numerous subscribers with the fastest internet connectivity , one of the country’s leading mobile telecommunications companies in the country, Orange Sierra Leone, on the 5th May, 2021 officially launched its latest mobile service, which is the 4G plus during a well-attended Press Conference held at the company’s headquarters on Hill Station in Freetown.
Speaking during the program, the General Secretary of Orange Sierra Leone, Haffie Haffner, noted that the launch of the 4G plus forms part of the company’s commitment to offer its customers an advanced technological service in order to enable them access improved communications.
She disclosed that they are the first mobile company to launch a 4G plus network in the country further intimating how their engineers are working around the clock to ensure that faster and better services are provided with the 4G plus adding that in such a regard 30 sites have already been upgraded across Freetown with the 4G plus to facilitate quality service.
Haffie Haffner said that with the launch of the 4G plus, customers will now enjoy the fastest internet connectivity in the country going further on to state that by the end of 2021, the company would have rolled-out the 4G plus service to 110 sites across the country giving Sierra Leoneans across the country the opportunity to have access to qualitative and fast internet connectivity.
“This revolution ensures a truly high-speed broadband mobile internet and an unmatched life changing experience in digital communication. I want to wish our valuable subscribers a wonderful time with the 4G plus service,” the General Secretary expressed optimism.
Prior to the launch of the 4G plus, the company used the opportunity to update the media on the activities it has implemented in the recent past and what they intend to implement going forward.
On network, Daniel Fornah, said barely years ago, Orange (SL) started an ambitious project to transform and modernize its network infrastructure and enhance service delivery to its valued customers, adding that the company has far more sites than any other telecom service provider in the country with 440 sites carrying voice and data with 2G and 3G furthering that they intend to rollout 50 sites with 4G, and they have also deployed 47 kilometer of fiber within Freetown and the regions.
He also disclosed that the company is poised to establish a Data Centre which will be constructed in Bo district.
The Director of Orange Foundation, Jestina Betts, also outlined the Foundation’s activities of which she revealed they embarked on the construction of 3 CEDs centers in three districts namely Kambia, Moyamba and Pujehun which cost the Foundation 1.6 Billion Leones.
She added that the Foundation from 2015 also adopted 50 Ebola orphans/survivors residing at the SOS Village that it is supporting with a yearly budget of 235 Million Leones, also highlighting that they also embarked on food distribution amounting to 300 million Leones to vulnerable groups which include the National School for the Deaf, Milton Margai School for the Blind, Women with Physical Disabilities through DRIM and the Sierra Leone Autistic Society.
Disclosing the Foundation’s plans going forward Jestina Betts stated that they intend to establish a Women Digital Centre for Illiterate Women plus a Drop Girls Orange Digital Centre-Fab Lab and Digital Schools.
In his presentation, CEO of Orange Money, David Mansaray, noted that as part of its efforts to continue to put smiles on the faces of its valued and esteemed customers across the country Orange Money on Tuesday 13th October, 2020 launched the “Orange Money Shorki Love” promotion which offered 3 Billion Leones including 5 Brand New Cars to be won adding that all the prizes were won.
He added that on September 24th 2020 Orange Money launched another new product, “Orange Money Lajor” which, according to him, is a small loan scheme that eligible customers can access
without producing guarantors or collateral securities as traditional commercial banks do request before granting loans.
The CEO of Orange Money further revealed that Orange Money also partnered with banking institutions including the Rokel Commercial Bank, Access Bank, Sierra Leone Commercial Bank etc. to launch the Bank to Wallet & Wallet to Bank Services.
On her part, Head of Public Relations, Annie Wonnie Katta, used the opportunity to inform all that Orange SL has launched its third edition of the “Orange Social Venture Price” (OSVP) with a whopping star price of One Hundred Million Leones up for grab by innovative Sierra Leonean men and women who have ventured into the business world with innovative ideas especially on the use of technologies for social and economic development.
In addition, the International Women’s Prize, is the first to be observed in Sierra Leone wherein an assessment of how ICT solutions will positively impact women’s development. Grand prize for this category include 50 million Leones with an internet Speed Box router and a Monthly subscription over a period of 6 months.
Annie Wonnie Katta encouraged all, especially women, to apply for the Orange Social Venture Price (OSVP), adding that projects must be submitted in a word document to: email; osvp2021@innosl.com and all national applicants must also apply on the OSVP international application platform: https://startup.orange.com/en/orange-social-venture-prize/poesam-submit-your-candidature/ and intended applicants should send an email to osvp2021@innosl.com to request for an application form.
Acting Head of Marketing, Felix Macaulay, informed that during this Ramadan they are reaching their subscribers in two directions: 510 Million Leones worth of food items in prizes will be won by their subscribers who will use their services like mobile recharge, Orange Money transactions etc. on a daily, weekly and monthly basis.
He also added that they are currently rolling out an activity called “Shabe Sunakati” of which they breakfast with Muslims in different communities disclosing how they started it at Dwarzark and Kissi Town formerly known as the Waterloo Refuge Camp and will continue it in the provinces.
