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{{Short description|French multinational telecommunications corporation}}{{Use British English|date=April 2021}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2022}}{{About|the French telecommunications company|the former British mobile network operator the company is named after|Orange UK}}
{{Infobox company
| name = Orange S.A.
| logo = Orange logo.svg
| logo_caption = Logo used since 2013
| logo_upright = 0.8
| predecessor = Postes et Télégraphes
| former_name = {{lang|fr|France Télécom S.A.|italics=no}} (1988–2013)
| type = [[Public company|Public]]
| traded_as = {{ubl|{{EuronextParis|ORA|FR0000133308|XPAR}}|{{NYSE was|ORAN}} (former)|{{BIT was|1ORA}} (former)|[[CAC 40|CAC 40 Component]]}}
| foundation = {{Start date and age|1988|1|1|df=y}}
| location = [[Issy-les-Moulineaux]], France
| area_served = Worldwide
| key_people = {{ubl|[[Christel Heydemann]] ([[Chief executive officer|CEO]]) |[[Jacques Aschenbroich]] ([[chairman]])<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-11-24/france-s-orange-hunts-for-new-leadership-after-ceo-s-conviction |title=France's Orange Hunts for New Leader After CEO's Conviction |first=Benoit |last=Berthelot |date=24 November 2021 |publisher=Bloomberg |access-date=16 March 2022}}</ref>}}
| industry = [[Telecommunications industry|Telecommunications]]
| products = {{ubl|[[Landline|Fixed line telephone]]|[[Mobile phone]]|[[Broadband]]||[[IPTV]]|[[Internet]]|[[Banking]]}}
| revenue = {{increase}} {{€|43.47 billion|link=yes}} (2023)<ref name="AR">{{cite web |title=Orange S.A. Consolidated financial statements|url=https://gallery.orange.com/finance#l=row&lang=en&om=eeeb89fa-e63e-40cc-9c69-66d4a6abb461&v=1e8be045-e35b-43a7-b9d4-9b05cf4a2f21 |date=16 February 2023}}</ref>
| operating_income = {{increase}} €4.80 billion (2023)<ref name="AR" />
| net_income = {{increase}} €2.62 billion (2023)<ref name="AR" />
| assets = {{increase}} €109.65 billion (2023)<ref name="AR" />
| equity = {{decrease}} €34.96 billion (2023)<ref name="AR" />
| num_employees = 132,002 (2021)<ref name="AR" />
| owners = [[Agence des participations de l'État|French State]] (23%)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.4-traders.com/ORANGE-SA-4649/company/|title=ORANGE SA company : Shareholders, managers and business summary |last=4-traders}}</ref>
| parent = 
| subsid = {{ubl|[[Orange Business]]|[[Orange Marine]]|[[Orange Labs]]|[[Orange Belgium]] (68.42%)|[[Orange Luxembourg]]|[[Orange Slovensko]]|[[Orange Polska]] (50.67%)|[[Orange Romania]]|[[Orange Moldova]]|[[Orange España]] (50%)|[[Orange Jordan]]|[[Orange Egypt]]|[[Orange Tunisie]]|[[Orange Maroc]]|[[Orange Mali]]|[[Orange Burkina Faso]]|[[Orange Côte d'Ivoire]]|[[Orange Liberia]]|[[Orange Sierra Leone]]|[[Orange Guinée]]|[[Orange Bissau]]|[[Sonatel|Orange SN]] (42.33%)|[[Orange Cameroun]]|[[Orange RDC]]|[[Orange Centrafrique]]|[[Orange Réunion]]|[[Orange Madagascar]]|[[Orange Botswana]]|[[Globecast]] }}
| homepage = {{Ubl
| {{URL|https://orange.com}} (group)
| {{URL|https://orange.fr}}
}}
| module = {{infobox network service provider|child=yes|asn=5511}}
}}

'''Orange S.A.''' ({{IPA|fr|ɔʁɑ̃ʒ|lang|LL-Q150 (fra)-Jérémy-Günther-Heinz Jähnick-Orange.wav}}; formerly '''{{lang|fr|France Télécom|italics=no}}''', stylised as '''france telecom''') is a French [[multinational corporation|multinational]] [[telecommunications]] corporation founded in 1988 and headquartered in [[Issy-les-Moulineaux]], near [[Paris]].

''Orange'' has been the corporation's main brand for [[mobile phone|mobile]], [[landline]], [[internet]] and [[Internet Protocol television]] (IPTV) services since 2006. It traces its origins back to [[Hutchison Whampoa]] acquiring a controlling stake in [[Orange UK|Microtel Communications]] in 1994 in the [[United Kingdom]]. Microtel Communications became a subsidiary of [[Mannesmann]] in 1999 and then was acquired by ''France Télécom'' in 2000. The former French public telecoms [[monopoly]] thus became internationalized following this takeover and has pursued an expansionist policy since. The group now operates in many countries in [[Europe]], [[Africa]] and in the [[French West Indies]]. Since February 2012, as a result of the company's decision to transfer its fixed-line telephony operations to its ''Orange'' brand, all offers marketed by France Télécom are ''Orange''-branded; and on July 1, 2013, France Télécom itself was rebranded ''Orange S.A.''. In 2019, ''Orange S.A.'' employed nearly 148,000 people worldwide, including 88,000 in France.<ref name="Orange.jobs">{{cite web|url=http://orange.jobs/site/get-to-know-us-better/index.htm|title=Get to know us better|publisher=Orange Jobs|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161223212323/https://orange.jobs/site/get-to-know-us-better/index.htm|archive-date=23 December 2016|access-date=15 December 2019}}</ref><ref name="Name change"/>{{TOC limit|3}}

The corporation has throughout the years expanded its activities to include content sales (music, cinema, downloads, etc.), e-commerce, online advertising, M2M, home automation and remote assistance solutions. In 2023, it generated over €43&nbsp;billion in revenue across all its businesses.<ref>{{Cite web |title=FY 2023 Consolidated Financial Statement |url=https://gallery.orange.com/finance/?om=df388371-ec3d-470c-9a90-6100ba3e42c9#ss=1006a600-587d-4d86-800c-8a6c1fd0e6eb&st=041dc695-f205-4b6b-8820-d83db541f57f |access-date=2024-03-31 |website=gallery.orange.com}}</ref>

== History ==
=== Nationalised service (1878–1980s) ===
In 1792, under the [[French Revolution]], the first communication network was developed to enable the rapid transmission of information in a warring and unsafe country. That was the optical [[telegraphy]] network of [[Claude Chappe]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Dilhac |first=J-M. |title=The Telegraph of Claude Chappe -an Optical Telecommunication Network for the Xviiith Century |url=https://mathcs.holycross.edu/~csci356/Dilhac.pdf |website=Mathematics, Computer Science, Statistics - College of the Holy Cross |access-date=27 September 2022 |archive-date=25 March 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220325202911/https://mathcs.holycross.edu/~csci356/Dilhac.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref>

In 1878, after the invention of the electrical telegraph and then the invention of the [[telephone]], the French State created a [[Postes, télégraphes et téléphones (France)|Ministry of Posts and Telegraphs]]. Telephone services were nationalised and added to the ministry in 1889. However, it was not until 1923 that the second 'T' (for 'telephones') appeared and the department of P&T (Posts and Telegraphs) became PTT.

In 1941, a General Direction of Telecommunications was created within this ministry. Then, in 1944, the National Centre of Telecommunications Studies (CNET) was created to develop the telecommunications industry in France.{{Citation needed|date=August 2022}}

In the 1970s, France attempted to make up for its delay in developing communications infrastructure, compared to other countries, by launching the programme "Delta LP" (increasing the main lines).{{citation needed|date=March 2022}} It was at that time that the majority of the local loop was built (that is all the cables linking the users to the operator). Moreover, with the help of French manufacturers, digital switching -- [[Minitel]] and the [[GSM]] standard—were invented by engineers and CNET researchers.

In 1982, Telecom introduced [[Minitel]] [[Online shopping|online ordering]] for its customers.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2012/jun/28/minitel-france-says-farewell|title=France says farewell to the Minitel – the little box that connected a country|last=Chrisafis|first=Angelique|date=28 June 2012|newspaper=The Guardian|access-date=11 January 2018|issn=0261-3077}}</ref>

=== Creation of France Télécom (1988–1997) ===
Until 1988, France Télécom was known as the ''direction générale des Télécommunications'', a division of the [[Postes, télégraphes et téléphones (France)|Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications]]. It became autonomous in 1990. This was in response to a European directive, aimed at making competition mandatory in public services from 1 January 1998. The 2 July 1990 Bill changed France Télécom into an operator of public law, with Marcel Roulet as the first Chairman. Since then, the company has had a separate body corporate from the State and acquired financial autonomy. It was privatised by [[Lionel Jospin]]'s [[Plural Left]] government starting on 1 January 1998. The [[Cabinet of France|French government]], both directly and through its [[holding company]] [[Entreprise de recherches et d'activités pétrolières|ERAP]], continues to hold a stake of almost 27% in the company. In addition, the French government has a role in naming the CEO.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.orange.com/en/finance/stock-dividend-and-capital|title=Shareholding structure|publisher=France Telecom|access-date=6 April 2009|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130201093852/http://www.orange.com/en/finance/stock-dividend-and-capital|archive-date=1 February 2013}}</ref>
In September 1995, [[Michel Bon]] was appointed to run France Télécom Group.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20040722005034/en/Esmertec-Welcomes-Michel-Bon-CEO-Chairman-France |title=Esmertec Welcomes Michel Bon, Former CEO and Chairman of France Telecom, to its Board|access-date=11 January 2018}}</ref>

=== 'Roaring Nineties' (1997–2000) ===
[[File:Logo of France Telecom (1998).svg|thumb|Logo as of 1998]]
[[File:Logo of France Telecom (1999).svg|thumb|Logo as of 1999]]
In 1997, the capital of the new public company was successfully floated whereas the [[dot-com bubble]] phenomenon made the [[stock exchange]]s bullish. A second share offering occurred in 1998. France Télécom got behind in the internationalisation launched by its international competitors such as [[Vodafone]], thus, it started looking for targets at the highest [[speculation]] rate of the dot-com bubble. Moreover, its alliance with [[Deutsche Telekom]] based on a reciprocal capital contribution of 2% broke off when [[Deutsche Telekom]] announced that they were planning to do business with [[Telecom Italia]] without letting the French know; even if this project ended up failing.

=== Acquisition of Orange and privatisation ===
{{see also|Orange UK#History}}
<timeline>

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DateFormat = dd/mm/yyyy
Period = from:31/12/1989 till:01/06/2011

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  bar:Nom  text:Name
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  bar:Nom from:start till:01/04/1994 color:redorange text:"Microtel Communications Ltd" align:center align:center width:45
  bar:Nom from:01/04/1994 till:01/08/2000 color:orange text:"Orange plc" align:center align:center width:45
  bar:Nom from:01/08/2000 till:end color:redorange text:"Orange SA" align:center align:center width:45
  bar:Actionnaires from:start till:01/07/1991 color:redorange text:"Microtel" align:center width:45
  bar:Actionnaires from:01/07/1991 till:01/01/1996 color:orange text:"Hutchison Whampoa" align:center width:45
  bar:Actionnaires from:01/01/1996 till:01/09/1999 color:redorange text:"Hutchison Whampoa ~and ~British Aerospace" align:center width:45
  bar:Actionnaires from:01/09/1999 till:01/11/1999 color:orange text:"~Mannesmann AG" align:center width:45
  bar:Actionnaires from:01/11/1999 till:01/08/2000 color:redorange text:"Vodafone" align:center width:45
  bar:Actionnaires from:01/08/2000 till:end color:orange text:"France Télécom" align:center width:45
  bar:Faits from:13/02/2001 till:13/02/2001 color:black text:"French stock exchange introdution" width:50 fontsize:M 
  bar:Faits from:01/06/2001 till:01/06/2001 color:black text:"~ ~Itinéris, Ola and ~Mobicarte become Orange" width:50 fontsize:M
  bar:Faits from:01/06/2006 till:01/06/2006 color:black text:"Wanadoo becomes Orange" width:50 fontsize:M 
  bar:Faits from:21/11/2003 till:21/11/2003 color:black text:"~Exits Paris Stock Exchange" width:50 fontsize:M 
  bar:Faits from:01/11/2008 till:01/11/2008 color:black text:"~Orange Cinéma Séries ~and Orange Sport ~launch" width:50 fontsize:M

</timeline>

In July 1991, Hutchison Telecom, a UK subsidiary of the Hong Kong-based conglomerate [[Hutchison Whampoa]], acquired a controlling stake in Microtel Communications Ltd, which by then had acquired a licence to develop a mobile network in the United Kingdom.<ref name=OBS-H-04/><ref name=OBS-H-35/><ref name="Hutchinson actionnaire majoritaire microtel"/> Hutchison renamed Microtel to Orange Personal Communications Services Ltd, and on 28 April 1994 the Orange brand was launched in the UK mobile phone market. A holding company structure was adopted in 1995 with the establishment of Orange plc. In April 1996, Orange went public and floated on the London Stock Exchange and [[NASDAQ]],<ref name=OBS-H-38/> majority-owned by Hutchison (48.22%),<ref name=OBS-H-36/><ref name=OBS-H-37/> followed by BAe (21.1%).<ref name=OBS-H-38/> In June 1996, it became the youngest company to enter the [[FTSE 100 Index|FTSE 100]], valued at £2.4 billion.

In October 1999, the German conglomerate Mannesmann AG acquired Orange for a price equivalent to €7,900 per customer, i.e. US$33&nbsp;billion.<ref name=OBS-H-10/><ref name=OBS-H-17/><ref name="Mannesman rachete Orange pour 33 milliards de dollars"/> Mannesmann's acquisition of Orange triggered Vodafone to make a [[takeover|hostile takeover]] bid for Mannesmann. Shortly thereafter, in February 2000, Vodafone acquired Mannesmann for US$183&nbsp;billion, and decided to divest Orange because [[Regulation (European Union)|EU regulations]] would not allow it to hold two mobile licences.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/630293.stm| title=Vodafone seals Mannesmann merger| publisher =BBC| date = 11 February 2000| access-date =26 December 2008}}</ref>

In August 2000, France Télécom bought Orange plc from Vodafone for a total estimated cost of €39.7&nbsp;billion.<ref name=OBS-H-20/><ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/769293.stm|title=France Telecom clinches Orange deal|publisher=BBC|date=30 May 2000|access-date=9 June 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://lexpansion.lexpress.fr/entreprise/france-telecom-boucle-le-rachat-d-orange_85805.html|title=TELECOMS: France Télécom boucle le rachat d'Orange - LExpansion.com|publisher=Lexpansion.lexpress.fr|date=22 August 2000|access-date=29 April 2013|archive-date=19 June 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170619111316/http://lexpansion.lexpress.fr/entreprises/|url-status=dead}}</ref> At the time, France Télécom also bought stakes in several other international firms (GlobalOne, [[Orange Business Services|Equant]], Internet Telecom, [[Freeserve]], EresMas, [[NTL Incorporated|NTL]] and Mobilcom), of which some have since been sold back. Through this process, France Télécom became the fourth-biggest global operator. The mobile telephone operations of Orange plc were merged with the majority of the mobile operations of France Télécom, forming the new group Orange S.A.

On 13 February 2001, Orange S.A. was listed on the [[Euronext Paris]] stock exchange with an [[initial public offering]] of €95 per share, with a secondary listing in London.<ref name="France 3 entrée en bourse Orange"/> In May 2001, Orange S.A. was listed on the [[CAC 40]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.silicon.fr/opa-sur-orange-et-wanadoo-les-petits-porteurs-sont-en-colere-4380.html|title=OPA sur Orange et Wanadoo: les petits porteurs sont en colère|publisher=Silicon.fr|date=24 February 2004|access-date=29 April 2013|archive-date=21 September 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200921040140/https://www.silicon.fr/opa-sur-orange-et-wanadoo-les-petits-porteurs-sont-en-colere-4380.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> the benchmark stock market index of the top 40 French companies in terms of [[market capitalisation]].<ref name="Notices Euronext entrée Orange"/>

In June 2001, the France Telecom Mobile brands [[Itinéris]], [[OLA (Mobile phone)|OLA]], and [[Mobicarte]] were replaced by the Orange brand. On 21 November 2003, France Telecom withdrew the 13.7% of Orange's shares traded on the [[Euronext Paris|Paris stock exchange]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2 December 2003 |title=Orange: l'ADAM gagne un sursis jusqu'à l'examen de ses recours |url=https://www.boursier.com/actions/actualites/news/orange-l-adam-gagne-un-sursis-jusqu-a-l-examen-de-ses-recours-80195.html |access-date=2023-01-01 |website=Boursier.com |language=fr}}</ref>

On 2 October 2002, the CEO, [[Thierry Breton]] was given the task of turning the company around after the company became crippled by debt following the drop of the company's stock price. On 30 September 2002, the company's stock price was €6.94, down from €219 on 2 March 2000. France Télécom was the second most indebted company worldwide in terms of short-term liabilities. The company obtained €15&nbsp;billion of debt adjustment that needed to be borne by banks and investors, another €15&nbsp;billion as a capital increase from the French State since it was still the majority shareholder, and an additional 15bn in cash from internal savings. On 25 February 2005, Thierry Breton was appointed [[Minister of the Economy, Industry and Employment (France)|Minister of Finance and Industry]] and [[Didier Lombard]], who had been head of the firm's new technologies division, replaced him as CEO.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=newsarchive&sid=aWQM6cGZu.Uw&refer=europe|title=France Telecom Names Lombard Chief Executive, Replacing Breton|last=Ruitenberg|first=Rudy|date=27 February 2005|publisher=Bloomberg|access-date=6 April 2009}}</ref>

=== NeXT scheme and rebranding to Orange (2006–present) ===
[[File:France Télécom.svg|thumb|upright=1.0|right|Logo of France Télécom from 2006 until 2013]]

The NeXT scheme was the recovery plan for France Télécom which aimed at, among other things, reducing costs, especially wage costs, carrying on a converging policy for its products and services, and grouping together all the brands under a single brand, except for the activities dealing with fixed-line telephone which would stay under the designation 'France Télécom'. Consequently, this led to the disappearance of a number of brands.

From 1 June 2006, France Télécom tried to commercialise all its products under a single worldwide brand, becoming the sole brand of the France Telecom group for Internet, television and mobile services in the majority of countries in which Orange operated. [[Orange Business Services]] became the brand for all its business services offerings worldwide, replacing the Equant brand. In June 2007, Orange and [[Mid Europa Partners]] acquired Austrian mobile network company One, re-branding it as [[Orange Austria]]. In 2012, it was sold to [[Hutchison 3G]] and the Orange Austria brand was terminated.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mideuropa.com/media/news/2012/mid-europa-announces-agreement-for-the-sale-of-orange-austria-to-hutchison-3g-austria/|title=Mid Europa Announces Agreement for The Sale of Orange Austria to Hutchison 3G Austria|date=3 February 2012|access-date=7 August 2013|archive-date=7 July 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170707095958/http://www.mideuropa.com/media/news/2012/mid-europa-announces-agreement-for-the-sale-of-orange-austria-to-hutchison-3g-austria/|url-status=dead}}</ref>

In November 2008, Orange launched five Orange Cinema Series channels. To do so, Orange bought the exclusive rights from [[Warner Bros.]]<ref name="Orange achete les droits de Warner Bros., Gaumont et HBO" /> for first runs of all new films, previously held by [[TPS Star]] (a subsidiary of the [[Canal+ Group]]), as well as all films in its catalogue and rights to the film catalogues of [[Gaumont Film Company|Gaumont]], [[HBO]]<ref name="Orange achète les droits de HBO"/> and [[Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer|MGM]].<ref name="Orange achete les droits de MGM"/> Orange also secured exclusive rights to broadcast Saturday evening [[Ligue 1]] football matches from the [[French Football Federation]].<ref name="Orange a les droits de la ligue 1 sur le match du samedi soir"/> [[Free (ISP)|Free]] accused Orange of tied-selling as the Orange channels were only available to its subscribers.<ref name="SFR et Free portent plainte contre Orange"/> In June 2008, the firm abandoned a €27&nbsp;billion bid for Swedish operator [[TeliaSonera]] after the two companies failed to agree terms.<ref>{{cite news|last=Gow|first=David|url=https://www.theguardian.com/business/2008/jul/01/telecomindustry|title=TeliaSonera: France Télécom hangs up on Swedish operator|newspaper=The Guardian|date=1 July 2008|access-date=9 April 2009}}</ref>

In 2008, Orange was given permission from [[Apple Inc.|Apple]] to sell the [[iPhone]] in Austria, Belgium, the Dominican Republic, Egypt, Jordan, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Switzerland and Orange's African markets.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.francetelecom.com/en_EN/press/press_releases/cp080516uk.html|title=Orange brings iPhone to customers in Europe, Africa, and the Middle East|publisher=Orange
|date=16 May 2008|access-date=20 May 2006}}</ref> On 8 September 2009, Orange and [[T-Mobile International AG|T-Mobile]] parent [[Deutsche Telekom]] announced they were in advanced talks to merge their UK operations to create the largest mobile operator with 37% of the market. Both T-Mobile and Orange brands were kept due to differences in their targeted markets. T-Mobile remained the budget-conscious offering and Orange the premium one, although there was some overlap as of February 2011.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/8243226.stm|title=T-Mobile and Orange in UK merger|work=BBC News|date=8 September 2009 |access-date=2 May 2010}}</ref>

On 5 April 2009, Orange won an Arbitration Court case against Orascom Telecom, forcing Orascom to transfer its stake in Mobinil to Orange at a price of {{EGP|441,658}} per Mobinil share.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.orange.com/en_EN/press/press_releases/cp090405en.html|title=Orange.com|access-date=6 December 2014|archive-date=10 July 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170710151108/https://www.orange.com/fr/accueil|url-status=dead}}</ref> On 28 October 2009, Orange changed the name of its Luxembourgish telecommunication company VOXMobile to Orange.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.tijd.be/nieuws/ondernemingen_media_telecom/VOX_(Mobistar)_wordt_Orange_.8247906-435.art|title=De Tijd, 20 October 2009}}</ref> On 5 November 2009, [[Orange Armenia]] launched telecommunication services in [[Armenia]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.orangearmenia.am/en/about-orange-armenia/index.php|title=Orange Armenia Official Website|access-date=6 December 2014|archive-date=4 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304102437/http://orangearmenia.am/en/about-orange-armenia/index.php|url-status=dead}}</ref> On 11 December 2009, Egypt's regulator approved an offer from a unit of France Telecom (Orange) to buy Mobinil.<ref>{{Cite news |last1=Sharp |first1=Alastair |last2=El Dahan |first2=Maha |date=2009-12-10 |title=Egypt regulator OKs France Tel bid for Mobinil |language=en |work=[[Reuters]] |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/francetelecom-mobinil-idUSGEE5B92JZ20091210 |access-date=2023-01-01}}</ref> In 2010, Orange's CEO, Didier Lombard, was replaced by Stéphane Richard.<ref name="Stéphane Richard replace Didier Lombard" /> The company was also reorganised internally, most notably with the arrival of former Culture Minister Christine Albanel as head of communications for the group.<ref name="Christine Albanel rejoint Orange" /> In mid-April 2010, Orange UK announced that it would outsource the management of its broadband network to BT. This announcement was greeted positively by broadband commentators, who felt that the move was likely to improve Orange's broadband quality and customer services.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.choose.co.uk/news/orange-broadband-outsource-to-bt.html|title=Orange's successful broadband outsourcing |publisher=Choose.co.uk|date=21 October 2011|access-date=29 April 2013}}</ref>

On 2 March 2012, [[Didier Lombard]], who remained special advisor to [[Stéphane Richard]], left the company.<ref name="Stephane Richarge quitte Orange" /> His departure was shadowed by controversy over his stock options: he was suspected of having stayed with the company longer to wait for the France Telecom share to recover and then exercise his stock option. The share was trading at around €16, whereas his stock options were at €23.<ref name="Détails départ de Stephane Richard" /> On 3 February 2012, [[Hutchison Whampoa]] announced that it would buy [[Orange Austria]] for US$1.7&nbsp;billion.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-16866032 |title=Hutchison to buy Orange Austria as it seeks expansion|publisher=BBC News|date=2 March 2012|access-date=31 August 2013}}</ref> The deal closed on 3 January 2013,<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-hutchison-orange-austria-idUSBRE9020BR20130103 |title=Hutchison Whampoa closes acquisition of Orange Austria |work=Reuters |date=3 January 2013 |access-date=31 August 2013 |first=Michael |last=Shields}}</ref> and the Orange brand was phased out on 19 August 2013, when its operations were merged into 3.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-austria-telecoms-hutchison-idUSBRE97I0AJ20130819 |title=Hutchison keeps rock-bottom tariff after Orange Austria buy|work=Reuters|date=19 August 2013|access-date=31 August 2013|first=Georgina|last=Prodhan}}</ref> In March 2012, France Télécom bought 93.9% of [[Mobinil]], an Egyptian mobile operator, from [[Naguib Sawiris]]'s Orascom Telecom Media and Technology (OTMT) in an effort to double its revenue in MENA by 2015.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://english.nuqudy.com/North_Africa/France_Telecom_Buys-1989|title=France Telecom Buys Egypt's Mobinil|publisher=Nuqudy|date=29 May 2012|access-date=31 August 2013|archive-date=14 November 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131114151743/http://english.nuqudy.com/North_Africa/France_Telecom_Buys-1989|url-status=usurped}}</ref> On 28 May 2013 at the Annual Shareholders' Meeting, shareholders approved changing the name of the group to Orange S.A. This became effective on 1 July 2013.<ref name="Name change">{{cite web|url=http://www.orange.com/en/press/press-releases/press-releases-2013/France-Telecom-to-become-Orange-on-1-July-2013|title=France Telecom to become Orange on 1 July 2013|publisher=Orange|date=28 May 2013|access-date=14 July 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924061425/http://www.orange.com/en/press/press-releases/press-releases-2013/France-Telecom-to-become-Orange-on-1|archive-date=24 September 2015|url-status=dead}}</ref> In September 2014, Orange agreed a deal to acquire [[Spain|Spanish]] firm [[Jazztel]] for a fee of around €3.4&nbsp;billion.<ref>{{cite press release|work=Reuters|date=15 September 2014|title=Orange strikes 3.4 billion euro deal to buy Spain's Jazztel|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-orange-jazztel-idUSKBN0HA1SM20140915}}</ref>

As of October 2018, Orange has teamed up with [[Google]] in order to install a [[Transatlantic communications cable|transatlantic]] undersea cable, [[Dunant (submarine communications cable)|Dunant]], to share data between the [[United States]] and [[France]] at faster speeds. Planned to begin operation in 2020, the fibre-based cable has a design capacity of 250 terabits per second (Tbit/s) and will span approximately 6600 [[kilometers|kilometres]] in length.<ref>{{cite web|title=Google and Orange building cable between US and France |website=[[TheGuardian.com]]|date=15 October 2018|url=https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2018/oct/15/google-orange-building-cable-between-us-france}}</ref>

In July 2020, Orange launched a satellite-based home broadband service utilising the [[Eutelsat Konnect|Eutelsat Konnect satellite]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Orange partners with Eutelsat to provide broadband via satellite throughout France|url=https://www.orange.com/en/newsroom/press-releases/2020/orange-partners-eutelsat-provide-broadband-satellite-throughout-france|access-date=18 March 2021|website=orange.com}}</ref>

== Shareholders ==
The major shareholders of Orange {{as of|2015|12|31|lc=y}} are the state of France through [[Agence des participations de l'État]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.economie.gouv.fr/agence-participations-etat/Les-participations-publiques|title=Les participations publiques|date=30 April 2015|access-date=21 February 2016|publisher=Agence des participations de l'État|language=fr}}</ref> and [[Bpifrance (company)|Banque publique d'investissement]] (replacing [[Fonds stratégique d'investissement]]) for 23.04%.<ref name=Orange2015AR>{{cite web|url=https://gallery.orange.com/finance#l=row&lang=fr&v=8e1f4b04-8663-4c74-b916-cd0dd9cc33dd|title=2015 Consolidated financial statements|date=16 February 2016|access-date=21 February 2016|publisher=Orange S.A.|archive-date=20 July 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200720055848/https://gallery.orange.com/finance#l=row&lang=fr&v=8e1f4b04-8663-4c74-b916-cd0dd9cc33dd|url-status=dead}}</ref> As of mid-2013, Orange employees owned 4.81%, and the company itself owned 0.58%.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://europeanequities.nyx.com/en/products/equities/FR0000133308-XPAR/company-information|title=Orange |publisher=NYSE Euronext|access-date=21 June 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130615092411/https://europeanequities.nyx.com/en/products/equities/FR0000133308-XPAR/company-information |archive-date=15 June 2013}}</ref>

== Operations ==
=== Mobile ===

[[File:France Telecom global activities.png|thumb|upright=1.0|right|Orange world activities]]
[[File:Orange_operations_map_2023.png|thumb|upright=1.0|right|Mobile network locations in Europe:<br />[[File:Naranja1.png]] France, Moldova, Romania, Slovakia and Poland: leading mobile telephone business.<br />[[File:Naranja3.png]] Belgium, Luxembourg and Spain: ranked 2nd in mobile telephony.]]

Orange is the sole brand used in the marketing of the company's mobile offers; the Itineris, Ola and Mobicarte brands have been combined since 2001, and Mobicarte became a special prepaid calling offer. {{As of|2010|12|31|post=,}} Orange has 150 million mobile customers worldwide, 17.9% of whom are in France. Orange France is the leading mobile telecommunications operator in France, with a market share of 45.38% {{as of|2009|11|02|lc=y|post=.}}<ref name="Parts de marché mobile Orange"/>

{| class="wikitable sortable" style="background:#f7f8ff; font-size:95%; border:gray solid 1px;"
|-  style="background:#ccc; text-align:center;"
!Country
!Operator
!Website
|-
| {{flag|France}} (headquarters) || Orange || {{URL|www.orange.fr|orange.fr}}
|-
| {{flag|Belgium}}|| [[Orange Belgium|Orange]] || {{URL|www.orange.be|orange.be}}
|-
| {{flag|Botswana}}|| Orange || {{URL|www.orange.co.bw|orange.co.bw}}
|-
| {{flag|Burkina Faso}}|| Orange || {{URL|www.orange.bf|orange.bf}}
|-
| {{flag|Cameroon}}|| Orange || {{URL|www.orange.cm|orange.cm}}
|-
| {{flag|Central African Republic}}|| Orange || {{URL|www.orange.cf|orange.cf}}
|-
| {{flag|Democratic Republic of the Congo}}|| [[Orange RDC|Orange]] || {{URL|www.orange.cd|orange.cd}}
|-
| {{flag|Egypt}}|| [[Orange Egypt|Orange]] || {{URL|www.orange.eg|orange.eg}}
|-
| {{flag|Guinea}}|| Orange (Group Sonatel) || {{URL|www.orange-guinee.com|orange-guinee.com}}
|-
| {{flag|Guinea-Bissau}}|| Orange || {{URL|www.orange-bissau.com|orange-bissau.com}}
|-
| {{flag|Ivory Coast}}|| Orange || {{URL|www.orange.ci|orange.ci}}
|-
| {{flag|Jordan}}|| [[Orange Jordan|Orange]] || {{URL|www.orange.jo|orange.jo}}
|- 
| {{flag|Liberia}}|| Orange || {{URL|www.orange.com.lr|orange.com.lr}}
|-
| {{flag|Luxembourg}}|| Orange || {{URL|www.orange.lu|orange.lu}}
|-
| {{flag|Madagascar}}|| Orange || {{URL|www.orange.mg|orange.mg}}
|-
| {{flag|Mali}}|| Orange (Group Sonatel) || {{URL|www.orange.ml|orange.ml}}
|-
| {{flag|Moldova}}|| Orange || {{URL|www.orange.md|orange.md}}
|-
| {{flag|Morocco}}|| [[Orange Morocco|Orange]] || {{URL|www.orange.ma|orange.ma}}
|-
| {{flag|Poland}}|| [[Orange Polska|Orange]] || {{URL|www.orange.pl|orange.pl}}
|-
| {{flag|Réunion}}|| Orange || {{URL|www.orange.re|orange.re}}
|-
| {{flag|Romania}}|| [[Orange Romania|Orange]] || {{URL|www.orange.ro|orange.ro}}
|-
| {{flag|Senegal}}|| Orange (Group Sonatel) || {{URL|www.orange.sn|orange.sn}}
|-
| {{flag|Sierra Leone}}|| Orange (Group Sonatel) || {{URL|www.orange.sl|orange.sl}}
|-
| {{flag|Slovakia}}|| [[Orange Slovensko|Orange]] || {{URL|www.orange.sk|orange.sk}}
|-
| {{flag|Spain}}|| [[Orange España|Orange]] || {{URL|www.orange.es|orange.es}}
|-
| {{flag|Tunisia}}|| [[Orange Tunisia|Orange]] || {{URL|www.orange.tn|orange.tn}}
|}

The Orange brand name was previously licensed to a number of operators which Orange S.A. did not own. These include:

{| class="wikitable sortable" style="background:#f7f8ff; font-size:95%; border:gray solid 1px;"
|-  style="background:#ccc; text-align:center;"
!Country
!Former operator
!Rebranding/ License cancellation 
!Present operator
!Website
|-
| {{flag|Thailand}}|| TA Orange || 2006 || [[TrueMove H]] || {{URL|https://www.true.th|true.th}}
|-
| {{flag|India}}|| [[Orange (India)|Orange]] || January 2006 || [[Vodafone Idea]] || {{URL|https://www.myvi.in/|myvi.in}}
|-
| {{flag|United Kingdom}}|| [[Orange UK|Orange]] || February 2015 || [[EE (telecommunications)|EE]]|| {{URL|www.ee.co.uk|ee.co.uk}}
|-
| {{flag|Liechtenstein}}|| Orange || April 2015|| [[Salt Mobile|Salt]] || {{URL|www.7acht.li|7acht.li}}
|-
| {{flag|Switzerland}}|| Orange || April 2015<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.salt.ch/en/about-us/ |title=Salt Mobile - We used to be Orange. We are now called Salt |publisher=Salt.ch |access-date=15 January 2016}}</ref> || [[Salt Mobile|Salt]] || {{URL|www.salt.ch|salt.ch}} 
|-
| {{flag|Armenia}}|| [[Orange Armenia|Orange]] || December 2015 || [[Ucom]] || {{URL|www.ucom.am|ucom.am}} 
|-
| {{flag|Israel}}|| Orange || February 2016<ref>{{Cite web |last=Koren |first=Hillel |date=2015-06-30 |title=Orange to pay Partner up to €90m |url=https://en.globes.co.il/en/article-orange-to-pay-partner-up-to-90m-1001048877 |access-date=2023-01-01 |website=[[Globes (newspaper)|Globes]] |language=en}}</ref><ref name="TheMarker">{{cite news |last=Libeskind |first=Kalman |date=2 January 2016 |title= |script-title=he:תום העידן הכתום: פרטנר תיפרד מהמותג אורנג' - כבר בפברואר |language=he |trans-title=End of the Orange Era: Partner to Part With the Orange Brand as Early as February |journal=TheMarker |url=http://www.themarker.com/technation/1.2812669 |access-date=27 December 2023}}</ref>|| [[Partner Communications Company|Partner]] || {{URL|www.partner.co.il|partner.co.il}} 
|-
| {{flag|Mauritius}}|| Orange || November 2017<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.lexpress.mu/article/320342/telephonie-orange-maurice-devient-myt-mobile |title=Téléphonie: Orange Maurice devient MyT Mobile |language=fr|work=lexpress.mu |date=9 November 2017}}</ref>|| [[My.T]] || {{URL|www.myt.mu|myt.mu}}
|-
| {{flag|Dominican Republic}}|| Orange || November 2017 || [[Altice Dominicana S.A.|Altice]] || {{URL|www.altice.com.do|altice.com.do}}
|-
| {{flag|Equatorial Guinea}}|| Orange || October 2018<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.telegeography.com/products/commsupdate/articles/2018/10/08/equatorial-guinea-makes-final-payment-to-remove-orange-from-getesa-ownership/ |title=Equatorial Guinea makes final payment to remove Orange from Getesa ownership |work=Telegeography.com |access-date=12 September 2019 |archive-date=8 June 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190608175449/https://www.telegeography.com/products/commsupdate/articles/2018/10/08/equatorial-guinea-makes-final-payment-to-remove-orange-from-getesa-ownership/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> || GETESA ||{{URL|www.getesa.gq|getesa.gq}}
|}

=== Landline and Internet ===
{{See also|Livebox}}

Orange took over the landline and Internet businesses of France Telecom and Wanadoo in 2006. Since then, Orange is the sole brand of France Telecom for landline and Internet services worldwide, with a few exceptions, such as [[Mobistar]] in Belgium and [[Orange Polska|TPSA]] in Poland. Orange's [[triple play (telecommunications)|triple-play]] broadband Internet offers are supplied through the [[Orange Livebox|Livebox]]. {{As of|2010|12|31|post=,}} Orange has 13.7 million broadband [[ADSL]] customers worldwide, 67% of whom are in France40.

The [[Orange Livebox|Livebox]] is the [[ADSL modem]] supplied to Orange's ADSL and FTTH customers in [[France]], the [[United Kingdom]], the [[Netherlands]], [[Switzerland]], [[Spain]] and [[Tunisia]], and to [[WiMAX]] customers in Cameroon. It serves as a bridge between the Internet access and the home network through several communication interfaces ([[Bluetooth]], [[Ethernet]], [[Wi-Fi]]). The Livebox has evolved over time. The Livebox 1.0 was replaced by version 1.1, the Mini Livebox, followed by the Livebox 2.0. The newest version was scheduled to be rolled out in 2012. The Livebox is offered on a monthly contract for €3 per month or for purchase for €59. The Number of Liveboxes rented in 2008,this statistic reflects Orange's significant market penetration and growth in the broadband internet sector. With 7.3 million Liveboxes rented out, Orange experienced a notable 12.3% increase in just one year.<ref name="Parc Livebox en 2008"/>

=== Broadcasting ===
Beginning in 2003, Orange's strategy has centred on the acquisition, creation and diffusion of content. This starts with the creation of MaLigne.tv in 2003, later renamed [[Orange TV]], an ADSL television access service and a video-on-demand service. In 2004, Orange organised a television access service for mobile phones. In 2007, Orange created {{Interlanguage link|Studio 37|fr|3=Orange studio}} and, in 2008, entered into a partnership with France Televisions to broadcast pre-recorded programming from the public national television and to roll out themed channels for sports, cinema and television series. Orange dubbed the strategy '''Content Everywhere''' in 2008, announcing it simultaneously with the launch of the Orange cinema series television channels and aimed to offer customers access to all content available through Orange's services, anywhere and from any device.

==== OCS ====
{{Main|OCS (TV channel)}}

Orange Cinema Series is launched 13 November 2008, along with Orange Sport; it comprises five channels devoted to movies (Orange Ciné Max, Ciné Happy, Ciné Choc, Ciné Novo, Ciné Géant). The channels primarily show films from the [[Warner Bros.]] and [[HBO]] catalogues. Orange installs additional [[Video on demand|VOD]] services on its channels, allowing viewers to watch programmes broadcast in the previous 30 days whenever they like, as well as supplementary programmes from the previous month.{{Citation needed|date=August 2022}}

==== Orange Sport ====
Orange Sport is launched 13 November 2008. Orange secures the broadcast rights for the Saturday evening line-up of [[Ligue 1]] matches from season 2008/2009 to season 2011/2012, and the rights to home matches of eight [[Serie A]] clubs ([[U.C. Sampdoria|Sampdoria]], [[Atalanta B.C.|Atalanta]], [[A.C. ChievoVerona|Chievo]], [[Reggina]], [[A.C. Siena|Siena]], [[U.S. Città di Palermo|Palermo]], [[Udinese]] and [[S.S.C. Napoli|Napoli]]). The acquisition of these rights marks the start of competition for sports programs with the Canal+ group.

==== Video on demand ====
{{Main|Video on demand}}

Orange offers services for video on demand access using the Orange decoder, a computer or a mobile phone. Orange offers free programming from the catalogues of available works of France Television,<ref name="Orange propose la VOD France télévision"/> M6 <ref name="Orange propose M6 replay"/> and TF1 <ref name="Orange propose mytf1"/> for one week after their initial broadcast.

==== Online entertainment ====
In 1997, France Telecom created Goa, an online entertainment subsidiary. The site is launched as a platform for players of massively multiplayer online games. In 2002, Goa acquires the operating license for [[Dark Age of Camelot]]. In 2007 Goa ceases to be a subsidiary and is merged into Orange. In 2009 Orange refocuses Goa.com on online entertainment and gradually ceases to operate massively multiplayer online games. In August 2010, goa.com disappears to become the Orange Jeux portal.<ref name="Goa devient Orange Jeux"/>

=== Music ===
{{Interlanguage link|Liveradio|fr}}: Created by Orange in 2008, Liveradio is a free, live, on-demand IP radio streaming service. Users gain access through this service to more than 10,000 FM and web radio stations and 11,000 podcasts from 100 countries.

== Subsidiaries, joint ventures and holdings ==
[[File:France Telecom Marine Rene Descartes p1150247.jpg|thumb|upright=1.0|right|[[Orange Marine]] operates [[cable-laying ship]]s.]]

Orange is a communications access provider offering customers access through multiple platforms. The four key platforms Orange operates are:
#fixed line telephone, mainly in France and Poland.
#broadband access.
#mobile phone telephony.
#most recently, [[IPTV]], though currently only in France, Spain, Poland and Slovakia, known as Orange TV.

France Télécom merged the different internal divisions managing each platform and now all operate under the Orange brand.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/4635097.stm|title=Wanadoo is to make way for Orange|date=29 June 2005|publisher=BBC News|access-date=6 April 2009}}</ref>

=== Orange Business ===
{{Main|Orange Business}}

Orange is present in the U.S. through its Orange Business division and its venture capital historical partner [[Innovacom]] as well as two R&D labs: one in [[Boston]], [[Massachusetts]] and the other in [[South San Francisco, California]].

[[File:France Telecom Wellington NZ.jpg|thumb|upright=1.0|right|As a result of [[deregulation]], Orange operates phone booths in Wellington, New Zealand.]]

''OpenTransit'' is Orange's backbone network. It covers Europe, the United States, Japan, Hong Kong, and loops back to Paris.

=== BT Group ===
{{Main|BT Group}}

Orange and [[Deutsche Telekom]] merged their UK businesses in 2010 to form a joint venture branded as [[EE (telecommunications)|EE]].<ref name="creation everything everywhere"/> In December 2014, Orange were in talks with BT Group regarding the acquisition of EE for an estimated £12.5&nbsp;billion.<ref>{{cite news|author=Simon Goodley and Juliette Garside|url=https://www.theguardian.com/business/2014/dec/15/bt-talks-mobile-phone-ee |title=BT in talks to buy mobile phone operator EE for £12.5bn|newspaper=The Guardian|location=London|access-date=15 January 2016}}</ref> On 5 February 2015, it was announced that BT would be acquiring EE in a £12.5&nbsp;billion deal, in which Orange S.A would take a 4% stake in the BT Group.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/news/bt-returns-to-mobile-phones-with-125bn-takeover-of-ee-10024907.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220524/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/news/bt-returns-to-mobile-phones-with-125bn-takeover-of-ee-10024907.html |archive-date=24 May 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |location=London|newspaper=The Independent|first=Simon|last=Neville|title=BT returns to mobile phones with £12.5bn takeover of EE|date=5 February 2015}}</ref> The acquisition of EE was completed on 29 January 2016.

=== Globecast ===
[[Globecast]] is a provider of managed services for the media and broadcast industry, such as TV channel distribution via satellite and Internet, live event production, contribution and distribution services, channel content preparation and playout. [[GlobeCast World TV]] was a brand by Globecast for its north-american direct-to-home satellite broadcast of international channels. In 2012, Globecast also began launching a direct-to-consumer [[Over-the-top content|OTT]] IPTV service called MyGlobeTV in the United States using NetGem set top boxes.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.globecast.com/globecast-announces-commercial-launch-of-myglobetv-832enp.html |title=GlobeCast Announces Commercial Launch of MyGlobeTV |publisher=GlobeCast |date=1 July 2012 |access-date=21 June 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130311125001/http://www.globecast.com/globecast-announces-commercial-launch-of-myglobetv-832enp.html |archive-date=11 March 2013  }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Hunter |first=Philip |url=http://broadcastengineering.com/news/myglobetv-closed-ott-service-launches-us |title=MyGlobeTV 'closed OTT' service launches in U.S. |publisher=Broadcast Engineering |date=9 July 2012 |access-date=21 June 2013}}</ref> The MyGlobeTV service was discontinued In December 2013.<ref>{{cite web<!-- |Extended data for schema purposes --> |url=http://www.rapidtvnews.com/index.php/2013110430635/globecast-to-pull-plug-on-myglobetv-iptv-service.html |title=GlobeCast to pull plug on MyGlobeTV IPTV service |publisher=Rapid TV News |access-date=15 January 2016}}</ref>

===Viaccess Orca===
[[Viaccess Orca]] is a provider of IPTV and OTT TV service platforms and security services. It is headquartered in Paris La Defense. Viaccess-orca acquired Squadeo company in 2017 and is able to supply video secured player. [[Viaccess Orca]] is also involved in content tracking over internet, providing anti-piracy services.

===Orange Labs===
Orange Labs (formerly France Télécom R&D) is the research and development division of Orange.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cnet.fr/  |title=Bienvenue au CNET – centre de R&D de France Télécom (archived website) |year=1996 |access-date=3 August 2010 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/19961222130140/http://www.cnet.fr/ |archive-date = 22 December 1996}}</ref><ref name="ebu">{{citation |url=http://tech.ebu.ch/docs/techreview/trev_273-tdf.pdf |title=R&D management, TDF Customer- and product-oriented expertise |year=1997 |author=C. Schwartz, D. Frossard |access-date=1 August 2010}}</ref> This division was derived from different previous entities, such as CNET ([[Centre national d'études des télécommunications]]) created in 1944, the [[Centre commun d'études de télévision et télécommunications|CCETT]] created in 1972, as well as other entities.<ref name="cnet2008">{{cite web |url=http://www.cnet.fr/accueil_a.html |title=CNET – a half century of innovation (archived website) |year=2008 |access-date=3 August 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080612081852/http://www.cnet.fr/accueil_a.html |archive-date=12 June 2008 |url-status=dead  }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ccett.fr/eng/01a.htm  |title=Expanding the offer of France Telecom and TDF (archived website) |date=20 April 2001 |access-date=1 August 2010 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20010420003358/http://www.ccett.fr/eng/01a.htm |archive-date = 20 April 2001}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ccett.fr/welcome.htm |title=CCETT – Joint Research Center for Broadcast and Telecommunications (archived website) |year=1997 |access-date=1 August 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19970703215943/http://www.ccett.fr/welcome.htm |archive-date=3 July 1997 |url-status=dead  }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ebu.ch/fr/technical/trev/trev_287-bookshelf.html |title=EBU Technical Review – Digital Audio Broadcasting (DAB) |year=2001 |access-date=1 August 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120120053658/http://www.ebu.ch/fr/technical/trev/trev_287-bookshelf.html |archive-date=20 January 2012  }}</ref> In 2007, France Télécom R&D became known as Orange Labs, a global network of R&D entities.<ref name="svc">{{citation |url=http://www.ebu.ch/fr/technical/trev/trev_2008-Q2_svc-kouadio.pdf |title=SVC – a highly-scalable version of H.264/AVC |year=2008 |access-date=1 August 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120120053811/http://www.ebu.ch/fr/technical/trev/trev_2008-Q2_svc-kouadio.pdf |archive-date=20 January 2012  }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.lemondeinformatique.fr/actualites/lire-france-telecom-retd-devient-orange-labs-21870.html |title=France Telecom R&D devient Orange Labs |author=Olivier Corredo |date=19 January 2007 |access-date=1 August 2010}}</ref>

CCETT/France Télécom R&D contributed to various international standards, such as [[International Organization for Standardization|ISO]]/[[International Electrotechnical Commission|IEC]] [[Moving Picture Experts Group|MPEG]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ccett.fr/audio/c7_audio.htm |title=CCETT – Welcome to the CCETT's MPEG Audio Web Site (archived website) |year=1997 |access-date=1 August 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19970414035829/http://www.ccett.fr/audio/c7_audio.htm |archive-date=14 April 1997 |url-status=dead  }}</ref> and [[Joint Photographic Experts Group|JPEG]] standards or [[Digital Audio Broadcasting|DAB]] and [[Digital Video Broadcasting|DVB]] standards.<ref>{{citation |url=http://www.annales.org/ri/2006/fevrier/rannou.pdf |title=Des élaborations collectives – Le pôle de compétitivité – Images & Réseaux |year=2006 |access-date=1 August 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://ride.chiariglione.org/faultline.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110122013656/http://ride.chiariglione.org/faultline.htm |title=Riding the Media Bits – MPEG's third steps |author=Leonardo Chiariglione |archive-date=22 January 2011 |date=6 September 2009 |access-date=11 August 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://leonardo.chiariglione.org/projects/vadis/index.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110725163747/http://leonardo.chiariglione.org/projects/vadis/index.htm |title=VADIS FINAL PROJECT REPORT |author=Leonardo Chiariglione |archive-date=25 July 2011 |date=17 March 2005 |access-date=11 August 2013}}</ref><ref>{{citation |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=T0KSa6w3qH4C&q=ccett%20dab&pg=PA6 |title=Digital audio broadcasting: principles and applications of DAB, DAB+ and DMB |author= Wolfgang Hoeg, Thomas Lauterbach |access-date=1 August 2010|isbn=9780470746196 |date=3 June 2009 |publisher=John Wiley & Sons }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/Xplore/login.jsp?url=http://ieeexplore.ieee.org/iel3/1195/4203/00160472.pdf%3Farnumber%3D160472&authDecision=-203 |title=STERNE: the CCETT proposal for digital television broadcasting |year=1992 |access-date=1 August 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.dvb.org/membership/list_of_members/50237/index.xml?id= |title=DVB Project – List of Members – TDF |access-date=1 August 2010 |archive-date=23 June 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170623165557/https://www.dvb.org/members/list |url-status=dead }}</ref> CCETT, [[Institut für Rundfunktechnik|IRT]] and [[Philips]] developed a digital audio two-channel compression system known as Musicam or [[MPEG-1 Audio Layer II|MPEG Audio Layer II]] ([[Emmy Award]] in Engineering 2000).<ref>{{citation |url=http://www.emmyonline.tv/tech/applications/engineering_award_winners_rev3.pdf |title=National Academey<!--sic--> of Television Arts and Sciences, Outstanding Achievement in Technical/Engineering Development Awards |access-date=1 August 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100414233617/http://www.emmyonline.tv/tech/applications/engineering_award_winners_rev3.pdf |archive-date=14 April 2010  }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|title=Monitoring research 11 September 97 – Analysis; What's new on the DAB front?|date=11 September 1997|publisher=BBC Monitoring|quote=experiments aimed at mobile receivers were first carried out by France's Centre Commun d'Etudes de Telediffusion et Telecommunications (CCETT) in 1984.}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ccett.fr/eng/03b2.htm  |title=CCETT – DAB : Digital Audio Broadcasting (archived website) |date=11 February 2001 |access-date=1 August 2010 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20010211120613/http://www.ccett.fr/eng/03b2.htm |archive-date = 11 February 2001}}</ref>

In 2010, Orange devoted 1.9% of its revenue, or €845&nbsp;million, to research and development. Since January 2007 Orange has unified its research laboratories and technocentres in the Orange Labs network. {{As of|2010|12|31}} Orange held a portfolio of 7,892 patents, 327 which were filed in 2010.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.amf-france.org/DocDoif/txtint/RAPOSTPdf/2011/2011-022700.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120217013759/http://www.amf-france.org/DocDoif/txtint/RAPOSTPdf/2011/2011-022700.pdf |title=Document de Référence 2010 - p.286 |publisher=France Télécom |archive-date=17 February 2012 |access-date=11 August 2013}}</ref> Orange employs 3,700 people in research and development per year throughout the organisation,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.orange.com/fr_FR/innovation/creer/recherche_developpement/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120328022826/http://www.orange.com/fr_FR/innovation/creer/recherche_developpement/ |title=La force de la recherche et du développement |language=fr |publisher=Orange |archive-date=28 March 2012 |access-date=11 August 2013}}</ref> including more than 200 doctoral candidates and post-doctorates.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.orange.com/fr_FR/innovation/partenariats/meilleurs_universites/index.jsp |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120328163021/http://www.orange.com/fr_FR/innovation/partenariats/meilleurs_universites/index.jsp |title=Une étroite collaboration avec le monde académique |language=fr |publisher=Orange |archive-date=28 March 2012 |access-date=11 August 2013}}</ref> Orange's research and development is based on partnerships with industry, suppliers and operators, universities and schools, academic institutes and research programs such as the following:

{| class="wikitable centre"
|-
! Partner !! Type
|-
| [[China Telecom]] || Supplier and operator
|-
| [[Deutsche Telekom]] || Supplier and operator
|-
| [[Bibliothèque nationale de France]] || Academic institute
|-
| [[French National Centre for Scientific Research|CNRS]] || Academic institute
|-
| [[National Institute for Research in Computer Science and Control|INRIA]] ||Academic institute
|-
| [[Supélec]] || University/School
|-
| [[IMT Atlantique]]|| University/School
|- 
| [[École Normale Supérieure]] || University/School
|- 
| [[ESSEC Business School|ESSEC]] - Chaire Media & Entertainment || University/School
|- 
| École Normale Supérieure - chaire de cryptologie || University/School
|- 
| [[Paris Descartes University]] - chaire pluridisciplinaire || University/School
|- 
| [[École polytechnique (France)|École polytechnique]] - chaire Innovation et Régulation ||University/School
|-
| [[Massachusetts Institute of Technology]] || University/School
|-
| Beijing University of Post and Telecom ||  University/School
|- 
| [[Imperial College London]] ||  University/School
|-
| [[Agence Nationale de la Recherche]] || Research program
|}

Two types of infrastructure coexist in Orange's research and development: the research laboratories and the technocentres. The latter are responsible for Orange innovations<ref name="L'Expansion sur la RetD d'Orange"/> and consist of multidisciplinary teams of researchers, engineers, and marketing and sales personnel.

{| class="wikitable sortable centre"
|-
! Type !! City !! Country
|-
| Technocentre || Chatillon || France
|-
| Technocentre || London ||United Kingdom
|-
| Technocentre || Warsaw || Poland
|-
| Technocentre || Amman || Jordan
|-
| R&D || - || Spain
|-
| R&D || San Francisco || United States
|-
| R&D || Beijing || China
|-
| R&D || Cairo || Egypt
|-
| R&D || Tokyo || Japan
|-
| R&D || Issy les Moulineaux || France
|-
| R&D || Caen || France
|-
| R&D || Grenoble || France
|-
| R&D || Rennes || France
|-
| R&D || Lannion || France
|-
| R&D || Sophia Antipolis || France
|-
| R&D || La Turbie || France
|-
| R&D || Belfort || France
|}

===Cityvox===
Cityvox is a network of websites with local content (restaurants, cultural happenings, etc.) created in 1999. Orange purchased the network site in 2008.<ref name="France Telecom achete Cityvox" />

===Deezer===
{{Main|Deezer}}
In late August 2010 Orange acquired an 11% share in the streaming site [[Deezer]]. With this acquisition, the operator offered its subscribers a new "Deezer Premium" option: paid streaming music service with no advertising and 7 million titles.<ref name="Orange entre au capital de Deezer" /> In 2016 Orange sold Deezer to [[Access Industries]], the parent of [[Warner Music Group]].<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Flanagan |first=Andrew |date=2016-09-08 |title=Warner Music's Parent Company Now In Control of Deezer Following French Approval |url=https://www.billboard.com/pro/deezer-access-industries-french-approval-len-blavatnik/ |access-date=2024-03-31 |magazine=Billboard |language=en-US}}</ref>

===Dailymotion===
{{Main|Dailymotion}}
On 25 January 2011 Orange announced the acquisition of 49% of [[Dailymotion]], a French online video platform, at a cost of €58.8&nbsp;million. The group also secured an option to acquire all of the shares in the platform in 2013.<ref name="Orange prend 49 % de Dailymotion">{{cite web |title=Orange prend 49 % de Dailymotion |url=http://www.lemonde.fr/technologies/article/2011/01/25/orange-prend-49-de-dailymotion_1470100_651865.html |work=lemonde.fr |date=25 January 2011}}</ref> This is indicative of a new strategy by Orange, which seeks to offer a full range of [[multi-screen video]] to its subscribers.<ref name="Orange prend 49 % de Dailymotion"/> In 2015 [[Vivendi]] acquired 90% of Dailymotion.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2015-09-05 |title=Vivendi raises its stake in Dailymotion « Dailymotion Press |url=http://press.dailymotion.com/?p=1307 |access-date=2024-03-31 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150905105016/http://press.dailymotion.com/?p=1307 |archive-date=5 September 2015 }}</ref>

===Studio 37===
Created in 2007 {{Interlanguage link|Studio 37|fr|3=Orange studio}} co-produces and acquires films. The producer [[Frédérique Dumas]] starts the studio, which has an initial budget of 30 million Euros. For its growth, Orange negotiates exclusivity agreements with [[Warner Bros.|Warner]], [[HBO]], Fidélité Films and [[Gaumont Film Company|Gaumont]], ensuring a stream of films for its TV Orange Cinema Series package.<ref name="Partenariat Orange Warner Bros. HBO" /> In 2011, Studio 37 co-produced [[The Artist (film)|The Artist]] which went on to win best picture and four further awards at the 84th Academy Awards. This makes it the first silent film to win an award since the original ceremony in 1929.

===Cloudwatt===
[[Cloudwatt]] is a cloud services provider set up in 2012 by Orange (44%), the French government through [[Caisse des Dépôts]] (33%) and [[Thales Group|Thales]] (22%). In March 2015, Orange acquired all remaining shares of Cloudwatt to strengthen its enterprise cloud services offering.<ref>{{cite press release|author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.-->|title=Orange acquires the totality of Cloudwatt|url=http://www.orange.com/en/press/press-releases/press-releases-2015/Orange-acquires-the-totality-of-Cloudwatt|location=Paris|publisher=Orange|date=20 March 2015|access-date=24 March 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150326060158/http://www.orange.com/en/press/press-releases/press-releases-2015/Orange-acquires-the-totality-of-Cloudwatt|archive-date=26 March 2015|url-status=dead}}</ref>

===Aire===
In January 2019 Orange acquired a minority shareholding in [[Aire Labs (company)|Aire Labs]], a credit data platform in the [[UK]].<ref>{{cite press release |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |title= Orange invests in Aire, an innovative fintech company |url= https://telecomdrive.com/orange-digital-ventures-invests-in-aire-an-innovative-fintech-company |location= Paris |publisher= Orange |date= 8 February 2019 |access-date= 8 February 2019}}</ref>

=== SecureData ===
In February 2019 Orange acquired [[UK]] [[cybersecurity]] provider SecureData for an undisclosed sum, merging it with Orange Cyberdefense Division.<ref>{{cite web|title=Orange acquires UK's SecureData|url=https://www.computerweekly.com/news/252456891/Orange-acquires-UKs-SecureData|access-date=29 August 2020|website=ComputerWeekly.com|language=en}}</ref>

=== SecureLink ===
Orange acquired [[SecureLink]], a [[Netherlands]]-based cybersecurity company, in 2019 for [[€]]515 million.<ref>{{cite web|last=Osborne|first=Charlie|title=Orange acquires SecureLink in European enterprise security push|url=https://www.zdnet.com/article/orange-acquires-securelink-in-european-enterprise-security-push/|access-date=29 August 2020|website=ZDNet|language=en}}</ref>

=== SUMA Movil ===
In November 2019 [[Orange España]], a subsidiary of Orange, acquired SUMA Móvil Spain from Grupo-Ingenium for an undisclosed sum.<ref>{{cite web|title=Orange España acquires Spanish unit of SUMA Mobile|url=https://www.capacitymedia.com/articles/3824546/orange-espa-a-acquires-spanish-unit-of-suma-mobile|access-date=29 August 2020|website=www.capacitymedia.com|date=21 November 2019|language=en}}</ref>

=== Telekom Romania ===
In early August 2020 Orange reached an agreement with the [[Ministry of Communications and Information Society (Romania)|Ministry of Communications and Information Society]] (MCSI) to purchase [[Telekom Romania]] and establish a new telecommunications entity. As part of this agreement, the Romanian government would own a 20% stake in the new entity, and Orange would take over fixed operations.<ref>{{cite web|title=Orange reaches agreement to take over Deutsche Telekom's fixed operations in Romania|url=https://www.romania-insider.com/orange-agreement-deutsche-telekom-romania|access-date=29 August 2020|website=Romania Insider|date=17 August 2020|language=en}}</ref> The MCSI had first entered talks to sell Telekom Romania in September 2019, when [[Deutsche Telekom]] announced that it was prepared to sell its stake in Telekom Romania to Orange.<ref>{{cite web|title=Orange poised to acquire Telekom Romania stake from OTE|url=https://www.capacitymedia.com/articles/3824289/orange-poised-to-acquire-telekom-romania-stake-from-ote|access-date=29 August 2020|website=www.capacitymedia.com|date=26 September 2019|language=en}}</ref>

=== Future4care ===
In June 2021, Orange partners with [[Sanofi]], [[Capgemini]] and [[Generali Italia|Generali]] to launch Future4care.<ref>{{cite web|last=Tazrout|first=Zacharie|title=Orange, Generali, Sanofi and Capgemini launch Future4care, a start-up accelerator|url=https://www.actuia.com/english/orange-generali-sanofi-and-capgemini-launch-future4care-a-start-up-accelerator/|access-date=7 July 2021|website=Actu IA|date=11 June 2021 |language=fr-FR}}</ref> This all-European start-up accelerator will help develop upcoming companies focused on digital health.<ref>{{cite web|last=Schenker|first=Jennifer L.|date=11 June 2021|title=Future4Care: Four Corporates Team To Make Europe A Global Leader In E-Health|url=https://theinnovator.news/future4care-four-corporates-team-to-make-europe-a-global-leader-in-e-health/|access-date=7 July 2021|website=The Innovator|language=en}}</ref>

=== OpenAI ===
In November, 2024, Orange announced its multi-year partnership with [[OpenAI]] in Europe which will give the French Telecoms access to the pre-release AI models. Orange signed an agreement with both Meta and OpenAI for the purposes of translating regional African languages for the telecom groups.<ref>{{Cite news |date=November 27, 2024 |title=Orange signs deal with OpenAI to get access to pre-release AI models |url=https://www.reuters.com/technology/artificial-intelligence/orange-signs-deal-with-openai-get-access-pre-release-ai-models-2024-11-27/}}</ref>

==Controversies==
{{criticism section|date=October 2022}}

=== Staff suicides ===
{{See also|Orange S.A. suicides}}
Between January 2008 and April 2011, more than 60 France Télécom employees died by suicide,<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.spiegel.de/wirtschaft/unternehmen/selbstmordserie-france-telecom-mitarbeiter-verbrennt-sich-selbst-a-759124.html|newspaper=Der Spiegel|title=Selbstmordserie: France Telecom Mitarbeiter verbrennt sich|date=27 April 2011}}</ref> some leaving notes blaming stress and misery at work. In October 2009, the wave of suicides led then Deputy CEO Louis-Pierre Wenes to resign under trade union pressure, to be replaced by Stéphane Richard.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/france-telecom-idUSL711729320091007?pageNumber=1&virtualBrandChannel=11604|work=Reuters|title=France Telecom talks with unions on suicide spate|date=7 October 2009}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2009/sep/09/france-telecom-staff-suicides-phone|newspaper=The Guardian|location=London|title=Wave of staff suicides at France Telecom|first=Angelique|last=Chrisafis|date=9 September 2009|access-date=2 May 2010}}</ref> Faced with multiple suicides of employees, the company promoted Stéphane Richard to the chief executive officer on 1 February 2010, while Didier Lombard remained as chairman.<ref>{{cite web|last=Campbell|first=Matthew|url=http://www.businessweek.com/news/2010-02-01/france-telecom-names-richard-ceo-lombard-to-remain-chairman.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100205091539/http://www.businessweek.com/news/2010-02-01/france-telecom-names-richard-ceo-lombard-to-remain-chairman.html|title=France Telecom Names Richard CEO; Lombard to Remain Chairman|publisher=Business Week|archive-date=5 February 2010|date=1 February 2010|access-date=11 August 2013}}</ref>

The suicide rate among France Télécom's 102,000 domestic employees was 15.3 per year in that year, compared with an average of 14.7 suicides per 100,000 in the overall French population.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/health/mental_health/article6844809.ece|title=Why are France Télécom employees committing suicide?|last=Sage|first=Adam|date=23 September 2009|newspaper=The Times|location=UK|access-date=6 October 2009}}{{dead link|date=September 2024|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref>

Following an investigation, the [[Inspection du travail]] (Labour Inspection) told the [[trade union|labour union]] [[Sud-PTT]] that the work organisation at France Télécom "was conducive to generating suffering at work" and "health risks" for employees.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2009-12-10 |title=France Télécom: la souffrance au travail est établie |url=https://www.nouvelobs.com/societe/social/20091210.OBS0287/france-telecom-la-souffrance-au-travail-est-etablie.html |access-date=2023-01-01 |website=[[L'Obs|Le Nouvelle Observateur]] |language=fr}}</ref> An investigation was conducted by the [[audit]] firm Technologia at the request of France Télécom's management. Of the 102,843 employees in the group's parent company, 80,080 responded, i.e. a response rate of 77.9%. The fact-finding report revealed a "very poor general feeling", "strained physical and mental health", and a "tense and even violent working environment" for some categories of personnel. Working conditions were deemed difficult, mainly for personnel in charge of sales and customer interventions. Given heavy media coverage, these findings were the source of major contention about working conditions.

On 20 December 2019, former CEO [[Didier Lombard]] and Orange were found guilty of moral harassment towards their employees.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/french-telco-orange-found-guilty-workers-suicides-landmark-ruling-1.5404882|title=Orange Found Guilty|date=20 December 2019|website=cbc.ca/news}}</ref>

===Access to some sites limited===
In 2011, following complaints by Internet users, [[Megaupload]] accused Orange of not providing sufficient connectivity to its site, thus severely limiting throughput from France, an allegation Orange denied.<ref name="dementi Orange bridage des accès à certains sites"/>

===Accusations of false advertising in France===
In November 2009, three users lodged a complaint against Orange for false advertising concerning its "Unlimited 3G Key" service.<ref>{{cite web|date=22 December 2009|title=Orange visé par une plainte pour publicité mensongère|url=https://o.nouvelobs.com/high-tech/20091222.OBS1497/orange-vise-par-une-plainte-pour-publicite-mensongere.html|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200818042510/https://o.nouvelobs.com/high-tech/20091222.OBS1497/orange-vise-par-une-plainte-pour-publicite-mensongere.html#modal-msg|archive-date=18 August 2020|access-date=18 August 2020|website=[[L'Obs|O]]|language=fr}}</ref> These customers criticised the operator for the misleading way in which this service is presented, since it isn't in fact unlimited. While it is true that there is no time limit, the user cannot download more than 1 gigabyte per month, thus limiting browsing. Unaware of this, the three plaintiffs browsed beyond plan limits and had to pay additional fees as a result.

===Corruption in Tunisia===
In March 2011, the information website [[OWNI]] uncovered a questionable financial deal that enabled the Orange group to acquire a 3G license.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://owni.fr/2011/03/03/ben-ali-les-compromission-dorange-en-tunisie/ |title=Ben Ali: les compromissions d'Orange en Tunisie |work=Owni.fr |access-date=29 April 2013 |archive-date=8 September 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190908230659/http://owni.fr/2011/03/03/ben-ali-les-compromission-dorange-en-tunisie/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>

===Anticompetitive practices in French overseas departments===
On 28 July 2011, the [[Autorité de la concurrence|Competition Authority]] fined France Télécom €27.6 million for having improperly impeded the development of new competing operators in the French overseas departments (primarily Réunion).<ref>{{Cite web |last=Guillemin |first=Christophe |date=2005-12-01 |title=Orange, SFR et Bouygues Telecom condamnés à une amende record de 534 millions d'euros |url=https://www.zdnet.fr/actualites/orange-sfr-et-bouygues-telecom-condamnes-a-une-amende-record-de-534-millions-d-euros-39291618.htm |access-date=2023-12-27 |website=[[ZDNET]] |language=fr}}</ref>

France Télécom used its dominant position, resulting in particular from its former monopoly, to take unfair advantage of its competitors.

The practices identified by the Authority were: 
* excessive rate levels
* as operators of the quasi-totality of the telecommunication infrastructure [[local loop]]s, making use of the data which they have access to, France Télécom has targeted former subscribers who had switched to a competitor, in order to win them back, offering them specific deals.
* margin squeeze on broadband Internet offers
* maintaining call barring services inconsistent with the prior selection of an alternative operator

===SMS and MMS propagation of 1 January 2011 in France===
On 1 January 2011, Orange users' [[Short Message Service|SMS]] and [[Multimedia Messaging Service|MMS]] were sent and billed multiple times. The operator agreed to reimburse the excess costs to consumers, explaining that the error came from a "third party operator"<ref>{{Cite web |date= |title=les SMS ou MMS envoyés la nuit de la Saint-Sylvestre |url=http://assistance.orange.fr/les-sms-ou-mms-envoyes-la-nuit-de-la-saint-sylvestre-4528.php |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110106040030/http://assistance.orange.fr/les-sms-ou-mms-envoyes-la-nuit-de-la-saint-sylvestre-4528.php |archive-date=6 January 2011 |access-date=2023-01-01 |website=Orange}}</ref> (which turned out to be [[Bouygues Telecom]]),<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.01net.com/editorial/526359/bug-des-sms-du-nouvel-an-orange-met-bouygues-telecom-en-cause/ |title=Bug des SMS du Nouvel An : Orange met Bouygues Telecom en cause |publisher=01net.com |date=1 January 2012 |access-date=29 April 2013 |archive-date=20 March 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190320012910/https://www.01net.com/actualites/bug-des-sms-du-nouvel-an-orange-met-bouygues-telecom-en-cause-526359.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> said not to have sent acknowledgements, which caused the messages to be resent. A computer problem at the Bouygues platform was blamed.<ref name="Explication probleme informatique nouvel an 2010"/> During the night of 31 December 2010 to 1 January 2011, more than 930 million text messages were exchanged in France (for the three operators combined), setting a new record compared with the peaks of the previous years.<ref name="SMS envoyés par Orange la nuit du 31 décembre 2010"/>

===Controversies in UK regarding the quality of service===
On 21 March 2007 ''[[Watchdog (TV series)|Watchdog]]'', a [[BBC]] [[television program|television series]] focusing on [[consumer]] protection, published the results of a [[broadband]] [[Survey methodology|survey]] they carried out. According to the survey Orange was the worst ISP in the UK. 68% of Orange customers that took part in the survey said they were unsatisfied with Orange's [[customer service]], it was voted as the most unreliable broadband provider, and it had the highest number of dissatisfied customers. Two thirds of Orange customers experienced problems cancelling their Orange broadband.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/consumer/tv_and_radio/watchdog/reports/internet/internet_20070321.shtml |title=BBC Watchdog Broadband Survey |access-date=21 March 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070327100448/http://www.bbc.co.uk/consumer/tv_and_radio/watchdog/reports/internet/internet_20070321.shtml |archive-date=27 March 2007 }}</ref>

In response to the problems with Orange UK broadband and 3G broadband during March 2009 and April 2009 the 3G data network has been upgraded to [[High Speed Packet Access|3.5G]] and increased signal coverage. 3G networks for all telecommunication suppliers still struggle to get the throughput that was originally advertised when these networks were announced. The UK Telecoms Regulator<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ofcom.org.uk/media/features/msaone |title=Ofcom |access-date=10 September 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100327061354/http://www.ofcom.org.uk/media/features/msaone |archive-date=27 March 2010 }}</ref> has reported on the challenges for all suppliers.

A [[consumer organization|consumer organisation]] [[internet forum|forum]] web site known as OrangeProblems.co.uk focuses on the poor level of service provided by Orange Broadband in the UK. Initially set up as WanadooProblems.co.uk, the site focuses on the infamous Orange [[local-loop unbundling|local loop unbundling]] and poor [[customer service]] but covers a wider range of Orange operations such as lost email, significantly delayed SMTP and outages, suspicions of eavesdropping, et al.

Orange Mobile was criticised during a [[Channel 4 News]] investigation for a lack of security, which potentially exposed customer records to fraud.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Reuben |first=Emily |date=22 November 2006 |title=Concern over mobile security |work=[[Channel 4 News]] |url=http://channel4.com/news/articles/business_money/concern%20over%20mobile%20security/172350 |access-date=27 December 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071015000142/http://channel4.com/news/articles/business_money/concern%2520over%2520mobile%2520security/172350 |archive-date=15 October 2007}}</ref>

In August 2007 Orange was criticised for summarily deleting email accounts tied to old Freeserve and Wanadoo 'pay as you go' dial-up accounts with no warning.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Williams |first=Christopher |date=30 August 2007 |title=Orange mounts sneaky Freeserve accounts purge |url=https://www.theregister.com/2007/08/30/orange_freesever_purge/ |access-date=2023-01-01 |website=[[The Register]] |language=en}}</ref>

In August 2008, after well-publicised problems with iPhone [[3G]] performances, customers compared their download speed and discovered that Orange in France was capping 3G download bandwidth. Orange admitted capping to 384&nbsp;kbit/s, well below the theoretical 7.2&nbsp;Mbit/s provided by the iPhone.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Oliver |first=Sam |date=26 August 2008 |title=Orange admits to capping 3G speeds in France |url=https://appleinsider.com/articles/08/08/26/orange_admits_to_capping_3g_speeds_in_france |access-date=2023-01-01 |website=AppleInsider |language=en |archive-date=1 January 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230101174916/https://appleinsider.com/articles/08/08/26/orange_admits_to_capping_3g_speeds_in_france |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Nichols |first=Shaun |date=2008-08-26 |title=Orange admits to 3G speed caps |url=http://www.vnunet.com/vnunet/news/2224705/orange-cops-3g-caps |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080830013230/http://www.vnunet.com/vnunet/news/2224705/orange-cops-3g-caps |archive-date=30 August 2008 |access-date=2023-01-01 |website=vnunet.com |publication-place=San Francisco}}</ref> Orange uncapped [[3G]] and [[High Speed Packet Access|3G+]] by mid-September 2008.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Champeau |first=Guillaume |date=2008-09-03 |title=3G+ Orange : l'opérateur débride totalement les débits |url=https://www.numerama.com/business/10554-3g-orange-l-operateur-debride-totalement-les-debits.html |access-date=2023-01-01 |website=[[Numerama]] |language=fr-FR}}</ref>

===Accusations of antisemitism and calls for boycott===
The French chairman and CEO of the Orange telecommunications company, Stéphane Richard said in Cairo regarding his company operations in Israel, "Believe me, I would cancel the contract tomorrow if I could. We want to end this and to fix this; we don't want it."<ref name="jewishpress.com">{{cite web|url=http://www.jewishpress.com/news/breaking-news/orange-exec-pleads-for-bds-compassion-hopes-to-cut-ties-with-israel/2015/06/03/ |title=Orange Exec Pleads for BDS Pity, Hopes to Cut Ties with Israel |date=3 June 2015 |publisher=The Jewish Press |access-date=15 January 2016}}</ref> Later, Orange announced its desire to discontinue use of its popular brand name by its Israeli operator [[Partner Communications Company]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.jpost.com/Breaking-News/Telecoms-operator-Orange-says-plans-to-end-Israel-deal-over-brand-licensing-no-mention-of-boycott-405071 |title=Orange confirms it plans to cut ties with Israeli firm, but says move not political |work=Jerusalem Post |date=4 June 2015 |access-date=15 January 2016}}</ref> The president of the [[State of Israel]] [[Reuven Rivlin]] said in response "Just yesterday Israel faced attacks from anti-Israel and anti-Semitic bodies, who have chosen to delegitimise the state of Israel, and to launch rockets at us from the Gaza Strip. We must face these challenges together, right and left," Rivlin said.<ref name="israelnationalnews.com">{{cite web|url=http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/196307#.VXCLZdKqpBc |title=Netanyahu: French Govt. Partially Owns Orange|date=4 June 2015 |publisher=Israelnationalnews.com |access-date=15 January 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Keinon |first=Herb |url=https://www.jpost.com/Israel-News/Politics-And-Diplomacy/Netanyahu-to-France-Renounce-the-miserable-actions-of-Orange-405082 |title=Benjamin Netanyahu to France: Renounce the miserable actions of Orange |work=Jerusalem Post |date=5 June 2015 |access-date=15 January 2016}}</ref>

Israeli culture minister [[Miri Regev]] said, "I call on Jews of France and the world to disconnect from Orange unless Stéphane Richard takes back his words. The time has come for them to understand that Jews in the world and sane voices that oppose anti-Semitism and racism also have power."<ref name="israelnationalnews.com"/><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.i24news.tv/en/news/israel/diplomacy-defense/73662-150604-bennett-to-israelis-don-t-punish-orange-franchisee-partner-over-bds-comments |title=Netanyahu calls on French govt to publicly denounce Orange's pullout from Israel |work=I24news.tv |date=4 June 2015 |access-date=15 January 2016}}</ref> The statement on the company's website announced in response that "The Orange Group is a telecoms operator and as such its primary concern is to defend and promote the value of its brand in markets in which it is present," the statement began. "The Group does not engage in any kind of political debate under any circumstance."<ref name="jewishpress.com"/> Later, Richard visited Israel to clarify his remarks. He met Israeli PM [[Benyamin Netanyahu]] and former president, [[Shimon Peres]]. Richard told both Netanyahu and Peres that Orange has not and will not support anti-Israel boycott efforts, and insisted that its announced decision to abrogate its relationship with Partner was purely commercial and not political.<ref>{{cite web|last=Surkes |first=Sue |url=http://www.timesofisrael.com/orange-ceo-sows-confusion-on-israel-trip-aimed-to-resolve-dispute/ |title=Orange CEO sows confusion on Israel trip aimed to resolve dispute |work=The Times of Israel |access-date=15 January 2016}}</ref>

On 30 June 2015, Orange and Partner announced a change to their 10-year licensing agreement. Orange paid Partner €40&nbsp;million to add an opt out clause to the contract,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Dvorin |first=Tova |date=2015-06-30 |title=Israeli Co. to Be Paid Millions After Orange Snafu |url=https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/197485 |access-date=2023-01-01 |website=[[Israel National News]] |language=en}}</ref> with which Partner conducted a market survey which is determine the best course of action moving forward.<ref>{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=2015-06-30 |title=Israeli affiliate to stop using Orange name in 24 months |url=https://www.jta.org/2015/06/30/israel/israeli-affiliate-to-stop-using-orange-name-in-24-months-under-new-deal |access-date=2023-01-01 |website=[[Jewish Telegraphic Agency]] |language=en-US}}</ref> In the first year only Partner can opt out, with either party being able to opt out in the second year.<ref>{{Cite web |date=30 June 2015 |title=Orange Group and Partner Communications outline new relationship framework agreement |url=https://www.commsupdate.com/articles/2015/06/30/orange-group-and-partner-communications-outline-new-relationship-framework-agreement/ |access-date=2023-01-01 |website=TeleGeography}}</ref> Regardless of which party opts to exercise the out clause, Orange will pay Partner an additional €50&nbsp;million to end the arrangement.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Elis |first=Niv |date=1 July 2015 |title=Orange, Partner pave way for cutting ties following BDS controversy |work=[[The Jerusalem Post]] |url=https://www.jpost.com/business-and-innovation/orange-partner-pave-way-for-cutting-ties-following-bds-controversy-407563 |access-date=27 December 2023}}</ref> Orange stated that the money paid to Partner was purely for re-branding purposes and affirmed their previous statement that their wish to leave Israel is based on desire to discontinue license agreements and maintain only subsidiaries that they control, rather than a boycott.<ref>{{Cite news |date=30 June 2015 |title=Telecom giant Orange to end Israel presence within 2 years |work=[[The Times of Israel]] |url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/telecom-giant-orange-to-end-israel-presence-within-2-years/ |access-date=27 December 2023}}</ref> Orange would make the relevant payments over the course of two years and charge it to their books as a mix of marketing, sales, customer services and related expenses.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Goldberg |first=Niva |date=30 June 2015 |title=Orange Redoes Brand Licensing Agreement With Partner Costs Up To $100 Million If It Leaves Israel |work=[[Jewish Business News]] |url=https://jewishbusinessnews.com/2015/06/30/orange-rejigs-brand-licensing-agreement-with-partner-at-cost-of-up-to-e90-million-if-leaves-israel/ |access-date=27 December 2023}}</ref> As part of the agreement Orange's research and development activities within Israel would transition to the Orange name, but would be restricted from entering the telecommunications services market.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.digitaltveurope.net/390902/orange-strikes-new-deal-with-partner-communications/|title=Orange strikes new deal with Partner Communications}}</ref>

In September 2015, Orange reaffirmed their commitment to Israel with an investment in [[Hola (VPN)|Hola]], a video distribution network.<ref>{{Cite news |date=25 September 2015 |title=French telecom firm Orange invests in Israeli start-up |work=[[The Jerusalem Post]] |url=https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/french-telecom-firm-orange-invests-in-israeli-start-up-419093 |access-date=27 December 2023}}</ref>

In February 2016, Orange and Partner decided to terminate their agreement.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/business/1.703843|title=Israel's Partner Rebrands, Cuts Final Ties With Orange|agency=Reuters|date=17 February 2016|work=Haaretz|access-date=2 July 2017}}</ref> As a result, Orange Israel has become part of Partner.

===Conviction for infringement and violation of free licenses===
In 2024, after twelve years of proceedings, Orange was fined €860,000 for infringement and violation of the [[GNU General Public License|GNU general public license]], and therefore of the copyright of [https://www.entrouvert.com/ Entr'ouvert], the cooperative company that authored the free identity management library LASSO.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Orange condamnée à 860 000 euros pour contrefaçon et violation de la licence libre GNU GPL |url=https://next.ink/brief_article/orange-condamnee-a-860-000-euros-pour-contrefacon-et-violation-de-la-licence-libre-gnu-gpl/ |access-date=2025-04-27 |website=Next |language=fr-FR}}</ref> The [https://april.org/ April association] produced several text explanations to comment on the case.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Violation d'une licence libre : Entr'ouvert fondé à poursuivre Orange pour contrefaçon {{!}} April |url=https://www.april.org/violation-d-une-licence-libre-entr-ouvert-fonde-a-poursuivre-orange-pour-contrefacon |access-date=2025-04-27 |website=www.april.org}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Violation d'une licence libre : Entr'Ouvert n'a pas fait de quartier à Orange {{!}} April |url=https://www.april.org/violation-d-une-licence-libre-entr-ouvert-n-a-pas-fait-de-quartier-a-orange |access-date=2025-04-27 |website=www.april.org}}</ref>

==Governance==

===Overview of governance===
Governance of the Orange group is centered in its board of directors, executive committee and three committees that steer Orange's strategy:<ref name="Comités stratégies Orange" />
*Audit Committee: Created in 1997, the Audit Committee comprises three members appointed for indefinite terms by the board of directors on the recommendation of the Governance and Corporate Social Responsibility Committee.
*Governance and Corporate Social Responsibility Committee: Created in 2010, it comprises at least three members appointed by the board of directors on the recommendation of its chairman. Its remit is to examine the main risks and opportunities in relation with the environment, Orange's policies concerning industrial, the publication of societal and environmental information, and the main orientations of its corporate social responsibility policy.
*Strategy Committee: Created in 2003, the Strategy Committee comprises at least three members appointed by the board of directors on the recommendation of its chairman. The latter chairs the committee. It examines the group's international development strategic and the strategic mid-term guidelines.

===Chairmen===
*2005: [[Didier Lombard]]
*2010-2021: [[Stéphane Richard]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.todayonline.com/world/orange-replace-ceo-richard-jan-31|title=Orange to replace CEO Richard by Jan. 31|access-date=10 December 2021|archive-date=10 December 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211210094043/https://www.todayonline.com/world/orange-replace-ceo-richard-jan-31|url-status=dead}}</ref>

===Chief executive officers===
The company is headed either by the chairman of the board of directors, whose title in that case is the chairman and chief executive officer, or by another person appointed by the board of directors and given the title of chief executive officer.

===Board of directors===
The Orange group is governed by a board of directors composed of a minimum of twelve members and a maximum of twenty-two members, divided as follows: three are appointed by the French State, three are elected by the employees, one is elected by the shareholders and represents employee shareholders, the fifteen other members are appointed by the shareholders. The board members serve for a term of four years. In 2011, the board of directors was composed of 15 members:<ref name="composition conseil administration" />
{| class="wikitable sortable centre"
|-
! Name !! Position
|-
|	Christel Heydemann || Chairman and chief executive officer
|-
|Luc Marino
|Director representing employee shareholders
|-
|Sébastien Crozier
|Director representing the employees
|-
|Fabrice Jolys
|Director representing the employees
|-
|René Ollier
|Director representing the employees
|-
|[[Alexandre Bompard]]|| Independent director
|-
|Christel Heydemann|| Independent director
|-
|Charles-Henri Filippi|| Independent director
|-
|Bernard Ramanantsoa
|Independent director
|-
|Helle Kristoffersen
|Independent director
|-
|Mouna Sepehri
|Independent director
|-
| Jean-Michel Severino || Independent member
|-
| Lucie Muniesa || Director representing the public sector (French State)
|-
| Anne Lange || Director representing the public sector (French State)
|-
| Bpifrance Participations (representative) || Director representing the public sector (French State)
|}

===Executive committee===
The executive committee reports to the chairman and CEO. Its purpose is to coordinate the implementation of Orange's strategic orientations and to oversee the achievement of operational, social, technical and financial resource allocation objectives. It comprises fifteen members.
{| class="wikitable centre"
|-
! Name !! Title
|-
|Stéphane Richard|| Chairman and chief executive officer
|-
|Ramon Fernandez|| Delegate Chief Executive Officer, Finance, Performance and Europe
|-
|Gervais Pellissier|| Delegate Chief Executive Officer, Group Transformation and Chairman of Orange Business Services
|-
|Fabienne Dulac|| Deputy Chief Executive Officer, Chief Executive Director of Orange France
|-
|Mari-Noëlle Jégo-Laveissière|| Deputy Chief Executive Officer, Chief Technology and Innovation Officer
|-
|Laurent Paillassot|| Deputy Chief Executive Officer, Chief Executive Officer of Orange Spain
|-
|Christine Albanel|| Senior Executive Vice-President of CSR, Diversity, Partnerships and Philanthropy, Deputy Chair of the Orange Foundation
|-
|Jérôme Barré|| Chief Executive Officer of Wholesale and International Networks
|-
|Hugues Foulon|| Executive Director of Strategy and Cybersecurity activities
|-
|Nicolas Guérin|| Secretary General, Secretary of the Board of Directors
|-
|Valérie Le Boulanger|| Executive Director in charge of Human Resources
|-
|Béatrice Mandine|| Executive Director Communications and Brand
|-
|Alioune Ndiaye|| Chief Executive Officer of Orange Middle East and Africa
|-
|Helmut Reisinger|| Chief Executive Officer of Orange Business Services
|-
|Paul de Leusse|| Deputy Chief Executive Officer of Orange for mobile financial services, and Chief Executive Officer of Orange Bank
|}

===Head office===
[[File:France-Telecom HQ.jpg|thumb|Orange's former head office in Paris at 6, Place d'Alleray]]
Orange's head office, since 2012, is based at 78, Rue Olivier de Serres in the [[15th arrondissement of Paris]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://orange.com/en/Footer/Bas-de-footer/legal-matters |title=Legal matters |publisher=Orange |access-date=7 August 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130909062938/http://www.orange.com/en/Footer/Bas-de-footer/legal-matters |archive-date=9 September 2013 |url-status=dead  }}</ref>

The company's former head office was based at 6, Place d'Alleray in the 15th arrondissement of Paris.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.orange.com/en_EN/tools/legal/index.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120529214628/http://www.orange.com/en_EN/tools/legal/index.html |title=Legal matters |publisher=France Télécom |archive-date=29 May 2012 |access-date=7 August 2013 |url-status=dead  }}</ref> The building was the head office from 1998 until 2012. Eight hundred employees worked at the site.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.journaldunet.com/economie/reportage/les-sieges-sociaux-des-entreprises-du-cac-40/france-telecom-un-legs-de-l-administration.shtml |title=France Télécom : un legs de l'administration |language=fr |publisher=Le Journal du Net |date=27 June 2007 |access-date=8 July 2010 |archive-date=3 August 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190803090622/http://www.journaldunet.com/economie/reportage/les-sieges-sociaux-des-entreprises-du-cac-40/france-telecom-un-legs-de-l-administration.shtml |url-status=dead }}</ref>

==Orange Foundation==
In 1987 France Télécom established the France Télécom Foundation. On 16 January 2007, the foundation changed its name to Orange Foundation. In 1990 France Telecom Foundation received the top award for corporate philanthropy from ADMICAL.<ref name="Oscar de la solidarite ADMICAL"/> In 1995 France Telecom Foundation received the top award for solidarity from ADMICAL.<ref name="Oscar de la solidarite ADMICAL" /> The board of directors of Orange Foundation consists of representatives of Orange, independent personalities and employee representatives. Its purpose is to support projects related to health, particularly autism; education, particularly schooling for girls in developing countries; and culture, particularly group vocal music. Projects supported by Orange Foundation are chosen by committees of experts devoted to each major theme. The Foundation has been involved in 300 to 400 projects per year since 1987.<ref name="nombres conventions signées par an" /> The Foundation works with international NGOs and local associations involved in long-term projects in countries in which Orange is based for better follow-up of these projects.

==Sponsorship==
From [[2000 Formula One World Championship|2000]] to [[2002 Formula One World Championship|2002]], Orange was a major sponsor of British [[Formula One]] team [[Arrows Grand Prix International|Arrows]].<ref>{{cite web|date=11 October 2002|title=Orange end sponsorship agreement with Arrows.|url=https://www.crash.net/f1/news/43823/1/orange-end-sponsorship-agreement-with-arrows|access-date=2 September 2020|website=Crash|language=en}}</ref>

Orange was the sponsor for [[UEFA Euro 2012]] and [[UEFA Euro 2016]].<ref>{{cite web|date=19 January 2011|title=Orange becomes UEFA EURO 2012 Official Sponsor|url=https://www.uefa.com/news-media/news/0254-0d7d1921f412-5c6a3ded1c12-1000--orange-becomes-uefa-euro-2012tmofficial-sponsor/|access-date=2 September 2020|website=[[UEFA]]|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|date=28 October 2015|title=Orange joins UEFA EURO 2016 as Global Sponsor and Official Telecommunications Service Provider|url=https://www.uefa.com/news-media/news/0226-0f8aa5d79bfe-5769755785be-1000--orange-joins-uefa-euro-2016-as-global-sponsor-and-official-tele/|access-date=2 September 2020|website=[[UEFA]]|language=en}}</ref>

The company was the official jersey sponsor of the national basketball teams of the [[Central African Republic national basketball team|Central African Republic]] and [[Senegal national basketball team|Senegal]] at the [[2015 FIBA Africa Championship]].<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20150612114315/http://www.fiba.com/afrobasket/2015/Senegal 2015 FIBA Africa Championship - Senegal], FIBA.com, Retrieved 11 May 2016.</ref>

Orange was the kit sponsor of the French association football club [[Olympique de Marseille]] for the 2017/18 and 2018/19 seasons.<ref>{{cite web|title=Orange devient le partenaire majeur de l'Olympique de Marseille|url=https://www.om.net/actualites/333175/orange-devient-le-partenaire-majeur-de-lolympique-de-marseille|access-date=14 October 2017}}</ref>

The company became a sponsor of [[esports]] organisation [[Team Vitality]] in 2018.<ref>{{cite web|last=Mitrevski|first=Lydia|date=13 September 2018|title=Team Vitality nab major sponsorship from Orange|url=https://esportsinsider.com/2018/09/team-vitality-orange/|access-date=2 September 2020|website=Esports Insider|language=en-GB}}</ref>

==Prices and distinctions==
In 2021, the application for Orange customers called ''My Orange'' was named winner of the "Janus of the digital experience" by the French Institute of Design.<ref>{{Cite web |title=ORANGE I DESIGN INTÉGRÉ I JANUS DE L'EXPERIENCE DIGITALE |url=http://www.institutfrancaisdudesign.fr/index.php/en/les-janus/les-laureats-2021/item/18536-orange-i-design-integre-i-janus-de-l-experience-digitale |access-date=2025-04-27 |website=www.institutfrancaisdudesign.fr |language=en-gb}}</ref> In the same year, this application won the "Red Dot" award.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Red Dot Design Award: My Orange |url=https://www.red-dot.org/de/project/my-orange-55217 |access-date=2025-04-27 |website=www.red-dot.org}}</ref> In 2023, the demo application of the [https://system.design.orange.com/ "Orange Design System"] also won this award in the "Brand and Communication Design" category.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Orange Design System |url=https://system.design.orange.com/0c1af118d/p/966ad9-red-dot-design-award |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250409092340/https://system.design.orange.com/0c1af118d/p/966ad9-red-dot-design-award |archive-date=9 April 2025 |access-date=2025-04-27 |website=system.design.orange.com |language=en |url-status=live }}</ref>

==See also==
{{Portal|France|Companies}}
* [[Centre commun d'études de télévision et télécommunications]] (CCETT), now part of Orange Labs
* [[Dirigisme]]
* [[Karoshi]]
* [[List of mobile network operators in Europe]]
* [[List of French companies]]
* [[Minitel]]
* [[Orange S.A. suicides|The Orange S.A. suicides]]

==References==
{{Reflist|refs=

<ref name="Hutchinson actionnaire majoritaire microtel">{{cite web |url=http://www.vodafonews.com/orange-royaume-uni.html |title=Vodafonews est un site non officiel de Vodafone |publisher=Vodafonews.com |access-date=29 April 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130524202933/http://www.vodafonews.com/orange-royaume-uni.html |archive-date=24 May 2013 }}</ref>

<ref name="Mannesman rachete Orange pour 33 milliards de dollars">{{cite news| url=https://money.cnn.com/1999/10/21/europe/orange/ |publisher=CNN | title=$36B Orange consumed | date=21 October 1999}}</ref>

<ref name="France 3 entrée en bourse Orange">{{cite web|url=http://www.ina.fr/economie-et-societe/vie-economique/video/CAC01009458/introduction-orange-en-bourse.fr.html |title=Video [Introduction Orange en bourse] notice archives video |language= fr |publisher=Ina.fr |access-date=29 April 2013}}</ref>

<ref name="Notices Euronext entrée Orange">{{Cite web|url=http://www.bnains.org/archives/histocac/avis/DA2001_1344FR.pdf|title=Orange IPO on Euronext}}</ref>

<ref name="Christine Albanel rejoint Orange">{{cite web|url=http://www.lefigaro.fr/societes/2010/02/19/04015-20100219ARTFIG00559-christine-albanel-rejoint-france-telecom-.php |title=Christine Albanel rejoint France Télécom |publisher=Lefigaro.fr |date=19 February 2010 |access-date=29 April 2013}}</ref>

<ref name="Stéphane Richard replace Didier Lombard">{{cite web|url=http://www.lefigaro.fr/societes/2011/02/11/04015-20110211ARTFIG00440-le-president-de-france-telecom-tire-sa-reverence.php |title=Le président de France Télécom tire sa révérence |publisher=Lefigaro.fr |date=20 January 2011 |access-date=29 April 2013}}</ref>

<ref name="Stephane Richarge quitte Orange">{{cite web|url=http://www.france24.com/fr/20110302-didier-lombard-quitte-france-telecom-conseiller-special-salaire-polemique-suicide# |title=Didier Lombard quitte définitivement France Telecom – TÉLÉCOMMUNICATIONS |publisher=FRANCE 24 |date=2 March 2011 |access-date=29 April 2013}}</ref>

<ref name="Orange achete les droits de Warner Bros., Gaumont et HBO">{{cite web |url=http://www.echosdunet.net/dossiers/dossier_1914_le+torchon+brule+entre+orange+canal%2B.html |title=Le torchon brûle entre Orange et Canal+ Orange FAI |publisher=Echos du Net |access-date=29 April 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130528030109/http://www.echosdunet.net/dossiers/dossier_1914_le+torchon+brule+entre+orange+canal+.html |archive-date=28 May 2013 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

<ref name="Orange achète les droits de HBO">{{cite web |author=Babamanga |url=http://www.tvchronik.com/2008/04/08/les-futures-series-de-hbo-sur-orange/ |title=Les futures séries de HBO sur Orange |publisher=TV Chronik |access-date=29 April 2013 |archive-date=6 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230406100705/http://www.tvchronik.com/2008/04/08/les-futures-series-de-hbo-sur-orange/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>

<ref name="Orange achete les droits de MGM">{{cite web|author=ARIASE |url=http://www.ariase.com/fr/news/vod-orange-mgm-article-1377.html |title=VoD : Orange et MGM signent un accord |publisher=Ariase.com |access-date=29 April 2013}}</ref>

<ref name="Orange a les droits de la ligue 1 sur le match du samedi soir">{{cite web|url=http://www.maxifoot.fr/football/article-7269.htm |title=Football – MAXIFOOT : Droits TV : Orange remporte la seconde manche |publisher=Maxifoot.fr |date=16 May 2009 |access-date=29 April 2013}}</ref>

<ref name="SFR et Free portent plainte contre Orange">{{cite web |url=http://www.capital.fr/bourse/actualites/orange-suspend-la-commercialisation-d-orange-sport-365085 |title=Orange suspend la commercialisation d'Orange Sport |language=fr |publisher=Capital.fr |date=25 April 2013 |access-date=29 April 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141210025439/http://www.capital.fr/bourse/actualites/orange-suspend-la-commercialisation-d-orange-sport-365085 |archive-date=10 December 2014 }}</ref>

<ref name="Détails départ de Stephane Richard">{{cite web |url=http://lexpansion.lexpress.fr/entreprise/polemique-autour-du-placard-dore-de-didier-lombard_249546.html |title=Polémique autour du placard doré de Didier Lombard – LExpansion.com |publisher=Lexpansion.lexpress.fr |date=24 February 2011 |access-date=29 April 2013 |archive-date=5 October 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181005191545/https://lexpansion.lexpress.fr/entreprises/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>

<ref name="Partenariat Orange Warner Bros. HBO">{{cite web|url=http://www.lexpress.fr/culture/cinema/l-appetit-d-orange_504864.html |title=Cinéma : L'appétit d'Orange – L'EXPRESS |date=22 May 2008 |publisher=Lexpress.fr |access-date=29 April 2013}}</ref>

<ref name="Orange entre au capital de Deezer">{{cite web |url=http://lexpansion.lexpress.fr/high-tech/orange-prend-11-du-capital-de-deezer_238017.html |title=Orange prend 11% du capital de Deezer – LExpansion.com |publisher=Lexpansion.lexpress.fr |date=27 August 2010 |access-date=29 April 2013 |archive-date=24 August 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110824010830/http://lexpansion.lexpress.fr/high-tech/orange-prend-11-du-capital-de-deezer_238017.html |url-status=dead }}</ref>

<ref name="France Telecom achete Cityvox">{{cite web|url=http://tempsreel.nouvelobs.com/actualite/economie/20080305.OBS3567/france-telecom-s-offre-cityvox.html |title=France TĂŠlĂŠcom s'offre Cityvox - Le Nouvel Observateur |publisher=Tempsreel.nouvelobs.com |date=23 June 2008 |access-date=29 April 2013}}</ref>

<ref name="nombres conventions signées par an">{{cite web|url=http://www.generation-nt.com/fondation-france-telecom-orange-actualite-21104.html |title=Naissance de la Fondation Orange |date=17 January 2007 |publisher=Generation-nt.com |access-date=29 April 2013}}</ref>

<ref name="Oscar de la solidarite ADMICAL">{{cite web|url=http://www.admical.org/default.asp?contentid=21 |title=Carrefour du Mécénat d'entreprise |publisher=Admical |access-date=29 April 2013}}</ref>

<ref name="Comités stratégies Orange">{{cite web |url= http://www.amf-france.org/DocDoif/txtint/RAPOSTPdf/2011/2011-022700.pdf |title= Document de Référence 2010 |access-date= 5 August 2013 |archive-date= 17 February 2012 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20120217013759/http://www.amf-france.org/DocDoif/txtint/RAPOSTPdf/2011/2011-022700.pdf |url-status= dead }} pp.307 et 308</ref>

<ref name="composition conseil administration">{{cite web|url=https://www.orange.com/en/group/governance/board-of-directors |title=Corporate Website of France Telecom-Orange |publisher=Orange.com |date=24 April 2013 |access-date=29 April 2013}}</ref>

<ref name="SMS envoyés par Orange la nuit du 31 décembre 2010">Article [http://www.liberation.fr/vous/01012311303-plus-de-930-millions-de-sms-envoyes-pour-le-nouvel-an « Plus de 930 millions de SMS envoyés pour le Nouvel An »] paru le 3 January 2011 sur le site Internet du quotidien ''[[Libération]]''.</ref>

<ref name="Explication probleme informatique nouvel an 2010">Article [http://www.liberation.fr/economie/01012311306-textos-du-nouvel-an-orange-s-emmele-dans-les-textos-du-nouvel-an « Comment les opérateurs expliquent le «bégaiement» de textos »] paru le 3 January 2011 sur le site Internet du quotidien ''[[Libération]]''.</ref>

<ref name="dementi Orange bridage des accès à certains sites">{{Cite web |url=http://www.01net.com/editorial/526962/orange-dement-brider-l-acces-au-site-megaupload-maj/ |title=Orange dément brider l'accès au site Megaupload |access-date=9 August 2013 |archive-date=22 July 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150722115802/http://www.01net.com/editorial/526962/orange-dement-brider-l-acces-au-site-megaupload-maj/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>

<ref name="L'Expansion sur la RetD d'Orange">Laurent, Barbotin. France Télécom Le dinosaure se réveille. L'Expansion, January 2007, n°715, p84</ref>

<ref name="Goa devient Orange Jeux">{{cite web |url= http://www.amf-france.org/DocDoif/txtint/RAPOSTPdf/2011/2011-022700.pdf |title= Document de Référence 2010 |access-date= 5 August 2013 |archive-date= 17 February 2012 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20120217013759/http://www.amf-france.org/DocDoif/txtint/RAPOSTPdf/2011/2011-022700.pdf |url-status= dead }} p.155</ref>

<ref name="Parts de marché mobile Orange">{{cite web |url=http://www.iphonekiller.fr/2009/11/parts-de-marche-operateurs-de-telephone-mobiles-en-france/ |title=Parts de marché : opérateurs de téléphone mobiles en France {{pipe}} iPhone Killer |date=2 November 2009 |access-date=29 April 2013 |archive-date=30 May 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230530183449/https://www.iphonekiller.fr/2009/11/parts-de-marche-operateurs-de-telephone-mobiles-en-france/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>

<!--<ref name="Lancement Orange en Arménie">{{Cite web|url=http://www.armenews.com/article.php3?id_article=55884|title=Lancement d'Orange en Arménie|date=6 November 2009|publisher=Les Nouvelles d'Arménie|access-date=6 November 2009}}</ref>-->

<ref name="Parc Livebox en 2008">{{cite web|url= https://histoire.orange.com/fr/ |title=Parc Livebox 2008 }} p.50</ref>

<ref name="Orange propose la VOD France télévision">{{cite web|url=http://www.clubic.com/actualite-76044-orange-france-television-partenaires-vod.html |title=Orange : programmes de France Television en VOD |publisher=Clubic.com |date=2 July 2007 |access-date=29 April 2013}}</ref>

<ref name="Orange propose M6 replay">{{cite web |url=http://www.01net.com/editorial/401304/m6-replay-debarque-sur-la-tele-des-abonnes-dorange/ |title=M6 Replay accessible sur la TV d'Orange |publisher=01net.com |date=1 January 2012 |access-date=29 April 2013 |archive-date=28 October 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111028071233/http://www.01net.com/editorial/401304/m6-replay-debarque-sur-la-tele-des-abonnes-dorange/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>

<ref name="Orange propose mytf1">{{cite web|url=http://www.orangeinfo.fr/12776-mytf1-orange-juin.html |title=MyTF1 arrive chez Orange le 7 Juin (ADSL et Sat) {{pipe}} Orange Info |date=3 May 2010 |publisher=Orangeinfo.fr |access-date=29 April 2013}}</ref>

<ref name="creation everything everywhere">{{cite news| url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/news/mobile-giants-promise-everything-everywhere-1971325.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220524/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/news/mobile-giants-promise-everything-everywhere-1971325.html |archive-date=24 May 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |location=London |work=The Independent  | first=Nick | last=Clark | date=12 May 2010 | title=Mobile giants promise Everything Everywhere}}</ref>

<ref name=OBS-H-04>{{cite web |url=http://licensing.ofcom.org.uk/radiocommunication-licences/mobile-wireless-broadband/cellular-wireless-broadband/policy-and-background/history-of-cellular-services/ |title=History of Cellular services |access-date=9 June 2012 |publisher=licensing.ofcom.org.uk |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130205065028/http://licensing.ofcom.org.uk/radiocommunication-licences/mobile-wireless-broadband/cellular-wireless-broadband/policy-and-background/history-of-cellular-services/ |archive-date=5 February 2013  }}</ref>

<ref name=OBS-H-10>{{cite news |url=https://money.cnn.com/1999/10/21/europe/orange/ |title=Mannesmann to buy UK cellular firm; Vodafone, Hutchinson likely to react |date=21 October 1999 |access-date=9 June 2012 |publisher=CNN }}</ref>

<ref name=OBS-H-17>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1999/10/21/business/international-business-mannesmann-agrees-to-buy-orange-for-33-billion.html|title=Mannesman to buy Orange for $33bn|work=[[The New York Times]]|date=21 October 1999|access-date=26 December 2008}}</ref>

<ref name=OBS-H-20>{{cite news |url=http://www.financialexpress.com/old/fe/daily/20000531/fco31032.html |title=France Telecom buys Orange for $37 bn |work=The Financial Express |date=30 May 2000 |access-date=9 June 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130522030828/http://www.financialexpress.com/old/fe/daily/20000531/fco31032.html |archive-date=22 May 2013 |url-status=dead  }}</ref>

<ref name=OBS-H-35>{{cite news |title=The Facts : 2004 |url=http://www.na.baesystems.com/PressKit/Facts.pdf |publisher=na.baesystems.com |page=107 |access-date=9 June 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070125134301/http://www.na.baesystems.com/PressKit/Facts.pdf |archive-date=25 January 2007  }}</ref>

<ref name=OBS-H-36>{{cite news  |title = Hutchison Whampoa Releases Annual Results 1996  |url = http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Hutchison+Whampoa+Releases+Annual+Results-a019248829  |date = 26 March 1996  |access-date = 9 June 2012  |archive-date = 8 July 2017  |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20170708063835/https://www.thefreelibrary.com/Hutchison+Whampoa+Releases+Annual+Results-a019248829  |url-status = dead  }}</ref>

<ref name=OBS-H-37>{{cite news |title = Telecommunications - Hutchison Whampoa   |url=http://www.irasia.com/listco/hk/hutchisonweb-new/eng/stock/finance/telecom.html |year = 1996  |access-date=9 June 2012}}</ref>

<ref name=OBS-H-38>{{cite news  |title = BAe's record-breaking sterling Eurobond issue  |url = http://www.treasurers.org/system/files/TTOct99Brake14-15.pdf  |date = 22 June 1999  |access-date = 9 June 2012  |archive-date = 7 May 2013  |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130507093254/http://www.treasurers.org/system/files/TTOct99Brake14-15.pdf  |url-status = dead  }}</ref>

}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Orange (telecommunications)}}
*{{Official website|https://www.orange.com/}}
* {{Finance links
| symbol = ORAN
| sec_cik = ORAN
| google = NYSE:ORAN
| yahoo = ORAN
| bloomberg = ORAN:US
| reuters = ORAN
| nasdaq = ORAN
}}

{{Orange S.A.}}
{{Navboxes|list1=
{{CAC 40 companies}}
{{Telecommunications}}
{{Major telecommunications companies}}
{{French mobile phone companies}}
}}

{{authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Orange S.A.}}
[[Category:Orange S.A.| ]]
[[Category:1988 establishments in France]]
[[Category:CAC 40]]
[[Category:Telecommunications companies established in 1988]]
[[Category:Companies listed on Euronext Paris]]
[[Category:Companies formerly listed on the Borsa Italiana]]
[[Category:Companies formerly listed on the New York Stock Exchange]]
[[Category:French brands]]
[[Category:Multinational companies headquartered in France]]
[[Category:Government-owned companies of France]]
[[Category:Telecommunications companies of France]]
[[Category:Internet service providers of France]]