Europe : Orange is launching its new national EDGE network today. Orange is now the only operator in France to provide a complete mobile broadband offer covering 85% of the population and 90% of businesses beginning in April 2005. This is a unique offer based on the complementary features of its WiFi, EDGE and 3G networks.

In line with the ambition announced last year when 3G was launched, Orange is deploying its mobile broadband telephone offer throughout France for all its customers. It is taking a new step today with the launch of its EDGE network, which enables speeds of up to 200 Kbytes per second. Orange is also announcing adapted commercial offers.

Tested in three French d�partements (Alpes-Maritimes, Somme and C�tes d'Armor), business customers will be offered services over the EDGE network from 18 April. The consumer offer will be launched in Summer 2005. Added to the existing Wi-Fi and 3G networks, EDGE now completes the national coverage to form the first fully integrated mobile broadband network in France.

Orange - the leading national mobile broadband network in France

Orange's strategy in mobile broadband is driven by a dual vision: mobile broadband for everyone everywhere, and flexibility through technologies adapted to every environment.

Pursuing its goal to drive the usage of mobile multimedia, Orange is enabling its customers to access broadband services via mobile phone or portable computer, from any location in France - the countryside, small towns and major metropolitan areas.

The mobile broadband network has been adapted to both population density and usage. The largest metropolitan areas in France are fully covered by 3G (63% of towns with over 50,000 inhabitants, 72% of towns and cities with over 100,000 inhabitants and 100% of cities with more than 200,000 inhabitants). The EDGE network covers 85% of the population and 90% of businesses*. Business centres, hotels and major high-traffic locations (railway stations, airports) are also served by more than 7,000 WiFi access points, installed in over 600 towns and cities.

* INSEE database of businesses with over 50 employees

Orange will have invested over EUR 200 million between 2005 and 2006 to upgrade its entire GSM network to EDGE. "By the end of 2006, a total of 2 million Orange customers will use Orange mobile broadband services through our complementary networks - EDGE, 3G and WiFi. As we promised and in line with our vision, we are the only operator to offer national mobile broadband coverage to a very large majority of the French population," comments Didier Quillot, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Orange France.

EDGE - the natural complement to 3G

In terms of coverage and performance, the EDGE network from Orange complements the existing 3G and WiFi networks to ensure continuous mobile broadband access for all customers. Orange customers can view videos, listen to music, or watch live TV on their EDGE mobile phone using the Orange World portal. Orange business customers can connect simply and easily to their company network, pick up their e-mails, surf the Internet and their Intranet, and access their business applications. All of these services are made possible by the Business Everywhere offers designed for portable PC users with a PC Card; Orange Intense for businesses, an offer designed for mobile phone users; and a full new line of data options.

A complete restructuring of the product line to offer mobile broadband to all Business customers

The Business Everywhere offering is being expanded to enable business customers who use portable PCs to take full advantage of the benefits of the national mobile broadband network. The offer now consists of "Hourly" packages ranging from 5 to 40 hours, along with "Volume" packages from 50 Mb to 1Gb for all technologies (GPRS, EDGE, 3G, WiFi). A new unlimited flat rate (time and volume) is being added to this line to meet business use via Citrix ports, Microsoft TSE and secure VPN solutions. These offers are based on a dedicated connection kit and on 3G and EDGE PC Cards.

The Orange Intense offering to businesses has also been reorganized to offer mobile broadband to all business customers. This line is based on "all-in-one" voice-time rates ranging from 3 hours to 20 hours, including 20 Mb of data, based on a single tariff for all the technologies (GPRS, EDGE, 3G).

Orange is also launching a new range of data options that enables all business customers to access mobile broadband using their existing voice subscriptions. This product offer has been revised to accompany the growth in mobile broadband usage and consists of options ranging from 5 Mb to 300 Mb. For greater simplicity, these options also use a single tariff for all the technologies (GPRS, EDGE, 3G, Wi-Fi) along with a significant cut in the price per Mb, which will encourage the development of data usage.

These offers are based on a broad range of mobile broadband terminals, consisting of 7 mobile phones (Nokia 6230, Nokia 6680, Nokia 9500, Samsung SGH D500E, Samsung SGH Z107, LG U8150, and Motorola C975) and 3 PC Cards (Lucent U530, Option Fusion, and Sony Ericsson GC85).

Video, TV and music at the best price for consumers

With EDGE, Orange now offers even easier access to mobile multimedia services. The use of the existing frequency bands and the GSM infrastructure means customers will be offered advanced terminals costing less than 80 euros that can retransmit video, live television programs or music.

The significant decrease in the cost of wireless data transmission, now one-fifth of the previous cost (starting from 0.20 euro per Mb), will contribute to the growth in consumer usage of mobile multimedia.

The Orange World portal, offering 23 live television channels and 350 new video programs added each week, is being enhanced with the creation of a page devoted to music.

Music lovers will be able to track artist ratings and top radio hits in real time and find, by artist, all content and music services from Orange (ringtones, videos, live radio, artist biographies and CDs), Customers will even be able to customize their mobile environment to match their personal style - R&B, pop-rock, etc.

Orange EDGE timetable in 2005

April 18: commercial launch of business offers
Summer: commercial launch of the consumer offer
In conclusion:
With its strategy of mobile broadband for everyone, Orange is maintaining its competitive advantage by offering the first nationwide mobile broadband coverage in France the most attractive voice and data communications offers, as well as access to the largest selection of services for both businesses and consumers.

Coverage - geographically the most extensive and technologically the most comprehensive:

45% of the population covered with 3G
85% of the population covered with EDGE
90% of businesses covered* with EDGE
More than 7,000 WiFi hot spots

Terminals: the largest range of Mobile Broadband terminals

Wireless: GPRS/3G, GPRS/EDGE, GPRS/EDGE/3G, GPRS/EDGE/WiFi
PC Cards: GPRS/3G, GPRS/Wi-Fi/3G, GPRS/EDGE, GPRS/EDGE/WiFi

Business Everywhere - a business offer with:

A very broad range of rates
The only multi-network offer: GPRS, EDGE, 3G, WiFi, conventional RTC and ADSL

Roaming data: Orange provides the largest international coverage

EDGE: 20 countries in April, 31 countries by year-end 2005
3G: 13 countries in April, 25 countries by year-end 2005
WiFi: 10,000 hot spots in 22 countries
GPRS: 74 countries in April 2005, 83 countries by year-end 2005