OGE Orange

RNS Number:8215B
Orange S.A.
9 April 2001







                    ORANGE ADDS 2.6 MILLION NEW CUSTOMERS

Orange today announces record Q1 customer growth in the UK and continued
strong growth in France and the Rest of World operations.




  - Orange's controlled customer base reaches 33.1 million (20.9 million at
    end Q1 2000)

  - 2.6 million net new controlled customers in Q1, including 1.2 million in
    the UK, 0.78 million in France* and 0.66 million in Rest of World

  - Orange is the UK's fastest growing operator for the sixth successive
    quarter

  - Orange UK's active customer base reaches 11.0 million (end Q1 2000: 5.97
    million)

  - Orange France* customer base reached 15.1 million and Rest of World
    controlled customers reached 7.0 million (end Q1 2000: 4.0 million)

(* includes France Telecom Mobiles' Ameris and la Reunion)



Orange UK

In the UK, Orange added a Q1 record 1.2 million net new customers in the first
quarter, taking the active customer base to 11.0 million, almost twice the
size of the base at the same point last year. This increase represents over
35% of market growth in the quarter, the sixth successive quarter that Orange
has led the market.

Prepay accounted for over 1.1m of the growth in the quarter taking the prepay
base to 7.866 million at the end of the quarter.

Our policy is to state the UK prepay base after deducting an allowance for
inactive customers. At the end of the quarter, the allowance stood at over
750,000. While excluded from our reported base, these customers are still able
to use their phones and may provide valuable future revenues.

Orange UK also added 89,000 net new customers onto subscription tariffs,
taking the contract base to 3.166 million at the quarter end.



Orange France

Orange France (Itineris, Ameris, France Caraibes Mobiles et France Telecom
Mobiles) added 779,000 net new customers, taking the customer base to 15.1
million at the quarter end. In the last 12 months the customer base has
increased by over 4 million.

Orange France has held its market share at 48%, maintaining its position as
the largest and fastest growing French operator.



Rest of World

The number of customers in our other controlled operations continued to grow
strongly. The Rest of World customer base finished the quarter with 7.0
million controlled customers, reflecting around 660,000 net new additions
since the year end.



Jean Francois Pontal, Chief Executive Officer, commented:

"These results confirm Orange's strength across our markets with a 9% increase
in our customer base in just one quarter, and continued leadership in the UK.

As markets develop we will be reinforcing our efforts to encourage loyalty and
usage among customers. Now that the vast majority of people own a mobile phone
we expect customers to benefit from increasing utility and an enhanced range
of services as the capabilities of WirefreeO expand, and, as a result, Orange
to benefit from higher usage.

"These results reflect the strength of the European mobile market and the
important role Orange has played in the development of this market."

"The future's bright, the future's Orange."

For further information, please contact



Orange plc

David Smyth

Group Director of Strategic and Investor Services

+ 44 (0) 20 7984 1691



Margot Cowhig

Investor Relations Manager

+ 44 (0) 20 7984 1710



Sarah Taylor

Media Relations Manager

+ 44 (0) 20 7984 2000



Citigate Dewe Rogerson

Anthony Carlisle

Sue Pemberton

+44 (0) 20 7638 9571



France Telecom

Nilou du Castel

Head of Press Office

+ 33 (0) 1 44 44 93 93

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