Orange Liberia has officially celebrated the successful completion of the rerouting of the Africa Coast to Europe (ACE) fiber optic cable, a major infrastructure milestone aimed at strengthening Liberia’s digital connectivity and resilience.
The event, held in Monrovia on Friday, May 2, brought together industry staff, and Orange Liberia executives to reflect on the accomplishment and underscore the company’s continued investment in Liberia’s digital, financial, and energy inclusion.
Speaking at a press conference, Orange Liberia CEO Mr. Jean-Marius Yao praised his technical team and partners for their commitment and professionalism in overcoming a significant infrastructure challenge.
“We are here to celebrate and appreciate a job well done,” Yao said. “The team faced a big challenge, and together with our partners, we succeeded. This rerouting project is not just a technical success — it is a testament to our values of boldness, responsibility, and care.”
While celebrating the ACE rerouting, Yao took the opportunity to highlight Orange Liberia’s broader contributions to Liberia’s socioeconomic development, presenting key statistics and achievements across various sectors.
“We are more than just a telecom company,” Yao emphasized. “We are a partner in digital inclusion, financial inclusion, and energy inclusion. We are doing business in a responsible, ethical, and environmentally conscious manner.”
Among the company’s key milestones is the growth of its mobile financial service, Orange Money, which has now surpassed one million monthly active users. Despite entering the mobile money space later than its competitors, Orange Liberia has quickly established itself as a formidable player.
“We are running for leadership in mobile financial services,” Yao said. “We launched a 1% cash-out fee campaign last year, making mobile money more affordable, while other providers charge high fees. All other services — bill payments, merchant transactions — are free.”
The company has also rolled out innovative financial services, including Liberia’s first mobile money ATM, enabling customers to withdraw cash 24/7 using just their mobile phones, without the need for bank cards.
Since entering the Liberian market in 2016, Orange Liberia has contributed more than US$291 million in taxes and fees, making it one of the top three taxpayers in the country, the company said.
“We are a compliant company and among Liberia’s top contributors to the national budget,” said Yao. “If we are not number one, we are number two or three in terms of tax contributions.”
Orange Liberia has invested approximately US$250 million in network expansion since 2016. In 2024 alone, the company added 140 new mobile sites, bringing its total to 773 nationwide.
“We were the first to launch 4G in 2017, 4G TDD in 2022, and fiber-to-the-home and fiber-to-the-office services,” Yao noted. “We have completed regulatory due diligence for 5G and are ready to launch once the environment permits.”
Orange Liberia’s superior network performance has not gone unnoticed. The company has received multiple awards from UCLA, an international telecommunications assessment organization, recognizing it as Liberia’s best network for mobile speed, coverage, and overall quality—three times in a row.
Discussing the ACE cable rerouting project, Yao explained how the newly constructed fiber link between Monrovia and Lugato connects Liberia to six other undersea cables via Côte d’Ivoire, enhancing redundancy and minimizing service disruptions.
“If our main cable is cut, this new route ensures that connectivity continues,” Yao said. “Redundancy is essential, and we are working on a second fiber line to further strengthen our resilience. That project should be completed next year.”
To date, Orange Liberia has laid 673 kilometers of fiber optic cable and is expanding into Buchanan and other parts of the country.
To support data management and improve national infrastructure, Orange Liberia is constructing a new state-of-the-art data center in Buchanan. This facility will complement the existing one in Monrovia and serve as a disaster recovery hub and open platform for other institutions.
“This is not just for Orange Liberia. We are open to hosting the data of other companies and institutions,” Yao said. “It’s a huge investment, and we look forward to its inauguration early next year.”
Beyond infrastructure, Orange Liberia is also investing in Liberia’s youth through digital education initiatives. The company has established several Orange Digital Centers and Digital Center Clubs, including at Cuttington University and Tubman University in Harper.
“These centers offer free access to the latest digital technologies and education for Liberian youth,” said Yao. “It’s a way of giving back and preparing the next generation for a digital future.”
Additionally, the company’s philanthropic arm — the Orange Liberia Foundation — continues to support community development through digital schools, village clinics, and other social programs.
With a workforce of over 623 employees and indirect employment impacts reaching more than 100,000 Liberians, Orange Liberia positions itself as the employer of choice in the country.
“Our impact goes beyond technology — we are empowering people and communities,” Yao said. “Are you happy to work here?” he asked the staff in attendance, who responded with resounding applause.
Also speaking at the event was Mr. Henry Benson, Chairman of the Board of Directors at Orange Liberia and CEO of the Cable Consortium of Liberia (CCL). He commended the government, the Liberia Telecommunications Authority (LTA), and CCL for their support in Liberia’s digital development, and praised Orange Liberia’s swift and effective response during the recent four-day ACE cable outage.
“Orange Liberia’s investment in the fiber link to Côte d’Ivoire proved to be the country’s digital lifeline,” said Benson. “It allowed Liberia to maintain 100% of its international internet traffic during the outage, thanks to cross-border cooperation and a culture of boldness, responsibility, and care.”
“Connectivity is not a luxury — it’s a necessity. And Orange Liberia proved its commitment by keeping Liberians connected to opportunities, loved ones, and vital services,” he added.
Benson emphasized that Orange Liberia’s actions during the outage reflect the company’s strong commitment to continuity planning, crisis management, and national development.
“Together, we are proving that Liberia’s digital future is not just a dream — it is a reality we build every day,” he concluded.
In closing, Mr. Yao expressed gratitude to his entire team, including technical lead Greg, and thanked key partners like the CCL and LTA. He reaffirmed Orange Liberia’s mission to drive progress in Liberia through infrastructure, innovation, and inclusion.
“We are responsible, we are bold, and above all, we care. Orange is here for Liberia.”
