(Ecofin Agency) - According to African Press Agency (APA), the French telecom company Orange is about to complete acquisition of Liberian mobile telephony company Cellcom. The process which was launched in January 2016, by Orange Cote d’Ivoire was approved on April 5, 2016 by Liberia’s President, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, and Liberia Telecom Regulatory Authority (LTA) on February 10, 2016.

In a statement cited by APA, Orange says acquiring Cellcom is part of its expansion strategy aiming to speed its development by “entering new high-potential emerging markets”. Orange Cote d’Ivoire “will bring its marketing, commercial and technical expertise to valorize the network of the Liberian network so as to participate in Liberia’s economic growth,” the statement adds.

With a population of 4.3 million, Liberia represents for Orange a park of new users which will help it boost its foot-print and revenues in Africa. In the Liberian market where it competes with Lonestar Cell MTN, Orange brings Liberian populations all the innovations in its new Essentiels 2020 strategic plan and “rapidly become the top operator”.