Title: Orange Marks 25 Years of Transforming Spain Through Digital Innovation and Sustainability
Subtitle: Orange Foundation’s Orange Digital Center promotes inclusion and accessibility to employment while reducing the digital divide
Madrid, Spain – As Orange celebrates its 25th anniversary in Spain, the telecommunications company has played a pivotal role in the country’s digital transformation and sustainable development. With an investment of over 35.5 billion euros, Orange has spearheaded technological advancements and made significant contributions to society and the environment.
Since its inception, Orange has made substantial investments towards innovative plans and expanding its infrastructure. These efforts have yielded commendable results, with fiber deployment reaching nearly 17 million homes and businesses. Furthermore, Orange has achieved 80% coverage of the population with its 5G network, making it one of the first Spanish operators to launch the 5G+ network.
One of the highlights of Orange’s commitment to progress is the recently inaugurated Orange Digital Center in Madrid. The center, championed by the Orange Foundation, aims to bridge the digital gap for marginalized groups, including young people with adaptation difficulties, women in precarious situations, and individuals with autism. By providing knowledge and skills, the center empowers these individuals to integrate into society, enhance their professional skills, and increase their employability. Additionally, the Orange Digital Center serves as a hub for entrepreneurs and startups, offering invaluable resources to launch their ventures.
Orange’s dedication to sustainability and combating climate change is another key focus. Demonstrating remarkable progress, the company has reduced its carbon dioxide emissions by a staggering 57% in just one year. With plans to achieve carbon neutrality in Spain by 2023, Orange aims to address emissions within scopes 1 and 2 through emissions compensation. Furthermore, Orange continues to contribute to the reforestation of the Orange forest in Ejulve, with over 37,000 trees planted across 40 hectares.
In line with its commitment to clean energy, Orange announced a 2.5 million euro investment in solar self-consumption. By placing solar panels in 33 facilities across 19 provinces by the end of 2024, Orange aims to accelerate the adoption of clean energy. In addition, the company plans to increase its mobile devices recycling program to reach a 30% recycling rate in Europe by 2025.
Looking ahead, Orange remains firmly committed to Spain’s digital transformation. Recognizing the challenges that lie ahead, the company reaffirms its dedication to contribute to digitalization, the ecological transition, and social cohesion. These pillars align with the needs of a country and a world striving for a brighter tomorrow.
According to a report titled “Impact of digital transformation in Spain: 1998-2023,” prepared by consultancy firm Nae in collaboration with the Orange Foundation, Spain has experienced significant progress in digitization. With an average annual investment of 5.5 billion euros since 1998, Spain ranks among the top countries with the best connectivity in Europe. The report highlights contributions to the national GDP, where telecommunications-driven digitization has injected approximately 7.5 billion euros annually from 2013 to 2018. Spain also ranks third globally in terms of fiber access as a percentage of total broadband access.
While achieving remarkable digitization milestones, the report emphasizes the importance of addressing the digital divide. Despite the advances, only 64.2% of the Spanish population possesses basic digital skills, falling short of the European Commission’s target of at least 80%. Bridging this gap is vital to enable full-digitization and ensure equal opportunities for all citizens, regardless of their personal, social, or professional circumstances.
The report also highlights the notable reduction in the digital divide between urban and rural areas, which has positively influenced rural depopulation rates. Furthermore, internet usage has skyrocketed, with daily users increasing from 16.1% in 2003 to 87.1% in 2022. The report outlines efforts to close the age-based digital divide, aiming for more equitable internet access and usage across all demographics.
“Inclusion continues to be the great challenge on which companies, non-profit entities, and Public Administrations must work together if we want to complete this process of modernization of our country,” acknowledges Daniel Morales, the director of Sustainability of Orange and the Orange Foundation.
As Orange looks to the future, Spain can anticipate continued contributions towards digital transformation, eco-friendly practices, and social integration. With a focus on innovation, sustainability, and social responsibility, Orange remains dedicated to shaping a brighter and more connected future for Spain and beyond.
Contact:
Orange Communications Department
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