Orange raises 2026 profit outlook, talks up satellites as network boost

Orange Raises 2026 Profit Target, Highlights Satellite Connectivity for Growth

Orange's Financial Performance and Strategic Initiatives

By Leo Marchandon

Profit Growth Driven by International Markets

Oct 27 (Reuters) - French telecoms group Orange on Tuesday lifted its 2026 core profit growth target buoyed by growth in Africa, Poland and Spain, and said satellite connectivity would reinforce rather than undercut its networks.

Collaborative Efforts in Satellite Connectivity

Orange, Deutsche Telekom, Telefónica and Vodafone last week said they had agreed to explore a joint bid for the future allocation of spectrum for mobile satellite services in Europe, with an aim to meet customer demand, strengthen the resilience of public networks and protect critical communications.

CEO's Perspective on Satellite Integration

Satellite connectivity fully complements Orange's networks, providing coverage, completeness and additional revenue, CEO Christel Heydemann told analysts in a post-earnings call.

Revenue and Profit Highlights

Growth Outside France

The profit outlook, now targeting growth above 4.5% instead of above 4%, rests on growth outside France. Third-quarter revenue rose 14.2% in Africa and the Middle East and 7.9% in Poland. Orange is counting on that growth to fund cash returns and the planned SFR takeover while its home market barely grows.

Performance in Spain

Orange España, the Spanish unit renamed from MasOrange last month, posted a 3.5% revenue jump to €1.91 billion ($2.13 billion) in its first quarter fully consolidated into group accounts. Group revenue grew 3.6% on a comparable basis to €12.19 billion.

Core Profit and Cash Flow

Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation and Amortisation

Quarterly earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation after leases, a core profit measure widely used by telcos, rose 4.6% to €4.14 billion, beating a company-provided consensus of €4.10 billion.

Operating Cash Flow

Operating cash flow increased by 8.8% over the first nine months of the year.

Cybersecurity Segment Performance

Orange Cyberdefense, the group's cybersecurity arm, booked €1 billion in nine-month revenue selling its threat-detection platform in nine European countries, up 12.2% from a year ago.

($1 = 0.8946 euros)

(Reporting by Leo Marchandon in Gdansk, editing by Milla Nissi-Prussak)