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© Provided by AFP The strategy set up by Orange, focused on the convergence of fixed and mobile offers, is bearing fruit by supporting the growth of the first quarter, especially in France

The strategy implemented by Orange, focused on the convergence of fixed and mobile offers, is bearing fruit by supporting the growth of the first quarter, particularly in France, assured the group during the publication of his results on Thursday morning.

The incumbent, which increased its revenue by 1% to 10.08 billion euros, benefits from an increase in sales in France, which are particularly supported by convergent offers.

"Our first quarter results once again illustrate the relevance of our strategy focused on convergence and fixed and mobile ultra-fast broadband," said group finance director Ramon Fernandez at a news conference .

Convergence consists of offering fixed internet and mobile subscription bundles, with a small promotion to encourage the subscriber to subscribe. For the operator, the interest is primarily to retain subscribers, including mobile, more likely to go elsewhere during promotional phases from competitors.

And it is a paying strategy: the operator notes that the number of convergent subscribers, which exceeds 90% in its two main markets, France and Spain, is up more than 10% over one year, to pass the bar of 10.5 million customers.

"In Spain, our customers now take 85% of convergent offers," insisted Ramon Fernandez. In this country, sales increased by 4.3% this quarter.

Sales in the French market increased by more than 2%, an acceleration compared to previous quarters, with a growing membership of fixed and mobile service subscribers whose sales grew by nearly 15%. %.

- Growth in all regions -

"This first quarter confirms the very positive trend of the year 2017," welcomed the CEO of the group, Stephane Richard, quoted in the release, referring in particular "strong commercial performance in all of our geographies ".

The group therefore sees its adjusted EBITDA rise by 3% to 2.6 billion euros, which represents an improved margin of 0.6 point over one year, to 26.1%.

The title Orange stagnated yet on the Paris Stock Exchange. It was crumbling 0.07% to 14.75 euros around 10:45 GMT, in a market slightly up 0.25%.

The consensus of the analysts indeed hoped for a higher growth of the turnover of the whole group (+ 2% expected), but it had been more cautious concerning France (+ 1,5%).

Orange sales grew in almost all of its markets, with the exception of the corporate market, which fell 3.8% due to a decline in both voice and data services.

In Africa and the Middle East, where the operator has the most customers, revenue growth is more modest (+ 0.5%) with, on the other hand, growth of 6.2% on a comparable basis, acceleration compared to the previous quarter and driven by the main markets of Egypt and Morocco, notably thanks to mobile offers alone.

Regarding its customer base, Orange recorded in France 130,000 additional subscribers for fiber, which allows it to claim 2.1 million customers on this technology, while on the mobile it manages to recruit 78,000 more subscribers.

In Spain, where the adoption of fiber is faster than in France, the 169,000 additional customers chose this technology during the quarter, bringing total fiber subscribers to 2.43 million.

In terms of outlook, the group confirms all of its objectives for the current year. In particular, it aims for adjusted Ebitda growth above that of 2017, on a comparable basis.