No more costly roaming charges!

French telecommunications company, Orange, has partnered with Nashua Mobile to launch retail outlets in South Africa, allowing travellers to buy SIM cards and other products before travelling to countries in which the provider is already present, starting with France and Botswana.

Sébastian Crozier, ceo of Orange Horizons, says the offering allows outbound travellers to connect to the network before leaving home, and counters the dangers of receiving exorbitant roaming charges and cell phone bills with more affordable local prices and effective local rates when travelling abroad.

For example, an Orange France Mobicarte Holiday package will cost R590 with a R100 transaction fee. The package includes a French SIM Card with two hours of talk-time and 300 SMS to anywhere in the world as well as 500 MB of mobile Internet connection, unlimited connection to 30 000 Orange WiFi hotspots in France and unlimited use of Orange Maps, the mobile GPS application. An Orange Botswana SIM Card and Starter Kit will cost R11 with a R1,50 transaction fee. An Orange France pre-paid SIM Card, for example, will cost R115 with a R15 transaction fee.

Sébastian adds that the company is eager to work with travel agents who are interested in marketing the product to their clients and that these agents should get in touch with the team to discuss opportunities.

Following the launch of products for Botswana and France, Sébastian says the company will consider other countries, including the UK, Mauritius and Kenya. “We will see where the demand is,” he explains.   
 
The Orange Corner outlets will be available in four Nashua Mobile stores, including Brooklyn Mall in Pretoria, Canal Walk and Nashua Mobile Icon Centre in Cape Town, and Sandton City in Johannesburg. Products are also available online.