Diving deeper into the African market for mobile handsets, France Telecom is primed to storm Uganda with its Orange mobile phone brand, representing the company’s revived African aspirations as announced by its Chief Executive Didier Lombard earlier last month.

In its pursuit, France Telecom will collide with Hits Telecom Uganda, a new mobile operator owned by a group of Middle Eastern investors, which last year acquired a full telecommunications licence in the country.

In addition to this, Hit’s existing GSM network will also be added to form a joint venture to be called Orange Uganda, wherein France Telecom will own 53 percent of the venture and will provide roughly half the $200 million investment planned over the next three years to roll out Hits'' existing network across the country.

France Telecom which operates in 16 African countries, predominantly in French-speaking West Africa, will be pitted to compete against strong companies comprising of MTN and Celtel, Uganda Telecom and Warid.

The Orange brand will kick off its marketing from next year.