France Telecom to expand its presence in Africa

France Telecom wants to expand its presence in fast-growing African mobile markets by entering Benin, Togo, Burkina Faso and Mauritania.

Elie Girard, the group's head of strategy and development, said plans for Africa also included seeking to sign management contracts with telecom groups in Libya and Algeria.

He said no talks on acquisitions were currently underway, but Africa and the Middle East were a priority for growth.

"If we manage to enter Benin, Togo, Burkina (Faso) and Mauritania, for example, that would be very valuable for us," he told reporters at a briefing in London. He said the countries' proximity to Orange's existing operations in Mali and Senegal made them more attractive.

The group, which markets its services under the brand Orange, operates in 21 Middle East and African countries.

Orange, sponsor of soccer's Africa Cup of Nations in 2013, is the third-largest mobile operator in the region, behind South Africa's MTN and Britain's Vodafone.

A presence in Benin would also improve a link between the company's network in Niger and the submarine cables that carry Internet traffic between Africa and the world, Girard said.

He said France Telecom also wanted to expand into Libya, Algeria and Ethiopia, and would seek contracts to manage other operators' telecom networks as a way to get a foot in the door.

Girard gave no update on whether France Telecom would bid for Vivendi's stake in Moroccan operator Maroc Telecom . Vivendi hopes to get at least 5.5 billion euros ($7.34 billion) for its 53 percent stake in Maroc Telecom in a sale process now underway.

South Korean telecom firm KT Corp submitted a preliminary offer for the Maroc Telecom stake in mid-December.

A move by France Telecom would be complex given that it already owns a 40 percent stake in Morocco's second-biggest operator Meditel, which it might have to divest.