In an earlier-this-week announcement, French group Orange Telecommunications revealed that it may foray into the South African cellular communications industry by launching a mobile virtual network operator (MVNO) service in the country.

Orange, which is the mobile division of France Telecom, said in its announcement that it is planning to launch a fully fledged MVNO service in South Africa with one of the network providers in the country.

While the recent announcement by Orange underscores its intentions of entering the mobile services market in South Africa, the company has already been operating in the country, for over a decade, through its Orange Business Services subsidiary, which provides technology services to business customers.

Orange's foray into South Africa's local cellphone market, which is chiefly dominated by MTN and Vodacom, could mark the introduction of multi-country travel solutions - whereby data will be offered using Wi-Fi or Voice over Internet Protocol - that will specifically be aimed at professionals and tourists who visit South Africa from countries where Orange already has a marked presence.

If Orange's plans get materialized, the company's MVNO service will be the second MVNO in South Africa after Virgin Mobile. However, while Virgin Mobile uses Cell C's network, Orange apparently intends being a "full MVNO," and wants to "own a part of the network," instead of being a mere brand licensee.