French phone carrier Orange will soon be giving its customers in Africa and the Middle East free access to all of Wikipedia. The site will eventually be accessible in about 20 countries, serving what Orange says will be about 70 million total users. To access the site, users will need a web-enabled phone with an Orange SIM card, regardless of whether it’s prepaid or has any sort of data plan; they’ll be able to get to Wikipedia either through the browser or a special Orange widget. Orange and the Wikimedia Foundation are also looking into other ways to provide the content, including SMS.
Orange offers free Wikipedia access to mobile customers in Africa, Middle East
Starting early this year, Orange will begin supporting free access to Wikipedia in 20 African and Middle Eastern countries. Any web-enabled mobile phone with an Orange SIM card will be able to use the site either from a browser or with a special Orange widget.
Starting early this year, Orange will begin supporting free access to Wikipedia in 20 African and Middle Eastern countries. Any web-enabled mobile phone with an Orange SIM card will be able to use the site either from a browser or with a special Orange widget.
is a senior tech and policy editor focused on online platforms and free expression. Adi has covered virtual and augmented reality, the history of computing, and more for The Verge since 2011.
This agreement follows a 2009 partnership between Orange and Wikimedia, which allowed Orange to integrate Wikipedia pages into its mobile channels for European users. In Europe, this content was ad-supported; in Africa and the Middle East, Orange is counting more on using the content to build brand loyalty. Since the company says many users own SIM cards for multiple carriers, it hopes that adding Wikipedia to its service will get people to stick with Orange. Wikimedia, meanwhile, has said that Wikipedia is a “public good” that this partnership will disseminate to millions of new readers.
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