BANGUI (WiMAX Day). France Telecom’s mobile unit Orange announced that it will launch a WiMAX network this month in the Central African Republic. The company acquired mobile and spectrum licenses earlier this year. The launch of WiMAX services coincides with the launch of the Orange GSM network this month.

WiMAX will be deployed as Orange’s “haut débit” Internet solution, providing triple-play and including the “LiveBox” brand. “Based on the latest generation wireless technology, WiMAX will enable clients to access various convergent solutions,” said an Orange press release.

WiMAX represents one of the “Six priority domains, potential sources of growth” for France Telecom, and Orange has other plans for WiMAX in Africa. According to its latest financial report, the company plans to launch WiMAX networks in 2008 in Botswana, Cameroon and Madagascar.