Taking a cue from its peer group, Orange delivered strong growth in emerging market money users during the second quarter period.

The group had a total of 10.8 million subscribers to mobile financial services at end-June 2014 – a 46 per cent increase over the same period in 2013.

The operator has now launched money services in 14 out of its 21 markets in Africa and the Middle East.

Orange follows Airtel and Millicom in reporting encouraging numbers for such services, although steep growth might be expected given money services are generally recently launched.

Overall, the operator’s Q2 performance was sufficient to maintain its full-year target of margin stabilisation, but it was nonetheless another difficult three months for the French operator as strong competition and regulation continued to erode sales and profit.