Telecommunication company Orange has followed on the tracks of its fellow African competitors and trained over 40 staff members in drone technology so they can support more reliable network availability, improve the safety of infrastructure inspections and enable better anticipation of maintenance needs to help prevent service outages.

The company’s Cote d’Ivoire operation has seen 42 technicians get certified as drone operators after they completed 1,000 hours of field training, and were awarded their certificates on September 25 in Assabou, Yamoussoukro, as Orange ventures into the drone space to enhance its network operations.

The company is also reported to have purchased a fleet of a dozen drones, which have carried out 83 inspections at the time of writing.

“By awarding these certificates to these 42 Orange agents today, we salute their commitment to a demanding journey,” Mamadou Coulibaly, Chief Administrative Officer, Orange Côte d’Ivoire.

“It is a concrete illustration of our desire to invest in our teams and in innovative solutions to improve the quality of our network.”

Orange Côte d’Ivoire said the use of drones will support more reliable network availability, improve the safety of infrastructure inspections and enable better anticipation of maintenance needs to help prevent service outages.

The company said the initiative also reflects its investment in employee skills and innovative technologies aimed at improving network quality.

Orange Côte d’Ivoire Chief Administrative Officer Mamadou Coulibaly said the certification demonstrates the technicians’ commitment to completing the training and the company’s focus on combining workforce development with technology.

Orange Côte d’Ivoire said investing in its employees and new technologies forms part of its efforts to improve the quality of services delivered to subscribers.