Operator anticipates over 1m users within a year.
Orange will channel the new service via USSD (Unstructured Supplementary Service Data), which is the tech that allows GSM mobile devices to send info across 2G connections.
Orange customers will have access to the Facebook service regardless of how basic their phone is or whether they have access to a web connection or data allowance.
The service is accessible by typing a code in to launch the session, followed by entering a PIN to use it securely. Customers can then search for friends, update status', as well as comment and like status'.
Pricing can be chosen based on session times, daily, weekly or monthly tariffs.
USSD is already used in Africa for services such as callbacks and account info, which is why Orange expects to have over one million users within one year.
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Xavier Perret, VP of strategic partnerships, Orange, said: 'Social networks such as Facebook have completely changed how people stay in contact with their family and friends, and it's important that our customers, regardless of the phone they have, are able to access and participate in these services."
Orange recently launched another service to introduce free use of Wikipedia to the Middle East and Africa.
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