orange on tuesday posted higher earnings and revenue for the third quarter led by growth in retail services and equipment sales particularly in europe and africa the french telecommunications company said revenue increased to 1082 billion euros 1068 billion from eur1072 billion last year france oranges home market accounted for the lions share of revenue contributing eur447 billion despite a 1 decline earnings before interest taxes depreciation and amortization after leasesa key indicator of profitabilityrose 02 to eur358 billion analysts had forecast revenue of eur1080 billion on earnings of eur359 billion according to companyprovided consensus we are confident of accelerated ebitdaal in the fourth quarter thanks to the reversal of underlying effects and a commercial performance that should remain robust during end of year holiday period orange chief executive christel heydemann said for the year orange continues to target an increase of 25 to 3 in ebitda after leases and organic cash flow from telecoms activities of at least eur29 billion