Orange Belgium has chosen Nokia as the sole supplier for a multi-year transformation of its transport infrastructure across Belgium. The project will combine the operator's fixed and mobile transport networks into a single converged optical transport network designed to strengthen resilience, improve security and provide greater scalability. According to the announcement, the upgraded infrastructure is intended to address increasing bandwidth requirements across consumer and business services while supporting future connectivity needs.
🔑 Key Highlights
- Nokia becomes Orange Belgium's sole transport supplier
- Project unifies fixed and mobile optical networks
- WaveSuite automates network management and operations
- Network supports services from 1G to 400G
- 1830 PSS debuts within an Orange affiliate
The modernization programme will create an optical network capable of carrying fixed and mobile traffic from customer-provided equipment through metro access and backbone infrastructure. The upgraded network will support services ranging from 1G to 400G and beyond. Nokia will deploy its 1830 PSS platform as the foundation for the converged transport network, marking the first time the high-capacity platform has been introduced within an Orange affiliate for core optical transport.
The project also incorporates Nokia's AI-powered WaveSuite automation platform to simplify network management and operational processes. The software is intended to improve operational efficiency while accelerating the introduction of new services. Alongside automation, the deployment includes end-to-end synchronization management with Nokia's existing radio access network installation, a GMPLS control plane to strengthen network resiliency and thin transponders built on the 1830 PSS platform.
According to the announcement, consolidating fixed and mobile transport infrastructure into a unified network is expected to streamline operations and improve service delivery. The upgraded infrastructure is designed to support growing traffic generated by machine learning applications as well as remote working, video streaming, gaming and cloud services. The project aims to provide reliable and secure connectivity capable of meeting increasing demand for advanced digital services throughout Belgium.
The multi-year deployment represents a long-term infrastructure upgrade focused on creating a converged optical transport network with expanded capacity, automated management and enhanced resilience for future connectivity requirements.
📊 What This Means (Our Analysis)
The announcement highlights a shift toward converged infrastructure that brings fixed and mobile transport together within a single optical network. Combining capacity expansion with automation reflects an approach that emphasizes operational efficiency alongside support for increasing bandwidth requirements.
By integrating automation, higher-capacity transport and resiliency features into one modernization programme, the project focuses on preparing network infrastructure for continued growth in digital services. The combination of these capabilities positions the upgraded network to support evolving connectivity demands while simplifying how the infrastructure is managed.
📌 Our Take: Infrastructure designed for greater scale and automation will play an increasingly important role as network demands continue to expand.