Orange's Network Evolution Strategy: Lessons from Paris Olympics to Next-Gen Connectivity

In a compelling presentation at Network X 2024, Arnaud Vamparys, Chief Technology and Innovation Officer (CTIO) for Europe at Orange Group, outlined the company's strategic approach to network transformation across Europe. Vamparys showcased how Orange is navigating the transition from legacy systems to next-generation networks while balancing increasing customer demands, data consumption growth, and sustainability goals. This article highlights key insights from his presentation, focusing on Orange's technological innovations, deployment strategies, and vision for the future of telecommunications infrastructure.

Olympic Success: Demonstrating Network Resilience at Scale

Vamparys began by highlighting Orange's remarkable achievement as the exclusive connectivity provider for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. This high-profile event served as a powerful demonstration of network resilience under extreme conditions.

During the Olympics, Orange handled an unprecedented volume of mobile streaming data, equivalent to millions of hours of HD video content. At peak moments during popular events, the network processed traffic volumes that had never been seen before in Orange's operational history.

To ensure uninterrupted service, Orange implemented redundant optical routes for each Olympic venue, deployed dedicated 5G SA private networks for media operations, and established robust business continuity plans that successfully withstood numerous challenges including overheating, power disruptions, and cybersecurity threats.

Fixed Network Evolution: From Copper to 10G Fiber

Orange's fixed network strategy centers on the rapid transition from legacy copper infrastructure to advanced fiber technologies. As an early adopter of GPON technology through its innovation R&D team, Orange has already connected 54 million European households to fiber.

The company is now accelerating implementation of 10 Gigabit capable symmetric XGS-PON technology across its network. By 2025, Orange expects to provide XGS-PON access to three-quarters of the population in its European markets.

This symmetrical technology delivers equal upload and download speeds—crucial for modern applications like video conferencing, content creation, and large file transfers. Orange is simultaneously experimenting with 50 Gigabit technology to future-proof its network infrastructure.

Mobile Innovation: Massive MIMO as a Game-Changer

In the mobile domain, Vamparys identified Massive MIMO as the transformative technology enabling Orange's 5G deployment strategy across Europe.

The technology represents a significant advancement by incorporating approximately 100 antennas in a single unit, allowing for precise directional signal transmission. This capability reduces interference and maximizes spectrum efficiency in ways previously impossible.

This technology proved critical during the Olympic Games, handling thousands of simultaneous connections while maintaining consistent performance. Importantly, Massive MIMO also delivers significant energy efficiency improvements through targeted signal transmission and advanced sleep modes—aligning with Orange's sustainability objectives.

Cloud-Native Networks: 5G Standalone Core

Orange is advancing its network architecture with cloud-native 5G standalone core networks, already deployed in Spain and France with Belgium, Poland, Romania, and Slovakia to follow soon.

The standalone architecture separates 5G from legacy 4G networks, resulting in improved latency and enhanced security through end-to-end encryption. This creates a more adaptable platform that enables truly programmable network capabilities at scale.

This flexibility allows Orange to develop differentiated services for enterprise customers, with new offerings planned for 2025 based on extensive testing with thousands of businesses through Orange's 5G labs.

Collaborative Innovation: APIs and Open Source

Vamparys highlighted two major collaborative initiatives driving Orange's network evolution:

1. Sylva Open Source Project - A telco cloud software framework developed with other European carriers to create a horizontal cloud infrastructure for network workloads

2. Network API Venture - A recently announced partnership with Ericsson and other global telecom operators to standardize network APIs globally

The standardized API approach will enable developers to create applications that work seamlessly across multiple operator networks worldwide, potentially sparking a new wave of digital service innovation.

AI-Enhanced Operations: Augmenting Human Capabilities

Orange is leveraging artificial intelligence to enhance network performance and operational efficiency. Rather than replacing human expertise, AI augments capabilities across network design, deployment, and monitoring.

Vamparys illustrated this with an example of troubleshooting voice over LTE issues, where AI and machine learning have dramatically reduced resolution times from hours to minutes, with some problems now being automatically resolved through self-healing capabilities.

Legacy Decommissioning: Strategic Transition

A critical aspect of Orange's network evolution involves strategically phasing out legacy technologies:

The company has already completed 3G network closure in Slovakia this year, with many other countries following in 2025. Plans for 2G decommissioning are scheduled for the 2028-2030 timeframe.

Similarly, Orange is decommissioning copper networks in Poland, France, and Romania, reallocating resources to newer, more energy-efficient technologies.

Sustainability Through Collaboration

Orange has achieved a 30% reduction in Scope 1 and 2 CO2 emissions ahead of schedule and targets a 45% reduction across all scopes by 2030. Vamparys called for industry-wide collaboration on sustainability.

He suggested the industry needs to find balance between increasing data consumption demands and environmental sustainability goals, advocating for collective effort among all telecommunications stakeholders.

Conclusion

Arnaud Vamparys's presentation at Network X 2024 provided a comprehensive overview of Orange's network evolution strategy—balancing technological innovation with sustainability while meeting growing customer demands. Through strategic technology adoption, legacy decommissioning, and collaborative innovation, Orange is creating resilient networks capable of meeting tomorrow's connectivity challenges.

Human Insight, Summarised by AI.