Proximus modernizes its optical network with Ekinops to support tomorrow's digital needs
With its NEURON project, Proximus is embarking on a nationwide modernization of its optical network (DWDM). This major strategic project involves the replacement of approximately 700 network nodes across Belgium and is part of Proximus's network strategy announced end-February. Following a competitive tender process, Proximus has selected French technology provider Ekinops to equip its network with a next-generation infrastructure designed to accommodate the sustained growth in data traffic and support tomorrow's digital services, from cloud computing to artificial intelligence. This choice also strengthens the European footprint of a critical connectivity infrastructure.
A critical infrastructure at the heart of all services
The optical backbone network is Proximus's true data highway. Every day, it carries voice, Internet and television traffic across Belgium for residential customers, businesses, and wholesale partners, supporting all technologies, from copper and fiber (FTTH) to 5G.
This national optical backbone can support up to 96 wavelengths ("colors") per fiber, with speeds of up to 800 gigabits per second (Gb/s) per channel, enabling speeds of more than 25 terabits per second (Tb/s) per fiber pair - far exceeding the performance of residential networks. It stands out from access networks such as FTTH as it is designed to transport massive amounts of data over long distances at very high capacity.
The modernization program will be carried out over a four-year period and will cover approximately 700 optical nodes across the country. Most of the work will take place at night to ensure service continuity and minimize any impact on customers. Laboratory testing has already started and will be followed by field trials. The first deployment is scheduled for the fourth quarter of 2026.
This transformation will be largely invisible to end users, yet it is essential for ensuring the quality and futureproofing of digital services.
A next-generation network to support the growth of digital services
This new infrastructure will provide Proximus with a next-generation core network capable of meeting growing connectivity needs.
The future network will significantly increase data transport capacity while further improving the overall reliability and efficiency of the infrastructure. In practical terms, it will provide greater flexibility and support future technological developments, including cloud computing, streaming services and artificial intelligence, which place particularly high demands on bandwidth. It will also make more efficient use of the existing fiber infrastructure by increasing the amount of data that can be carried over each link. It also plays a key role in preparing the transition to secure communications, notably through the gradual integration of quantum-resistant encryption technologies.
As part of the selection process, particular attention was also paid to sustainability, especially the energy efficiency and power consumption of the equipment. These criteria are fully aligned with Proximus's environmental ambitions while ensuring a high-performance, scalable, and responsible infrastructure.
A strategic project for Belgium
The new network, to be deployed nationwide, will become a key component of Belgium's digital infrastructure. It will support all services delivered by Proximus and help address growing challenges related to connectivity, resilience and security.
With the NEURON project, we are continuing the in-depth transformation of our network to provide our customers with ever more powerful and reliable connectivity. Modernizing our optical backbone is a key step in supporting the growth of digital services and preparing for future capacity requirements.
We are pleased to support Proximus as it evolves its network. This agreement highlights the relevance of our optical transport solutions and our ability to deliver flexible and scalable network architectures. We thank Proximus for its trust and look forward to working together.
