en.Wedoany.com Reported - Proximus is modernizing its optical network (DWDM) across Belgium through its NEURON project. The initiative involves replacing approximately 700 network nodes nationwide and is part of the network strategy Proximus announced at the end of February. Following a competitive tender, Proximus has chosen French technology provider Ekinops to equip the network with next-generation infrastructure to handle data traffic growth and support future digital services ranging from cloud computing to artificial intelligence. This selection strengthens European influence in critical connectivity infrastructure.
The optical backbone is Proximus's data highway, carrying voice, internet, and television traffic for residential users, businesses, and wholesale partners across Belgium, supporting all technologies from copper and fiber to 5G. This backbone supports up to 96 wavelengths per fiber, with each channel reaching speeds of 800 Gb/s, enabling speeds exceeding 25 Tb/s per fiber pair, designed for long-distance, high-capacity transmission of massive data.
The modernization plan will be completed over four years, covering approximately 700 optical nodes. Most work will be carried out at night to ensure service continuity and minimize customer impact. Laboratory testing has begun, followed by field trials, with the first deployment scheduled for the fourth quarter of 2026. This transformation is largely invisible to end users but is crucial for ensuring digital service quality and future readiness.
The new infrastructure will provide Proximus with a next-generation core network to meet growing connectivity demands. The future network will significantly increase data transmission capacity, enhance infrastructure reliability and efficiency, and offer greater flexibility to support bandwidth-intensive technologies such as cloud computing, streaming services, and artificial intelligence. It will also utilize existing fiber infrastructure more efficiently and gradually integrate quantum-resistant encryption technologies, preparing for the transition to secure communications. Sustainability received particular attention during the selection process, especially regarding equipment energy efficiency and power consumption, criteria aligned with Proximus's environmental goals.
The new network to be deployed across Belgium will become a key component of the country's digital infrastructure, supporting all services provided by Proximus and helping address challenges in connectivity, resilience, and security.
