Dutch operator KPN has completed an overhaul of its core transport infrastructure, deploying an 800G-capable IP and optical network that forms the foundation of its new FabriQ architecture.
The nationwide upgrade will support KPN's fixed and mobile services for consumer, business, and wholesale customers across the Netherlands. The integrated IP and optical systems enable a significant network capacity increase, reaching more than 216Tbps, a five-fold jump from the network's previous 48Tbps capability.
First large-scale European SRv6 brownfield deployment
KPN's project includes the first major brownfield deployment of Segment Routing over IPv6 (SRv6) at this scale in Europe, a crucial step toward comprehensive IP/Optical convergence. The shift to SRv6 is key to KPN's strategy, as it decouples network control from physical topology, enabling simplified automation, improved fault handling, and flexible traffic management essential for modern cloud-based services.
The upgraded infrastructure, which includes Nokia's FP5-powered IP routers and PSE-6-based optical systems, is designed to support customer services exceeding 10 gigabits per second while strengthening overall network resilience. This strategic deployment replaces KPN's existing core infrastructure as the operator rapidly expands its national fibre-optic network.
"FabriQ is the foundation of KPN's digital infrastructure. It supports millions of Dutch businesses and users across a range of sectors," said Erik Brands, executive vice president of network at KPN. "Our new high-performance IP and optical platforms give us the capacity, security, and automation we need for today's services and for the next decade of digital growth."
Focus on energy efficiency and service flexibility
The FabriQ network architecture is designed to connect any access type to services across multiple layers, supporting connectivity to KPN's own cloud infrastructure and public cloud providers alike. Advanced encryption and intelligent failover mechanisms are integrated throughout the architecture.
The platform provides comprehensive functionality, including IP core and peering, metro core, and service edge functions for business and wholesale connectivity. A core driver for the upgrade was reducing power consumption per transported bit, aligning KPN's network efficiency goals with its long-term automation strategy.
Matthieu Bourguignon, senior vice president of network infrastructure for Europe at Nokia, confirmed the success of the deployment, noting that KPN is "raising the bar for telco infrastructure whilst doing so with a sharp focus on energy efficiency, service flexibility, and long-term resilience."
