Consolidating expertise across the group presents organisational challenges

Orange has created a dedicated division for defence and homeland security as part of efforts to strengthen its sovereignty commitments. The move aligns with the operator's Lead the Future roadmap unveiled in 2023 and represents what the company describes as making "Orange's focus on strategic verticals with high sovereignty stakes a reality".

The operator stated that the decision reflects "the Group's desire to leverage its operational excellence to support defence and security actors in France and Europe". As the defence and security sector increasingly depends on advanced digital technologies and demands high resilience and security standards, Orange argues the sector requires "a deep understanding of the needs of these actors", along with "a high level of data sovereignty, risk anticipation, operational excellence, and regulatory compliance".

Orange Business' Defense & Security Division (Direction Défense & Sécurité – DD&S) functions as a specialised unit bringing together "several hundred experts" focused on digital transformation across defence and homeland security ministries, operators and companies.

Addressing key operational and technological requirements

The division will tackle multiple strategic priorities:

  • deployment of resilient connectivity solutions
  • hybridisation of civilian and military networks
  • hosting of sensitive data, emergency communication systems
  • AI and cybersecurity

These efforts will operate in tandem with Orange Cyberdefense, which Orange positions as "the sector leader in France and several other European countries". The new unit will leverage Orange Business' experience in deploying, operating and maintaining digital infrastructure owned by the operator.

The division will also benefit from Orange's 5G network coverage across France and Europe, 45,000km of terrestrial fibre, more than 2,500 satellite antennas and 450,000km of submarine cable. Orange Cyberdefense will provide capabilities for detecting, protecting against and responding to cyber-attacks, supported by its Cyber Threat Intelligence capabilities.

According to Orange, "This division will pull together expertise from various Group entities to ensure a comprehensive value chain, from technological innovation to operational maintenance, including the integration of digital solutions, security, resilience and service quality".

Internal coordination may prove the biggest test

While the technical and operational capabilities are substantial, potential conflicts of interest could emerge—particularly around sales territories and competing departmental priorities. Cultural and organisational challenges are likely to represent the most significant obstacles to effective execution.

Nassima Auvray, Director of Defense & Security, will lead the new entity. She stated: "I am proud to lead this strategic division, which brings together a multidisciplinary team of several hundred experts committed to designing sovereign, resilient, and high-value solutions for our clients and partners in the defense and security sectors. By leveraging Orange's innovation power — from advanced cybersecurity and artificial intelligence to emerging quantum technologies — we are ideally positioned to meet the rapidly evolving needs of this highly specialized sector, which relies on civil solutions and contributes to building tomorrow's secure digital infrastructure."

Aliette Mousnier Lompré, CEO of Orange Business, added: "Defense and security are complex and demanding sectors that require a specialized approach, dedicated expertise, and a nuanced understanding of sovereignty and resilience issues. That's why we have decided to create the Defense & Security Division to harness Orange Business's technological strength and operational excellence in serving key actors in this expanding sector."

Source: Mobile Europe