The new division will draw on expertise from across the group, which itself is a whole new challenge
Orange “is strengthening its commitment to sovereignty” with a new division dedicated to defence and homeland security within Orange Business. The operator group says this strategic decision aligns with its Lead the Future roadmap, set out in 2023, and “makes Orange’s focus on strategic verticals with high sovereignty stakes a reality”.
The press statement adds, “It also demonstrates the Group’s desire to leverage its operational excellence to support defence and security actors in France and Europe”.
According to Orange, as the defence and security sector increasingly relies on cutting-edge technologies driven by digital innovation and has high requirements for resilience and security, “It demands a deep understanding of the needs of these actors”. Also, it requires “a high level of data sovereignty, risk anticipation, operational excellence, and regulatory compliance”.
Orange Business’ Defense & Security Division (Direction Défense & Sécurité – DD&S) is a specialised unit that brings together “several hundred experts” dedicated to the digital transformation of ministries, operators and companies in the defence and homeland security industries.
The new division aims to strengthen and develop activities to address several challenges that include:
• deployment of resilient connectivity solutions
• hybridisation of civilian and military networks
• hosting of sensitive data, emergency communication systems
• AI and cybersecurity.
All of which will be in collaboration Orange’ Cyberdefense business, which the operator describes as “the sector leader in France and several other European countries”. The new unit will draw on Orange Business’ expertise in deploying, operating and maintaining digital infrastructures owned by Orange.
Backed by infrastructure
It will also depend on the best service quality on its 5G network in France and Europe, 45,000km of terrestrial fibre, more than 2,500 satellite antennas and 450,000km of submarine cable. Orange Cyberdefense will complement this expertise, detecting, protecting against and responding to cyber-attacks, supported by its Cyber Threat Intelligence.
In summary, as Orange explains, “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”.
The expertise is undoubted, what is less sure is how well this will work as it could cause conflicts of interest, for example with people guarding their sales turf and possible inter- and intra-departmental priorities. Cultural and organisational issues are likely to be biggest hurdles to its success.
Leadership
The new entity will be led by Nassima Auvray (pictured), Director of Defense & Security who said, “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, emphasised, “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.”
