Sharing infrastructure is what we do. At Orange Wholesale, every time an infrastructure is shared, there is one less to build: fewer resources, lower energy use, lower CO₂ emissions, and broader coverage across the country. The recent consolidation of two core IP networks in France is a practical illustration of this belief—and a key part of our CSR commitment.
Until recently, our enterprise and consumer networks relied on separate IP cores. Their usage patterns naturally complement each other: business traffic is typically higher during the day, while residential usage peaks in the evening. By bringing them together on a single infrastructure, we can make better use of existing capacity—enhancing both network performance and efficiency.
Sharing our own equipment helps limit replacement cycles while reducing energy and hosting requirements. This change has avoided approximately 783 tonnes of CO₂e—equivalent to the carbon footprint of around 100 Europeans. Wherever possible, decommissioned equipment is reused or resold as part of a circular-economy approach.
Working with Orange Wholesale means reducing your footprint. Naturally.
Beyond efficiency, this transformation strengthens our ability to support changing digital needs: the continued growth of fibre, cloud, data and artificial intelligence. Our infrastructure now relies on digitalised and automated processes, laying the foundations for a more flexible, more resilient network that is easier to evolve over time.
This achievement supports the first priority of our 2026 CSR Commitment Letter: sharing networks that are as efficient as possible. By 2028, we are committed to reducing our emissions by 13% and allocating 15% of eligible capital expenditure to refurbished equipment, as defined in our OSCAR programme1.
It is a measurable pathway towards a more sustainable digital industry.
1 Eligible CAPEX under the OSCAR programme (Orange Sustainable and Circular Ambition for Recertification): active network and IT equipment for which a certified reconditioned alternative, compliant with EU directives and ITU recommendations, is available and compatible with service performance requirements. Critical safety equipment and passive infrastructure are excluded. Scope covers Wholesale & Enterprise combined.
