Nokia has been chosen by Dutch operator KPN to overhaul the digital backbone of the Netherlands with a new 800G-capable IP and optical network, in a project that will replace KPN’s existing core infrastructure across the Netherlands and massively expand its capacity.
The nationwide program, branded FabriQ, will function as the central transport layer for all fixed and mobile services KPN delivers to millions of residential, business and wholesale customers across the country.
As one of the largest telecom providers in the Netherlands, KPN has been investing heavily in fiber roll-outs to extend high-speed broadband to as many premises as possible. FabriQ is the next step in that strategy, shifting focus from the access layer to the core. By redesigning the underlying transport fabric, KPN aims to deliver higher speeds, boost resilience and automation, and support its sustainability targets through more energy-efficient platforms.
At the heart of the deployment are Nokia’s latest FP5-powered IP routers combined with optical transport systems based on the company’s PSE-6 coherent engine. The upgrade will increase KPN’s core capacity from about 48 terabits per second to more than 216 Tbps, while also enabling the operator to offer end-customer services at speeds above 10 Gbps. For KPN’s enterprise and wholesale customers, that level of capacity is intended to support bandwidth-hungry applications such as real-time collaboration, cloud workloads, IoT and low-latency industrial services.
Nokia’s FabriQ initiative also introduces support for 800G-ready wavelengths in the optical layer, allowing KPN to scale capacity per fiber without constantly lighting new routes. For a relatively dense and highly connected market like the Netherlands, that kind of spectral efficiency is a key lever to manage long-term traffic growth while keeping energy consumption and operational complexity under control.
Segment Routing over IPv6
Architecturally, FabriQ is notable as one of Europe’s first large-scale brownfield deployments of segment routing over IPv6 (SRv6). Rather than relying on traditional MPLS label stacks, SRv6 encodes path information directly in the IPv6 header. This allows KPN to separate traffic steering and service logic from the underlying physical topology, simplifying automation, improving fault handling and enabling more granular control over how flows traverse the network. For operators under pressure to deliver cloud-like agility on telecom-grade infrastructure, SRv6 is emerging as a strategic technology choice.
KPN positions FabriQ as a “digital aorta” connecting any type of access to any service, whether hosted in KPN’s own data centers or in public clouds. The design includes end-to-end encryption options and intelligent failover to handle link or node failures without visible impact on customer experience. On top of the transport layer, the network will support a range of services including IP core and peering, metro core, service edge, optical core transport, monitoring and lawful intercept capabilities that are mandatory in regulated telecom environments.
For business and wholesale users, the practical outcome should be higher and more predictable performance, a platform better suited to network-centric business models, and a core that can accommodate future services without repeated forklift upgrades. For Nokia, the deal extends a long-running relationship with KPN and reinforces its position in Europe’s IP and optical infrastructure market at a time when many operators are rethinking their core designs for the cloud era.
Executive Insights FAQ
What exactly is KPN building with the FabriQ project?
KPN is rolling out a new nationwide IP and optical core network that will replace its existing backbone. FabriQ will carry all fixed and mobile traffic, connecting fiber access, mobile networks and data centers to each other and to the public cloud. It is intended to serve as the long-term, high-capacity transport fabric for consumer, enterprise and wholesale services.
Why is the move to 800G-capable and 216 Tbps core capacity significant?
The jump to 800G-ready wavelengths and more than 216 Tbps of total core capacity gives KPN considerable headroom for traffic growth over the coming decade. This allows the operator to aggregate more services over fewer optical channels, improving spectral efficiency and reducing the cost per transported bit. For customers, it creates room for multi-gigabit broadband, higher-capacity enterprise connections and more demanding real-time applications.
What role does SRv6 play in KPN’s new architecture?
Segment routing over IPv6 lets KPN steer traffic flows using instructions embedded in the IPv6 header instead of relying solely on traditional MPLS. This makes it easier to automate provisioning, define application-specific paths and implement fast reroute mechanisms. The result is a more programmable network core that can adapt to dynamic, cloud-driven traffic patterns while simplifying operations.
How does this transformation impact enterprise and wholesale customers?
Enterprises and wholesale partners gain access to a core network with higher throughput, lower latency options and more robust failover. The enhanced automation and traffic engineering capabilities can translate into more differentiated SLAs, better performance for cloud and SaaS workloads, and improved quality of service for latency-sensitive use cases such as voice, video and industrial control. Wholesale customers also benefit from a more scalable platform for IP transit and backhaul.
In what way does the project address energy efficiency and sustainability goals?
By deploying Nokia’s newer generations of IP and optical silicon, KPN can transport far more traffic per watt than on its legacy platforms. Higher-density line cards, 800G-capable optics and better integration reduce the number of physical devices and interfaces needed for a given capacity. Combined with more intelligent traffic engineering, this helps lower the energy footprint of the core network, aligning the infrastructure upgrade with KPN’s broader sustainability and cost-efficiency objectives.
