Nokia & ALE expand fibre campus networks partnership

Alcatel-Lucent Enterprise and Nokia have expanded their strategic relationship with new joint network deployments at Ikos Resorts in Greece, Pantai Jerudong Hospital in Brunei and Wembley Park in the UK.

The projects use a combined fibre-based campus network from the two groups. The networks support multi-gigabit data services across large sites.

The companies said the latest wins mark a milestone in their five-year partnership. They have now supplied joint solutions to more than 100 enterprise customers worldwide.

The partnership combines Nokia's optical fibre systems with Alcatel-Lucent Enterprise's local area network and Wi-Fi products. The combined offer targets sectors such as transportation, smart cities, energy and utilities, healthcare and hospitality.

Campus fibre focus

Nokia supplies the optical LAN platform used in the sites. The system uses fibre in place of traditional copper-based LAN designs in campus environments.

The optical LAN supports high-capacity connections for devices and applications across large estates. Nokia said the architecture supports growing bandwidth demand for in-building and campus networks.

Alcatel-Lucent Enterprise provides LAN switches and Wi-Fi infrastructure on top of the optical layer. The enterprise platform manages connectivity for users and devices inside buildings.

The ALE system offers automated onboarding of devices. It also applies security controls across the network.

The security features include asset discovery and classification. The platform supports virtual segmentation and continuous monitoring.

The LAN products offer Layer 2 services. They also support high-power Power over Ethernet and optional redundant uplinks.

Hospitality and healthcare

The combined solution targets hotels and resorts that run many parallel services over a single network. The companies highlighted deployments at Ikos Resorts as an example of this model.

Ikos Resorts uses the network to link hundreds of guest rooms at its luxury all-inclusive properties. The network carries guest services, CCTV, fixed and wireless voice, Wi-Fi and building safety sensors.

The design uses a single high-availability architecture across the resort. The fibre-based approach reduces the number of network layers and the physical space needed for cabling and equipment.

Pantai Jerudong Hospital in Brunei has also adopted the joint solution. The hospital runs clinical and administrative applications across its campus network.

In the UK, Wembley Park uses the combined portfolio in a mixed-use urban development. The site includes residential, retail and leisure properties.

Energy use and costs

Nokia and ALE position the fibre-based approach as a way to lower energy consumption in large networks. The companies also cite lower total cost of ownership compared with traditional designs.

Optical LAN architectures use fewer active components in intermediate locations. This can reduce power and cooling needs in communication rooms.

The partners also point to simplified operations. They say a converged campus network can replace multiple separate infrastructures.

Partnership milestone

The agreement between Nokia and ALE covers in-building and campus connectivity for critical industries. The two firms pitch their solution at sites that require continuous service and secure data transport.

The five-year collaboration has already supported projects such as Grand Paris Express in France, Montreal rail networks in Canada and Okada Manila resort in the Philippines. These contracts span transport, public infrastructure and hospitality.

The companies say their joint reference base demonstrates demand for integrated optical and enterprise networking. They highlight the ability to address both carrier-grade and enterprise requirements inside one framework.

Sandrine El Khodry, EVP Global Sales & Marketing at Alcatel-Lucent Enterprise, said the expanded partnership reflects customer needs in these sectors.

"By combining ALE's agile enterprise networking solutions with Nokia's carrier-grade infrastructure, we offer a comprehensive portfolio that addresses the unique needs of critical industries. Our partnership is built on trust, innovation, and a shared commitment to customer success," said El Khodry.

Matthieu Bourguignon, Senior Vice-President, Head of Europe at Nokia, said the relationship supports broader projects in multiple markets.

"Our collaboration with Alcatel-Lucent Enterprise allows us to deliver end-to-end, mission-critical solutions that go beyond traditional boundaries. We are proud of the joint successes we've achieved and look forward to enabling even more transformative projects together," said Bourguignon.