Spanish service provider MasOrange is transforming its transmission network to better address the surge in data traffic driven by 5G and growing adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) applications, while progressing towards Level 4 of TM Forum’s Autonomous Networks (AN) framework.

The use of automation and AI to reinvent its transport network is a key part of its strategy to build AI-centric networks. “We are working to leverage automation and AI across our network to make it more intelligent and adaptive. By enabling the network to learn, anticipate issues and self-optimise, we are progressing steadily toward Level 4 autonomous operations, to enhance operational efficiency, minimise errors and ensure superior service quality,” said Pilar Puerta Galvan, Transmission Director at MasOrange, in conversation with Tony Poulos, Contributing Editor at TelecomTV.

Formed by the merger of Orange Spain and MASMOVIL in 2024, MasOrange is Spain’s leading service provider in terms of the number of customers, with 41 million lines at the end of December 2025.

Level 4 of TM Forum’s Autonomous Networks framework is an ambitious goal for service providers and represents one of the highest levels of automation in a network. At this level, networks can predict, decide and act autonomously with minimal human involvement. These networks utilise AI, machine learning and intent-based orchestration to manage end-to-end service lifecycles, enabling self-healing and self-optimisation.

AI growth reshapes transport requirements

As AI workloads scale, they drive heavy east-west traffic exchanges, which place unprecedented demands on the transport network. As a result, optical transmission capacity is emerging as a key enabler for next-generation data-driven services rather than a background utility.

MasOrange has already established a strong and highly redundant transmission network. Besides using automation and AI, MasOrange is focusing on innovation to build networks of the future. The service provider recently achieved a 2 Tbps in its live data transmission network in Madrid. The transmission capacity of the new technology will support up to 800,000 simultaneous high-definition channels or 160,000 4K (ultra-high-definition) channels.

“Achieving the speed of 2 Tbps in a live network on a single wavelength proves that our network can now support the massive growth that AI will bring, which is more data, more services and more real-time applications,” explained Puerta Galvan.

This achievement surpasses MasOrange’s previous world record of transferring data at 1.6 Tbps over a single wavelength on its commercial network in Madrid in November 2025. A year earlier, it had set a record of transmitting data at 1.2 Tbps over a commercial optical transmission network using a single wavelength over terrestrial cable.

In addition, MasOrange conducted a C+L spectrum band trial, demonstrating that a single fibre can support up to 96 Tbps of total capacity. “This is not only a technical milestone. It shows our network can address the future requirements, be it AI services, immersive applications or massive data growth,” said Puerta Galvan.

This focus on the optical backbone network gives MasOrange unmatched scalability to address the demands of the growing data traffic. “We have modernised the transmission network so it can grow naturally with the traffic of tomorrow, traffic coming from AI, cloud, video and real-time services. This evolution makes the network a true engine for sustainable business expansion,” said Galvan.

This provides MasOrange with a competitive edge, particularly as it has recently launched 5G standalone (5G SA) and 5G-Advanced (5G-A) services, requiring massive transmission capacities. “Evolution of our transmission network combined with 5G SA and 5G-Advanced gives us more capacity, more efficiency and more possibilities for new services. It turns the network into a real engine for value creation and long-term business growth for MasOrange,” said Puerta Galvan.

MasOrange’s focus on transforming the optical backbone network positions it closer to realising AI-centric networks, which will enable it to seize emerging opportunities in the AI era.

A crucial component of building AI-centric networks is security. In this context, Puerta Galvan believes that security is emerging as a key differentiator, and that encryption will play a central role in securing the infrastructure. “We are already thinking about how to evolve toward post-quantum encryption in a way that protects the network without impacting its performance,” she said.

“The networks of the future in Spain will be more automated, powered by AI, and security will be integrated end-to-end, not treated as a separate component,” said Puerta Galvan.