Orange has partnered with French postal service La Poste to repurpose network equipment which was used during the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
The move aims to minimize the environmental impact of digital technology, a key part of the legacy aspect of the 2024 games.
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According to Orange, several thousand WiFi terminals and other telecoms equipment that was used at the games will be reused by La Poste across key locations in Paris and other areas of France
Orange was the exclusive telecoms partner for the Olympics, which was held in Paris this past summer. The carrier's telecoms infrastructure was deployed across temporary venues, rather than the permanent venues seen at the Rugby World Cup last year.
Providing an example of one such use case, Orange noted that the Maison de l’Innovation in Nantes, set to house over 800 IT professionals from La Poste, will benefit from this next-generation equipment.
In total, around 90 percent of the WiFi terminals and 78 percent of the switches from the Olympic sites will be installed at La Poste's locations in France beginning next year.
"These devices have been used for only a short period of time and have been thoroughly verified to ensure performance, availability, and durability," said the carrier this week. The devices are set to improve the network’s operational efficiency for La Poste employees.
“In the face of scarce resources and the increasing digitalization of services, La Poste Group is committed to reducing the environmental footprint of its tools and applications," said Philippe Bajou, secretary general of the La Poste Group and president of La Poste Group Immobilier. "The reuse of network equipment deployed by Orange for the Olympic Games is an opportunity that perfectly aligns with our desire to promote responsible digital practices."
Aliette Mousnier-Lompré, CEO of Orange Business, said: "This partnership illustrates our commitment to a sustainable and connected future. At Orange Business, we are dedicated to helping our clients and partners in their environmental transition and reducing their carbon footprint."
