PARIS — March 18, 2026 : Orange Business has formally entered the European counter-unmanned aerial systems (C-UAS) sector with the launch of its new platform, Orange Drone Guardian, a network-based anti-drone solution delivered entirely under a subscription “as-a-service” model. The system was introduced on March 17 during the Orange Business Summit 2026 in Paris and is positioned as the first offering of its kind in Europe.
The service is designed to detect, identify, and classify unauthorized drones operating in low-altitude airspace, initially across France, with plans for expansion into additional European markets. It is targeted at operators of vital importance (OIV), operators of essential services (OES), major event organizers, and public institutions responsible for securing critical infrastructure.
Addressing Civilian Counter-Drone Constraints
The launch comes amid a growing operational gap in Europe, where civilian infrastructure operators are increasingly exposed to unauthorized drone activity but lack the legal authority to deploy jamming systems or kinetic countermeasures.
Orange Drone Guardian is structured as a detection and command-and-control (C2) solution rather than a neutralization system. It provides early-warning capabilities and continuous situational awareness, enabling operators to generate accurate and legally actionable drone tracks. These can be used to initiate site-level safety procedures, manage airspace risks, and coordinate with authorized government responders for intervention.
By focusing on shortening detection timelines and improving operational clarity, the system aims to reduce the risk of incidents involving small drones near sensitive sites.
Telecom Infrastructure as a Sensor Network
A central component of the system is its deployment model, which leverages existing telecommunications infrastructure instead of requiring customers to install dedicated sensor networks.
Orange Business utilizes the nationwide footprint of TOTEM, which operates more than 27,000 tower sites across France and Spain, including approximately 19,700 in France alone. These towers and associated rooftops serve as elevated platforms for hosting detection sensors.
This approach extends line-of-sight coverage, improves observation geometry in dense urban environments, and distributes sensing capabilities across a wide area. It also reduces capital expenditure and deployment time for customers, who can access the system via subscription without building their own infrastructure.
Sovereign Data Processing and Secure Architecture
The platform is built on a sovereign digital architecture designed to ensure secure, low-latency data processing. Sensor data is transmitted through Orange’s managed connectivity network to a secure operations center in France, staffed continuously by specialized personnel.
Data processing and storage are handled within the Cloud Avenue SecNum environment, hosted in an eco-responsible data center in Grenoble. This platform received the SecNumCloud 3.2 certification from ANSSI in July 2025, indicating compliance with stringent national cybersecurity and data sovereignty requirements.
The system integrates a full sensor-to-C2 chain adapted for civilian use, enabling continuous monitoring of low-altitude airspace, including in environments with significant electromagnetic interference and structural density.
Real-Time Surveillance and Operational Integration
Orange Drone Guardian delivers persistent, wide-area surveillance and a continuously updated operational picture of drone activity. Information is distributed in real time to security teams and decision-makers across multiple sites.
The system is optimized for complex urban settings, where signal interference and physical obstructions can limit conventional detection methods. By combining distributed sensors with centralized processing, it enhances detection reliability and tracking accuracy.
Importantly, the platform does not include built-in hard-kill or soft-kill capabilities. Instead, it supports coordination with authorized authorities, enabling structured escalation and response procedures within existing legal frameworks.
Scalable Design and Future Capabilities
The architecture of Orange Drone Guardian is designed to remain open and scalable, allowing integration of additional sensor technologies and software modules over time.
Planned enhancements include the use of artificial intelligence for data fusion and track correlation, as well as digital twin technologies to model protected areas, analyze line-of-sight constraints, and identify likely drone ingress routes. The platform is also positioned to incorporate future 5G radio-sensing capabilities, reflecting a shift toward network-centric detection systems where telecommunications infrastructure contributes directly to sensing functions.
Expansion of Orange’s Defense and Security Portfolio
The launch represents the first major product from the Orange Business Defense & Security division, established in June 2025. According to company officials, the solution draws on Orange’s broader infrastructure, including approximately 45,000 kilometers of terrestrial fiber networks, more than 2,500 satellite antennas, and 450,000 kilometers of submarine cables.
Nassima Auvray, Director of Defense & Security at Orange Business, stated that the platform is intended to address the protection needs of sensitive sites through a combination of sovereign infrastructure, scalable deployment, and integrated service delivery.
Aliette Mousnier-Lompré, CEO of Orange Business, described the system as part of a wider strategy to provide secure and resilient digital solutions for enterprises operating in complex environments.
Multi-Site Coverage for Critical Infrastructure
By combining distributed sensing, secure data transport, trusted cloud processing, and centralized operational oversight, Orange Drone Guardian is designed to support protection across multiple locations simultaneously.
The service is applicable to a range of environments, including logistics hubs, industrial facilities, ports, airports, dense urban zones, and large public events. Its subscription-based model enables organizations to access nationwide surveillance capabilities without significant upfront investment.
With this launch, Orange Business is positioning telecommunications infrastructure as a dual-use asset—serving both connectivity and security functions—while addressing a growing demand for scalable, legally compliant counter-drone solutions in Europe.
——— End of Article ———
