Orange and SoftAtHome provide backup connection during fiber outages

French telecommunications provider Orange has introduced "Reconnexion Flash," a new service designed to maintain household internet connectivity in the event of a fiber optic line failure. The service leverages SoftAtHome's Always'ON technology, which automatically reroutes internet traffic through the customer's smartphone via its mobile network.

Previously, fiber optic outages often caused significant disruptions, with backup solutions typically involving separate hardware like 4G dongles. The "Reconnexion Flash" service eliminates this need. Orange's Livebox router detects the fiber outage and establishes a connection to the customer's smartphone hotspot. This ensures all connected devices within the home remain online without requiring any user reconfiguration.

Available for users of Orange's latest Livebox 7 and Livebox S models, the service is activated remotely. Customers are prompted to scan a QR code displayed on the Livebox, which leads to a brief tutorial on activating their smartphone's hotspot and entering a password. The Livebox then automatically connects to the smartphone when the fiber connection is lost. Once the fiber service is restored, the Livebox seamlessly switches traffic back to the fixed line and disconnects from the mobile network.

Arnaud Bellivier de Prin, CEO of SoftAtHome, highlighted that the Always'ON solution offers significant value to operators by keeping homes connected via the customer's smartphone, thereby maintaining control over the user experience. The technology is designed for integration into various network environments, including the prpl standard.