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Orange has joined forces with Facebook to launch a new accelerator aimed at supporting startups working on network infrastructure, under the umbrella of the Telecom Infra Project (TIP).
Named “Telecom Track,” the program will connect participating startups with leading experts from Orange and its partners to address a range of network challenges — from network management to emerging access technologies — across multiple regions. Startups in the program will benefit from the existing Orange Fab framework, participating in targeted workshops and mentoring sessions led by experienced specialists. They will also be eligible for an optional €15,000 grant and gain access to workspace at Orange Gardens, home to the Group’s research and innovation teams.
Beyond the resources offered by Orange Fab, participating startups will be able to tap into the knowledge and networks of the TIP community, TEAC, and Facebook. This collaborative structure will help startups connect with innovation teams, investment partners, and venture capitalists who can offer further guidance and potential funding to bring new products and services to market.
Mari-Noëlle Jégo-Laveissière, Executive Vice President of Innovation, Marketing and Technologies at Orange, said: “As we evolve our networks toward 5G and future technologies, there is a significant opportunity to innovate at the network level. It’s essential to support the talented innovators who will continue to drive telecoms forward.”
The Telecom Track accelerator emphasizes practical collaboration between operators, technology partners, and early-stage companies. By focusing on infrastructure-level innovation, the program targets solutions that can improve network performance, reduce deployment costs, and enable more flexible, scalable architectures. These advances are especially important as operators prepare for increased demand from 5G services, edge computing, and the growing number of connected devices.
Startups selected for the program will be expected to work closely with technical teams to validate concepts, pilot technologies in real-world conditions, and refine business models for commercial deployment. The combination of mentorship, workspace, and potential funding is designed to shorten the path from prototype to market-ready product. Access to Orange’s operational expertise and Facebook’s technical resources can also accelerate integration with existing network platforms and standards.
Participants will benefit from a structured curriculum that combines technical deep dives, go-to-market strategy sessions, and investor-readiness preparation. Workshops will cover areas such as software-defined networking, automation and orchestration, open radio access network (O-RAN) components, and novel approaches to last-mile connectivity. Mentors will include engineers and product managers with hands-on experience in deploying large-scale telecom networks.
In addition to direct mentorship, the accelerator aims to foster community-building among participating startups and the broader TIP ecosystem. This approach helps founders learn from peers, identify collaboration opportunities, and form partnerships that extend beyond the program’s duration. The presence of investors and corporate partners within the accelerator’s network also increases the likelihood of follow-on financing for promising projects.
By launching Telecom Track, Orange and Facebook are signaling a shared commitment to open, collaborative innovation in telecommunications infrastructure. The program is intended to accelerate the development of practical, deployable solutions that address current industry challenges while anticipating future needs driven by 5G and beyond. For startups focused on infrastructure innovation, this initiative offers a concentrated mix of technical support, industry connections, and potential funding to help translate ideas into impact.