Nokia has introduced new AI-driven digital twin capabilities designed to help broadband operators enhance network reliability, reduce operational costs, and accelerate fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) deployment.
The new tools, part of Nokia’s Altiplano platform, enable operators to create a comprehensive digital replica of their fiber networks—both active and passive components—offering a single, unified view that eliminates visibility gaps and streamlines maintenance operations.
This innovation comes at a time when operators are investing heavily in FTTH rollouts to meet the growing global demand for high-speed internet.
Building Smarter, More Reliable Fiber Networks
Operators deploying FTTH networks often face limited visibility into the passive outside plant—the underground and aerial fiber infrastructure that connects homes and businesses. This lack of insight frequently leads to inventory mismatches, repeated truck rolls, cost overruns, and service delays.
Nokia’s new digital twin and AI tools address these issues by enabling real-time monitoring and predictive maintenance. The unified view provided by the Altiplano platform helps network engineers detect disruptions earlier, perform root cause analysis, and resolve faults on the first attempt.
According to Jaimie Lenderman, Principal Analyst at Omdia:
“Digital twins and AI tools will play an important role in autonomous networks. By unifying active and passive components in a single view, operators can minimize disruptions, resolve issues swiftly, and deliver reliable, cost-effective broadband that sets a new connectivity standard.”
Inside Nokia’s Altiplano Digital Twin Platform
The Altiplano digital twin capabilities integrate seamlessly with a range of inventory and geospatial software systems, supporting both new (greenfield) and existing (brownfield) network deployments.
They also come pre-integrated with Nokia’s Broadband Easy digital platform, which automates fiber rollout, inventory management, and service operations.
Geert Heyninck, General Manager of Broadband Networks at Nokia, explained:
“We can help operators eliminate the blind spots associated with FTTH deployments by removing the need to look at the active and passive network independently. Our software tools and digital platforms provide a unified view of the network, allowing operators to detect issues faster and resolve them before they escalate. This results in significant operational advantages, cutting costs and improving both the reliability and accuracy of network builds.”
The Role of AI: From Monitoring to Prediction
At the heart of the Altiplano ecosystem is AI-driven network intelligence, which allows operators to move from reactive to proactive management.
One of the standout additions is the Fiber Health Analyzer, an AI-powered application that continuously monitors the health of fiber links. It can audit network topology, isolate faults, and even detect service degradation before customers experience an outage.
The platform also introduces the Subscriber Line Identifier—a tool that verifies splitter connectivity, performs real-time inventory updates, and ensures that network records accurately reflect current field conditions.
Together, these tools enable a self-healing, data-driven fiber network capable of adapting to environmental changes and user demands.
Real-World Benefits: Efficiency Meets Innovation
Early adopters of the new tools are already reporting improvements in operational efficiency and service reliability.
Danvig De Bruyn, CEO of fibertime, noted:
“Nokia’s automation and AI-powered tools not only help us to improve operational efficiencies but also enhance the reliability of our FTTH network. We can now detect disruptions earlier and resolve incidents more quickly to ultimately improve the subscriber experience.”
By combining AI, automation, and digital twin technology, Nokia is enabling operators to cut unnecessary costs, reduce downtime, and deliver broadband experiences that meet the expectations of an increasingly connected world.
Why This Matters for the Broadband Industry
The adoption of digital twin technology represents a major paradigm shift in telecom infrastructure management.
Traditionally, operators have relied on separate systems to monitor the active (electronics) and passive (fiber and cables) parts of their networks. This siloed approach often leads to fragmented visibility and slower issue resolution.
Nokia’s Altiplano platform merges these two layers into one, creating a real-time, digital mirror of the entire network ecosystem. This not only helps in predictive maintenance but also supports automation, AI learning loops, and better decision-making.
The result: a more resilient, cost-effective network that can adapt as demand for high-capacity broadband continues to surge.
Innovation Spotlight: The Rise of Digital Twins in Connectivity
Digital twin technology—once reserved for manufacturing and aerospace—is now making its mark in telecommunications and broadband infrastructure.
By simulating network performance under different scenarios, operators can use these digital models to plan expansions, forecast failures, and optimize maintenance schedules. When combined with machine learning algorithms, these systems become capable of autonomous network operation, marking a significant step toward self-optimizing networks (SONs).
As connectivity becomes the backbone of digital economies, tools like Nokia’s Altiplano are paving the way for smarter, greener, and more reliable infrastructure.
