How Nokia & E.ON are Modernising Energy Infastructure

Procurement can drive digital transformation by sourcing critical infrastructure aligned with operational, business and sustainability priorities - a strategic advantage that is now being harnessed for the energy industry. 

Under a new strategic agreement, Nokia will modernise E.ON's mission-critical communications infrastructure, starting in Germany.

The initiative will establish an optimised, highly automated telecommunications network for distribution system operators (DSOs), creating a model E.ON can roll out across its European operations.

Powering Germany’s energy transition

E.ON is accelerating Germany’s energy transition through a targeted procurement strategy, securing long-term supply agreements with manufacturers across Germany and Europe.

E.ON’s distribution grid already integrates 1.4 million renewable energy plants, making performance, flexibility and sustainability key to its communications network. Central to this is the integration of IP, optical and fixed access layers within the DSO telecommunications network.

"Modernising our network and harmonising our technical infrastructure is a crucial move to ensure E.ON Group continues to deliver secure, reliable and energy-efficient services across Europe," says Lars Ramelow, Head of Supply Chain, Grid Communication Infrastructure at E.ON Group.

"We're investing in a next-generation telecommunications network that is ready for future demands operationally, technologically and environmentally.

"Nokia is a trusted long-term supplier and its ability to support our network makes it the right choice as we scale our digital transformation."

Single-vendor solution drives efficiency gains

E.ON’s decision to extend with Nokia as a single vendor across IP, optical and fibre domains demonstrates how strategic supplier consolidation can boost governance, efficiency and performance in critical functions.

Using the new Nokia-enabled network and its market-leading chipsets, E.ON will benefit from energy savings of up to 50% compared to current IP and optical systems, while advancing scalability, service continuity, flexibility and responsiveness.

Nokia’s fixed access fibre technologies will deliver a flexible, future-proof platform, ready for seamless upgrades to 25G PON and beyond.

Eleftherios Papadopoulos, Managing Director, Germany at Nokia, adds: "Our long-standing relationship with E.ON reflects a shared commitment to building secure, efficient and future-ready networks.

"As a European company with global reach, Nokia brings the scale, security standards and domain expertise needed to support critical national infrastructure. What sets this project apart is the ability to deliver across all key domains as a single vendor.

"That end-to-end capability, combined with high-quality platforms and proven experience in mission-critical environments and telecommunications, perfectly positions us to enable E.ON to digitise its grids in Germany."

The modernised infrastructure will strengthen both security and resilience, aligning with KRITIS (critical infrastructure) standards and enabling E.ON to respond swiftly to incidents without service disruption. Nokia’s comprehensive delivery across optical, IP and fibre technologies also lays the groundwork for future developments, including quantum-safe networking.

Under the contract, Nokia will provide a complete suite of next-generation solutions to E.ON, encompassing IP routing and switching, optical transport, fixed broadband access (XGS-PON) and Nokia’s industry-leading network automation systems.