Proximus Group selects AWS as a strategic provider, adding to its partnerships with Google Cloud and Microsoft

Proximus Group has selected Amazon Web Services (AWS) “to provide global cloud infrastructure to modernize and unify its business”. Under the multi-year deal, Proximus Group will use AWS’ portfolio of services, including GenAI solutions, to support “a data-driven expansion of its products as the company aims to become a global leader in digital communications, digital identity and connectivity”.

As part of its modernisation, the Group says it will unify data ecosystems across Proximus Global’s core Connect, Engage and Protect products and services portfolio to support its builder community. The thinking is this will provide better accessibility to data and analytics while ensuring regulatory compliance.

Also, it will streamline its digital identity, update it Communication Platform-as-a-Service (CPaaS) using AI and ML to improve scalability and cost-efficiency.

Shifting to a hybrid cloud-based to cloudify its network is intended to improve support for its builder community and reduce costs, optimise efficiency and enable global expansion.

To further these goals, Proximus is also boosting employees’ cloud expertise through training and certification programmes.

The bedrock

Proximus will use Amazon Bedrock, a managed service that offers foundation models from AI companies like AI21 Labs, Anthropic, Cohere, Luma AI, Meta, Mistral AI, poolside (coming soon), Stability AI and Amazon. All of them are available through a single API and will allow Proximus to experiment with “the latest foundation models” and the features needed to GenAI applications.

Proximus has already built a product using Amazon Bedrock – its customer-facing chatbot, Roubot.

Proximus also recently joined the AWS ISV Accelerate Programme and will expand its Software-as-a-Service offerings through AWS Partner Network and AWS Marketplace, creating new revenue streams and market opportunities.

Multi-cloud strategy

In 2023, Proximus signed up Google Cloud in a five-year contract to deliver sovereign cloud services in Belgium and Luxembourg.

This was followed in summer 2024 by a five-year partnership with Microsoft to accelerate offerings to business and residential customers in Belgium and abroad. Microsoft’s products are intended to bolster Proximus’ international affiliates BICS, Telesign and Route Mobile, while Proximus will use Microsoft’s Azure Cloud to evolve its AI & data activities.