Interview Richard van Wageningen - President Europe, Orange Business
When Richard van Wageningen, responsible for the European branch of Orange Business, speaks with executives, half the conversations aren't about technology but about geopolitics and governance. "The question isn't just where your data is, but who controls it. And whether a foreign government can pull the plug," he said during the conversation.
From wake-up call to strategy
Europe has long "taken a lot for granted," says Van Wageningen. The war in Ukraine, tensions in Asia, and US actions made it clear that dependence on non-European suppliers poses a real risk. "It's been a wake-up call. Just as with water management in the Netherlands, a shared threat forces us to collaborate” We realize that we must protect our digital foundation to emerge stronger from the crisis.
Orange Business is also undergoing a major digital transformation. "We're using our own organization as a testing ground," says Van Wageningen. "That's where we learn which choices work – and that experience helps our customers." This creates directly applicable best practices for a wide range of sectors.
Van Wageningen regularly speaks with customers in the Middle East, Asia, and Eastern Europe. He sees countries there consciously diversifying across technology from multiple power blocs: "It's not about trusting one party, but about reducing dependency. This movement is now also gaining momentum in Europe."
That foundation begins with infrastructure. Orange Business, the business arm of telecom group Orange S.A., manages a global network including data centers and 450,000km of submarine cables. "Connectivity is not a commodity but a foundation," says Van Wageningen. Without reliable connectivity cloud, AI, and cybersecurity don't work. For example, factories shut down due to outages or countries without digital payment transactions after cable sabotage.
European cloud as a choice
The discussion about data sovereignty isn't just about technology, but also about trust. “Anyone can build a sovereign cloud,” says Van Wageningen. “The question is: who do you trust?”
Orange Restricted Orange positions itself as a European company that is fully subject to EU law. This means that data in EU Datacenters remain accessible only to employees with European background checks.
The difference with American hyperscalers is clear, he says. Even if data is physically located in Europe, a US court ruling can lead to closure. European governance can therefore be an advantage, not only for European, but also for Asian and American customers operating in Europe.
AI requires governance and common sense
Van Wageningen emphasizes that artificial intelligence isn't "Harry Potter magic." "Garbage in is garbage out. Without proper data management and governance, AI remains an expensive exercise." Orange Business developed Live Intelligence internally, which has since been launched as an external product, where employees work with various large language models. Key point: company data remains internal, is not used to train public models, and remains within EU data centers.
Tens of thousands of employees use the service. "AI is only valuable if governance andcompliance are guaranteed from the outset."
From risk to action
Van Wageningen sees the biggest pitfall in underestimating risks. "Many companies wait until something goes wrong. Then the security savings turn out to be expensive." A security scan, he says, is the first step. This is followed by selecting reliable cloud and network partners, defining a data strategy, and restricting access to sensitive systems.
Cybersecurity remains a human endeavor. Orange trains employees with practical case studies and advises clients to do the same. “Awareness and the tone from the top are crucial. Doing nothing is ultimately more expensive than investing in security. The weakest link remains the human,” says Van Wageningen. Therefore, Orange focuses heavily on awareness training with real-world scenarios. “Not dry modules, but examples that help employees understand where things can go wrong.”
A competitive advantage in the making
Regulations are often seen as a brake on innovation. Yet, the European emphasis on data sovereignty can offer an advantage. “Companies from Asia and the US invest in Europe because they know compliance is strict here. Those who manage things well in Europe can more easily expand elsewhere,” says Van Wageningen.
For organizations that want to start using AI, Orange offers an ‘AI readiness scan’. “This allows us to quickly map whether governance, infrastructure, and data strategy are in order.”
His advice to executives: don't wait. Start with a risk assessment, ensure compliance, and determine which data should remain sovereign. Some data doesn't necessarily need to be in Europe. But sensitive and personal data does. Make that decision consciously. And start small with AI applications, instead of dreaming of immediately doubling profits.
Orange Restricted This is how data sovereignty becomes a weapon for European advantage. "Don't take anything for granted anymore," concludes Van Wageningen. "It's precisely that realization that makes Europe stronger."