sdMPLS^® — the multi-site network technology

The best of MPLS and SD-WAN, in a single solution, at the best cost.

sdMPLS combines the control of MPLS with the agility of SD-WAN in a single multi-site network solution, at the price of standard access links — and off the public Internet. A French technology designed and operated by Flex.eu.

Talk to a partner Understand it in 10 minutes

A multi-site project under way? Request a scoping call and we will put you in touch with a partner. Or compare MPLS, SD-WAN and sdMPLS.

Four-layer diagram: standard access links off the public Internet, an SDO VXLAN/EVPN core network operated by Flex.eu, one dedicated VRB controlled by the customer, then WAN, telephony and cloud on a single core.

10,000+links connected to the SDO core
2019in production since
135+distributors and integrators
99.95%availability, 4-hour GTR 24/7
11infrastructure networks collected off the public Internet

Flex.eu figures, September 2026. Details and sources.

The name says what it is

SD for software-defined control,
MPLS for the private operator network

Software-defined. Yours.

Your VRB is your core network: routing, quality of service, segments, opening a flow. You decide, or your partner does it for you.

Your multi-operator collection gateway, virtualised

Your fibre, copper and 4G/5G links land directly in your core network, off the public Internet, whichever operator delivers them (eleven infrastructure networks collected), just as on a real collection gateway: addressing, routing, quality of service and segmentation in your hands. The physical interconnections, the wholesale collection contracts and their operation stay with Flex.eu.

An operator's capabilities, without the investment in, or the operation of, a core network. What difference it makes for a multi-site business

The problem in one picture

Private motorway, GPS, or your own road network?

Three panels: MPLS shown as a private toll motorway (grey), SD-WAN as a GPS choosing a route over existing roads (amber), sdMPLS as a meshed road network whose traffic plan the customer decides (teal). — MPLS is a private motorway you rent from the operator at a high price. SD-WAN is a GPS that picks the best route over existing roads, but can neither widen nor maintain them. sdMPLS is your own road network, whose traffic plan you decide, built on standard roads.

You run a multi-site business

Keep control, cut the bill, simplify the architecture.

For businesses

You are a telecom consultancy or procurement advisor

A third way to build into your tenders, as neutral, verifiable criteria.

Consultants' area

You are a distributor or integrator

Partners' area

Three pillars

What sdMPLS brings

The control of MPLS

A private core network that you control: routing, QoS, segmentation, traffic engineering. SD-WAN only touches the edges; sdMPLS hands you control of the core.

The agility and cost of SD-WAN

Standard access links (FTTH, FTTO, xDSL, 4G/5G) at market prices. A site whose link already exists is connected in a few days, and every change to the network takes effect instantly from the VRB, whereas MPLS takes 60 to 120 days and goes back through the operator for every change.

A single infrastructure

WAN, telephony and cloud on one VXLAN core, for customers who also carry their telephony and hosting on the SDO core; the others keep their existing services and converge only the WAN onto it. Either way, a single architecture to understand and operate, whose changes are made from the VRB.

A private network, off the public Internet

“Standard access links” does not mean Internet links. The sites' links (FTTH, FTTO, xDSL, 4G/5G) are delivered into the sdMPLS core network through direct collection gateways between operators, with private APNs for mobile: traffic between the customer's sites never transits the public Internet or third-party operators. Internet access goes through a single Internet exit at the core network, via Flex.eu's BGP routers and transit, shared behind a firewall according to several technical models — including for the 4G/5G SIM cards issued to employees, which join the company network with the same security policy as the sites. Just like MPLS, then: a private network with a single, controlled Internet exit.

Quick comparison

MPLS, SD-WAN, sdMPLS: four differences that matter

Operator MPLSSD-WANsdMPLS

Quick comparison of operator MPLS, SD-WAN and sdMPLS on four criteria
Criterion	Operator MPLS	SD-WAN	sdMPLS
Who controls the core network	The operator, alone	The customer controls its site equipment and policies; the operator's core stays out of reach	The customer, through its VRB
Access links	MPLS-specific, costly links	Standard Internet links	Standard access links (FTTH, FTTO, xDSL, 4G/5G), collected directly into the core
Site activation	60 to 120 days	Days to weeks	Days (existing link); changes take effect instantly
WAN + voice + cloud	Three separate infrastructures	Optimises the WAN; voice and cloud stay on separate infrastructures	A single infrastructure

See the full comparison (13 criteria)

Market figures

Why businesses are looking for an MPLS alternative

−24% per yeardecline in MPLS connections

×2.9average cost premium of MPLS over a business Internet access

60 to 120 dayslead time to open an MPLS site

Source: Flex.eu synthesis of public market data (analysts, operators), SDO study, March 2026. See the details and the other sourced figures.

Delivered by local partners

sdMPLS is delivered by local integrator and operator partners who display the Powered by sdMPLS label.

Find a partner Become a partner

Who is behind it

Flex.eu, French telecom operator

Flex.eu, a French telecom operator founded in 2011, designs, develops, hosts in France and operates the SDO core network on which sdMPLS is built: four cores in a geo-cluster across two data centres, eleven infrastructure networks collected off the public Internet.