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 solution, at the price of standard access links — and off the public Internet. A French technology designed and operated by Flex.eu.

Four-layer diagram: standard access links, a shared and segmented SDO VXLAN/EVPN core network, one dedicated VRB per customer, then WAN, voice and cloud on a single core.

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.

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 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, where 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, which evolves 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 private 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, controlled 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
CriterionOperator MPLSSD-WANsdMPLS
Who controls the core networkThe operator, aloneThe customer controls its site equipment and policies; the operator's core stays out of reachThe customer, through its VRB
Access linksSpecific, costly MPLS linksStandard Internet linksStandard access links (FTTH, FTTO, xDSL, 4G/5G), collected directly into the core
Site activation60 to 120 daysDays to weeksDays (existing link); changes take effect instantly
WAN + voice + cloudThree separate infrastructuresOptimises the WAN; voice and cloud stay on separate infrastructuresA single infrastructure

See the full comparison (10 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.

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Delivered by local partners

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

“Powered by sdMPLS®” label

Who is behind it

Flex.eu, French telecom operator

Flex.eu, a French telecom operator founded in 2011, designs and operates the SDO core network on which sdMPLS is built.