Ribbon Communications expanded its critical infrastructure portfolio, adding capabilities to help modernize network and communications infrastructure without impacting operational continuity.

Among the additions are Muse, a cloud‑native automation offering designed to simplify deployment, operations, and management of multilayer IP and optical networks. Other capabilities added include advanced circuit emulation, quantum-safe security, and support for 100- to 400-gigabit Ethernet (GbE) interfaces.

“Utilities must modernize their networks, strengthen cyber resilience, and support new digital grid initiatives without disrupting core operations,” Ribbon COO Sam Bucci explained. “Our expanded portfolio enables them to bridge legacy and next-generation requirements on a single, modern platform.”

Ribbon contends utility firms are facing increased pressure to modernize their assets, boosting reliability while also strengthening cybersecurity. Such modernizing efforts requires a careful balance of introducing news technologies capable of improving mission-critical services while supporting legacy operational systems that make up typically intricate complex stacks.

The vendor positions offerings like its NPT 1022M IP access router as the foundation for both IT and operational technology (OT) networks that underpin utility operations.

Its flashiest addition is the Muse Automation Platform, which encompasses advanced automation tools that work across network layers ranging from levels zero to three. The automation offering can be initiated from external systems via APIs, enabling end-to-end orchestration. Operators can implement Ribbon’s pre-made templates to speed up deployments while still having the means to modify them or create new ones from scratch.

Bucci added that the adiditions to Ribbon’s critical infrastructure portfolio “enable utilities to support both legacy and modern services on a common architecture while maintaining operational continuity.”

The utility-focused update follows Ribbon’s “network-in-a-box” launch in June. That concept packages rapidly deployable networking and compute platforms together for critical infrastructure operators as well as defense agencies and emergency responders to restore connectivity during disruptions or operate in remote environments.