This article describes an active network testbed, AMARRAGEbone, deployed across France as part of the RNRT AMARRAGE project. Established to demonstrate the feasibility of the active network architecture jointly conceived and developed by the consortium, this platform enabled the large-scale deployment of active software components. These components were evaluated and validated on the AMARRAGEbone, in the context of innovative and representative services of future technological needs and applications. This article details three network services specified and implemented in accordance with the AMARRAGE architecture: a reliable multicast protocol, a framework for responsive control of video communication, and a dynamic deployment mechanism for active services.