Members of the FTTH Council Europe are active in every segment of the fibre to the home (FTTH) value chain. The Deployment and Operations (D&O) Committee is the place where technology experts come together to discuss, debate and educate the broader telecom ecosystem and help industry stakeholders understand how to deploy high quality full-fibre networks, addressing the large variety of challenges they face throughout Europe.

From design and planning, to optimal technology selection, roll out of operations, testing and maintenance, our key publication, the FTTH Handbook, brings together state-of-the-art information and recommendations to help every FTTH professional in the industry. Its 9th edition was unveiled on 15th September 2021 during the FTTH Virtual Conference 2021; it is already available for members of the FTTH Council Europe on a complementary basis and can be purchased by the general public here.

5G is fibre’s best friend! The D&O Committee has undertaken two valuable pieces of research to evaluate the potential benefits that are brought about through converged planning of FTTH and 5G backhaul networks.  We presented the results of these studies in a recent webinar, you can access the replay here.

More recently, the Committee has produced a white paper which details the reasons underpinning our position in favour of full-fibre compared to alternative broadband technologies. 

 

 

Policy & Regulation Committee Accelerates Policy Engagement Over Summer

While the summer months are typically associated with vacations, the Policy & Regulation Committee has shifted into high gear to contribute to a series of public consultations. A key focus is the European Commission’s Call for Evidence on the proposed Digital Networks Act (DNA)—a strategically significant initiative that could reshape the regulatory landscape. Central to the debate is whether the current regulatory framework, namely the European Electronic Communications Code (EECC), remains fit for purpose. Our position is clear: the existing framework has proven effective. Any slowdown in investment or risk of Member States missing Digital Decade targets cannot be attributed to the regulatory model itself. We are working to reinforce this viewpoint by aligning with like-minded stakeholders to ensure a united and persuasive message.

At the same time, copper switch-off remains our top priority. This is clearly reflected in all P&R Committee documents currently in preparation, which emphasize the urgency of a coordinated and well-supported transition.

Another ongoing and important debate concerns the upper 6GHz spectrum band. Here, the Committee supports unlicensed use to strengthen the future of Wi-Fi connectivity. This topic has fostered close collaboration with the IBE Committee, given its implications across both regulatory and technical dimensions of future network development.

In short, this summer is anything but quiet for the Policy & Regulation Committee as we continue to shape key policy discussions that will impact our sector for years to come.

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