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. 

 

 

The Annual Fiber Conference (Finnet Conference), Finland

Event: The Annual Fiber Conference (Finnet Conference)
Speaker: Niall Halpenny - Chair, FTTH Council Europe Open Access Committee
Date: 4th-5th November 2025
Organiser: Finnet Association and Finnish Regional Networks Association 
Location: Tampere, Finland


Open Access principles were crucial for maximizing the utilization of fibre infrastructure, fostering competition, and ensuring equitable service delivery across urban and regional networks. This annual conference was the most important gathering for the Finnish FTTH ecosystem to address these challenges.

This dedicated panel session brought together Finnish operators, technical, and regulatory experts to delve into the operational and policy aspects of the FTTH rollout. The discussion focused on maximizing the efficiency and reach of Finnish fiber networks, examining successful open access deployment strategies and the regulatory environment needed to support continued investment in regional areas.

Niall Halpenny, representing the FTTH Council Europe Open Access Committee, contributed European insights and best practices on leveraging shared infrastructure models to accelerate connectivity. Participants gained practical knowledge on the technical and commercial factors that enabled a thriving fiber market, ensuring that Finland remained a leader in connectivity and reached its national digital goals. All fiber stakeholders were encouraged to join this essential national and European discussion.

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