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. 

 

 

Open Access Committee Develops Strategic White Paper to Advance Fibre Market Sustainability

The Open Access Committee published a white paper in 2025 outlining five core principles of Open Access, establishing a shared industry understanding of what it means to operate as an Open Access player in a full-fibre world. This work moved beyond legacy copper-era wholesale models and defined the characteristics required for a sustainable, competitive fibre market.

Based on member feedback, the Committee identified four priority themes for deeper focus:

  • Levelling the playing field against vertically integrated incumbents

  • Establishing a clear Open Access framework and standards

  • Driving take-up and ensuring long-term commercial viability

  • Developing strategic responses to new competition and technology shifts

Building on this foundation, the Committee is now developing a follow-on white paper, provisionally titled:
“Open Access Strategy: Unlocking the Value of Open Access for All and Ensuring Investment Protection.”

This next phase moves from principles to strategy, examining how Open Access models can support network investment, stimulate service competition, and deliver sustainable outcomes for investors, operators, and end users. The Committee aims to publish in time for the FTTH Conference in April and is actively seeking input from operators, ISPs, vendors, and policymakers to shape the future of Open Access in Europe.

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