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. 

 

 

Panel 17 - ESG and Fibre investment strategies

As sustainability moves from ambition to obligation, fibre investment strategies are under pressure to deliver not just returns — but real ESG impact.

At FTTH Conference 2026, this panel brings together leading voices from finance, telecom, and policy to explore how environmental, social, and governance priorities are reshaping fibre investment decisions.

Featuring Barbara Tonarelli (FTTH Council Europe), Felix Heon (Antin Infrastructure Partners), Laura Fernández Cavas (Telefónica Group), Amanda Glancy (SIRO), and Mirko Jerrentrup (Deutsche GigaNetz), the discussion will examine how ESG criteria influence funding, risk assessment, and long-term value creation in fibre networks.

From sustainable finance and regulatory expectations to balancing growth with responsibility, this session asks a critical question: how do you build networks that are both future-proof and future-responsible?


Speakers:

  • Cian OMahony - Head of Operations at SIRO
  • Felix Heon - Head of Sustainability at Antin Infrastructure Partners
  • Laura Fernández Cavas - Head of Sustainable Finance at Telefónica
  • Mirko Jerrentrup - CFO at Deutsche GigaNetz GmbH
  • Moderated by Barbara Tonarelli - Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Committee Chair of the FTTH Council Europe
     

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