The FTTH Council Europe has seven active Committees and a Working Group, covering a wide range of fibre-related topics and industry priorities. The Committees and Working Group of the FTTH Council Europe are instrumental in driving the organization’s mission to advance FTTH technology across the continent. By harnessing expertise, shaping policy, strategizing market development, and promoting collaboration, these groups ensure that the Council remains a leading force in the telecommunications industry. Their strategic importance cannot be overstated, as they lay the foundation for a connected, digital Europe where high-speed internet access is a reality for all.

By mean of this series of interviews with Committee and Working Group Chairs, the FTTH Council Europe aims at fostering a sense of community and collaboration among its Members. Committees and Working Group provide a platform for networking, knowledge sharing, and collaborative problem-solving. This collective effort not only accelerates innovation but also builds a robust support system for member organizations, enhancing their capabilities and competitiveness in the market. This is way the efforts and engagement of their individual members deserve the spotlight.

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Barbara Tonarelli

Applying for the Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Committee Chair position

 

First and Last Name: Barbara Tonarelli 

Company Name: ADTRAN

Current position: Principal Sales Engineer 

Company Type: Vendor/Reseller (Products)


Biography:

Over the years I gained a wealth of experience in network access solution projects from Tier 1 to Tier 3 telecommunication operators. I have worked for over 20 years on many FTTx projects in typical fixed access telecom infrastructure markets around Europe in different sales roles from Technical Sales and Product Management to Solution and Project Management.   After a long experience on access technologies within Siemens and Nokia Siemens Networks, since 2012 I joined the Sales branch of ADTRAN Italy, following activities in the Fixed Access Network field, dealing with customers and partners predominantly in Southern Europe. I am part of an international team of Sales Engineers sharing experiences from several operators in the World and an FTTH Council volunteer since 2019

Position statement:

I am a Principal Sales Engineer with over 20 years of experience in the FTTH industry. My technical expertise in end-to-end access network solutions, combined with my open-minded attitude, has enabled me to contribute effectively to multiple initiatives within the FTTH Council over the past five years, particularly through my work with several committees.  Since joining the FTTH Council in 2019, I have been passionately dedicated to advancing our industry’s diversity, equity and inclusion (DE&I) goals. 

Since joining the FTTH Council in 2019, I have been passionately dedicated to advancing our industry’s diversity, equity and inclusion (DE&I) goals. As chairman of the DE&I committee, I am committed to enhancing inclusivity in all senses starting from achieving a more balanced gender representation within our industry.

I look forward to continuing this vital work and driving meaningful change in our industry, focusing on these three fundamental values in which I thoroughly believe.

Your past role(s) and activities in the FTTH Council Europe:

I stepped in as a volunteer in 2019 and initially worked primarily with two teams: the Deployment and Operations Committee and the “Women in Fiber” Working Group, which last year evolved into the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee. In the meantime, I also joined the Sustainability and In-home Broadband Excellence committees.

 

 

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