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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High levels of FTTH coverage are achievable with bold decisions by policymakers

Society and the economy have become reliant on the availability of high-quality broadband. In many European countries there is extensive coverage of fibre-to-the-home (FTTH) infrastructure capable of providing broadband at gigabit speeds. However, commercial investment to provide FTTH coverage to every premises has its limitations and it is appropriate for public funding to be provided to support the commercial business case. At this point, it is necessary, or at least good practice (depending on jurisdiction), for governments to apply the European Commission broadband State-aid guidelines to develop publicly funded broadband intervention schemes in their respective countries with the aim of achieving Digital Decade targets of 100% coverage of Very High Capacity Networks (VHCN) by 2030. These schemes should reflect the guidelines’ rules including technology neutrality, wholesale services, and least intervention necessary. In addition, and crucially, the foundation for any broadband intervention scheme needs to be based on a carefully considered government approach to delivery. Policy makers need to consider a wide range of issues including local market conditions and operator strategies, the local regulatory environment, investor perspective, different technology capabilities that will influence technical specifications and service level requirements, amongst many other factors. This perspective will identify critical success factors and highlight experience from broadband intervention schemes that have led to high levels of FTTH coverage. 

 

 

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