Our key policy priorities

The FTTH Council Europe considers that fibre networks are fundamental to the digital transformation of European economies and that the objectives of the Digital Decade need to be reached in a timely fashion.

To this end, the FTTH Council Europe considers it essential to maintain a favourable regulatory framework for fibre investment in a competitive environment. The existing framework has delivered, and is delivering, good results in terms of fibre deployment and in our view, in Europe, concerns are mostly on the demand side of the fibre market.

Among our key policy priority is copper switch-off, which would give a clear signal to the sector and investors, have positive impact on FTTH roll-out and adoption, and have advantages in terms of energy efficiency and operational costs. This is why the FTTH Council Europe launched the Copper Switch-Off Tracker.

Browse below our key objectives that in our view should be at the core of the current 2024-2029 EU legislative and regulatory cycle.

Our positions as FTTH Council Europe

Reducing uncertainty on the demand side

Clear policy objectives, such as progressive copper switch-off, encourage investment in fibre networks. Learn how these measures boost productivity and support the green transition.

Maintaining a Competitive Environment

Effective competition drives innovation and network expansion. Explore our strategies to promote fair market practices and prevent monopolistic behaviour in fibre network development.

Facilitating Fibre Network Deployment

A favourable regulatory environment is critical for fibre deployment. From reducing barriers to infrastructure sharing to implementing cost-reduction measures, Europe needs to further develop a fibre-friendly ecosystem.

Supporting the Green Transition

Transitioning to fibre networks offers significant energy savings and environmental benefits. We advocate for integrating fibre networks into the EU taxonomy to unlock green financing opportunities.

Ensuring Spectrum Availability for In-Home Connectivity

In-home Wi-Fi is the backbone of digital usage. Proper allocation of the 6GHz spectrum is vital to ensure faster and more reliable connectivity for European households and businesses.

Digital Networks Act

We welcome the Digital Networks Act’s focus on investment and competition, supporting regulatory stability through the SMP process. We support a balanced copper switch-off protecting consumers, tailored access remedies reflecting national realities, and constructive engagement to accelerate FTTH deployment and strengthen sustainable competition.

Cybersecurity Act

The FTTH Council Europe supports stronger security and resilience in Europe’s telecom network and services market, understands that the proposed Cybersecurity Act is part of the broader strategy aimed at guaranteeing Europe’s strategic autonomy and security, and is willing to cooperate with European Institutions to achieve this objective.

Copper Switch-Off Tracker

This new study, carried out by Cullen International and set to become a vital evidence base for policymakers, regulators, operators and investors, provides a comprehensive analysis of the progress toward deactivating legacy copper networks in the EU27 + UK area, including policy and market implications of transitioning to fibre.

Learn more

FTTH Policy & Regulations essentials

The deployment of FTTH networks is a complex and multifaceted endeavour, and the framework governing their rollout is of utmost importance: this guide has the aim of providing companies, policymakers, investors, and other stakeholders with the policy & regulations fundamentals for the deployment of FTTH networks in Europe.

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FTTH Adoption Drivers and Hurdles in Europe

By carrying out a thorough analysis of FTTH market data and doing a deep dive into 8 selected countries, the FTTH Council Europe, in collaboration with Plum Consulting, has developed a series of recommendations of measures that both policymakers and industry executives will find useful when considering how to increase the FTTH adoption.

Xavier Renard

Jun 3, 2024

All applicants | Board of Directors applicants |

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Applying for a Board of Directors position

First and Last Name: Xavier Renard

Company Name: ACOME

Current position: Marketing Director

Company Type: Vendor/Reseller (Products)

Biography:

Xavier Renard, with 19 years in Product and Strategic Marketing, holds 23 years of experience in the Telecom and Datacom. Notably, he contributed to Nexans and Schneider-Electric, focusing on FTTH market and digitization in smart buildings and assessed for Schneider-Electric product’s environmental impact. As ACOME’s Marketing Director, he champions environmental responsibility, also serving on the FTTH Council Europe Board.

Position statement:

ACOME Group is a French industrial company specialized in High-tech network cables, ducts and connectivity. With more than 20 years of experience in fibre networks, ACOME has developed a strategic capacity for anticipation during its 90 years of existence. In the year 2000 ACOME invested in its fiber-drawing towers. In 2004, ACOME was one of the very first companies to join the FTTH Council EUROPE. In 2009, ACOME was one of the founding members of PEP Ecopassport, an Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) certified by an independent third party and now became an international program with more than 3000 EPDs available on line. In 2022, I was elected to the board of directors of the FTTH council. I was convinced that the FTTH Council had unexpressed potential to create European momentum in the decarbonization of the sector, and I wanted to make my personal contribution. The newly created sustainability committee provided an ideal framework to organize a pilot project with 11 members. We demonstrated that collectively we could invent tools allowing not only to build a first database of conversion factors for products in the sector and a first observatory, but also a means of having shareable data. At the same time, members were able to assess their company's carbon footprint (GHG Protocol). A win-win situation, whatever the size of the company. I am renewing myself today for a second term because, while we have just launched the cooperative FTTH carbon footprint platform, I want to transform this initiative into a real and sustainable dynamic. The first model will have to evolve, the rules will have to be adapted to a larger number of participants etc. This can only happen collectively. It is therefore not only a call to vote, but also a call to join the platform!

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

Since the very beginning of the FTTH Council, working for Nexans at that time. I came back in the fibre sector 5 years ago, and being elected at the board in 2022. I am nowadays active in the Sustainability committee.

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