In December 2019, the European Commission presented the European Green Deal with the ambition of making Europe the first climate-neutral continent by 2050, boosting the economy, improving people's health and quality of life, caring for nature, and leaving no one behind.

Digitalisation will be at the core of this ambitious program and fibre is key to align the digital and sustainability agendas. As the most sustainable telecommunication infrastructure technology, full-fibre is a prerequisite to achieving the European Green Deal and making the European Union’s economy more sustainable.

The need to work collectively towards a more sustainable society has become a strategic objective of policy makers and the vast majority of private organisations alike. With this context in mind, the sustainability Working Group of the FTTH Council Europe has been created with two key objectives:

  • Promote full fibre as the most sustainable access network technology and enabler of multiple applications which can contribute to reducing the carbon footprint of our activities. Remote working and learning being the most obvious examples.
  • Support all stakeholders of the Fibre to the Home value chain in their efforts to make their respective activities more carbon neutral.

Insights from the Committee

 

 

FCGA Summit 2025: Keynote Session on Smart, Sustainable Fibre

Event: FCGA Summit 2025: Keynote Session on Smart, Sustainable Fibre
Speaker: Vincent Garnier - Director General, FTTH Council Europe
Date: 3rd-7th, November 2025
Organiser: Fiber Connect Council MENA / FCGA (FTTH Councils Global Alliance).

The global trend towards Smart, Sustainable Cities placed immense pressure on digital infrastructure. Fibre-optic networks, as the most energy-efficient and high-capacity medium, were the foundational layer enabling the massive data flows required by AI-powered services, connected transport, and resource optimization that defined urban resilience. Ensuring that policy and investment kept pace with this need was a key priority for global stakeholders.

This FCGA Summit 2025 session, which took place on November 5th, highlighted the critical policy and market levers needed to accelerate full-fibre adoption in metropolitan and regional hubs. It brought together FCGA Leaders, including the FTTH Council Europe, alongside Middle East and Africa operators and policymakers, to discuss the economic and environmental benefits of fibre-led urban development.

The discussion covered strategies for reducing digital infrastructure’s carbon footprint and maximizing its social impact. The FTTH Council Europe contributed expert perspectives on how global best practices-including regulatory frameworks and shared infrastructure models-could be applied in the MENA region to build a competitive and sustainable digital future. Attendees gained actionable insights into investment trends and the strategic value of fibre in achieving national digitization goals. The strong recommendation for in-person participation in Dubai resulted in direct engagement with the global leaders shaping this agenda.


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