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

 

 

Policy & Regulation Committee Kicks Off 2026 with Strategic Advocacy on Digital Networks Act and Spectrum Allocation

The Policy & Regulation Committee has appointed Christof Sommerberg as acting Chair, bringing extensive experience as Head of Public Affairs at Deutsche Glasfaser and four years as a Board member.

The Committee concluded 2025 with the release of its final recommendation on the 6 GHz band, advocating for full WiFi access, despite initial decisions not aligning with FTTH Council positions. The matter is now under the European Commission’s review, and the Committee continues its advocacy to ensure sufficient spectrum supports evolving fibre network speeds.

2026 begins with the European Commission’s Digital Network Act (DNA), aimed at resetting regulation for digital infrastructure, including fibre. The Committee welcomes the DNA’s focus on investment incentives and effective competition, supporting a balanced copper switch-off and nationally tailored access remedies to maintain regulatory stability and protect consumers. Elements like license-free spectrum for RLAN remain under discussion, and the Committee will engage with co-legislators to accelerate fibre deployment and strengthen competition.

Looking ahead, the Committee will host the FTTH Policy Dialogue on 24 February 2026 in Brussels, presenting the 2026 Copper Switch-off Tracker. This key tool enables policymakers and the industry to monitor progress, identify best practices, and guide future action on full-fibre adoption across Europe.

Help us create a brighter future!

Join the Fibre Council Europe
today and benefit from Europe’s
largest ecosystem of fibre players