Conference and Workshops programme

The FTTH Conference 2023 programme will feature up to 28 expert workshops, 18 conference panel sessions and multiple keynote speeches offering insights from leading policy makers, business leaders, technology experts and investors.

FTTH Conference 2023 Programme Details


'Workshop' day at the FTTH Conference is an unmissable part of our event. Up to 28 expert workshops on a wide range of FTTH and other fibre enabled technology, regulatory and service subjects, organised in 7 parallel tracks by members of the FTTH Council Europe with the support of Board Members and our Committee chairs. No need to book, simply access whichever workshops you are interested in. Workshop program to be confirmed by end of January.

<<Swipe to see all FTTH Conference 2023 tracks>>
  • 09:30-11:00
    Workshop 1A- Maximising Efficiency and Reliability in Fiber Optic Network Deployments – 'The Masterclass’ (part 1)
    Organised by Emtelle, IQGeo & Comsof
    Workshop 1A- Maximising Efficiency and Reliability in Fiber Optic Network Deployments – 'The Masterclass’ (part 1)

    18 April 2023 09:30-11:00 Session

    FTTH networks have now a significant footprint in Europe. Initial deployments have mainly adopted G-PON technology, but increasingly XGS-PON is being deployed to respond to increasing bandwidth needs and address new applications.

    This workshop will look at the PON technology roadmap beyond XGS-PON and discuss the transition path and ground rules around deployment of next generation PON technologies. Recent developments in standardization and technology for 25G and 50G PON will be covered, while looking ahead to a 100G future.

    Operators require a successful technology transition strategy, covering the needs of today while being prepared for what comes next. That strategy should cover all aspects from the optical distribution network, deployment and measurement techniques on the one hand. On the other hand, adoption of next generation PON technology offers an unique opportunity for service providers to implement significant steps to radically redefining the architectures of the access and aggregation networks to deliver residential, business and wireless services.

  • 09:30-11:00
    Workshop 3A - The fair share debate and its impact on development of fibre networks in the EU
    Organised by Isiline, Iliad and Eurofiber
    Workshop 3A - The fair share debate and its impact on development of fibre networks in the EU

    18 April 2023 09:30-11:00 Session

    The fair share debate is about the possibility that online providers may be required to pay broadband providers to fund the roll-out of VHCN in the European Union. The panel intends to elaborate such subject with specific focus on the development fibres in the EU.

    Erzsébet Fitori
    Group Head of EU Affairs & Relations | Vodafone
    Ivan Botta
    CEO | ISILine
  • 09:30-11:00
    Workshop 2A - Fiber Beyond the Home
    Organised by the FTTH Council Europe Deployment & Operations Committee
    Workshop 2A - Fiber Beyond the Home

    18 April 2023 09:30-11:00 Session

    Investment in fiber access networks has been growing rapidly. Last year FTTH council reported over half of European households can connect with fiber. This wide availability now comes with two questions: can we do more with this available fiber infrastructure and can we make sure that the premium service fiber is delivering can benefit all devices in the home. On top of this, given that fiber is now available at corner, every building, why not use it for more than just residential services? What are new services beyond residential that may benefit ? What are the new visionary applications that users are dreaming about ? What are the networking requirements these applications require ? How can we make sure that users experience the full benefit of the fiber service all the way up to the device ?

    All these questions will be addressed in this workshop, organized by the D&O committee which offers a wide view from developers, over operators to system vendors.

  • 09:30-11:00
    Workshop 4A - Collaboration to engage further decarbonization of the fiber sector
    Organised by the FTTH Council Europe Sustainability Committee
    Workshop 4A - Collaboration to engage further decarbonization of the fiber sector

    18 April 2023 09:30-11:00 Session

    Starting from the EU targets to achieve neutrality by 2050. We will provide the basic understanding of the tools and how to apply these to the fiber industry as the FTTH Council. Part of this is how we as an industry are working together to set standards. Finally we will give some examples.

  • 09:30-11:00
    Workshop 5A - Now you Got Fiber_ How do you build a services platform to deliver increased revenue
    Organised by BroadbandForum, Calix & AVM
    Workshop 5A - Now you Got Fiber_ How do you build a services platform to deliver increased revenue

    18 April 2023 09:30-11:00 Session

    In a European market where provider fixed voice and IPTV revenue is declining what are the technologies, use cases and standards that enable SPs to differentiate and generate new ARPU.

    From cost effective managed services in the Wi-Fi home to new QOE aware service containers.

    Eric van Uden
    Country Manager | AVM
  • 09:30-11:00
    Workshop 6A
    Organised by Members and Committees of the FTTH Council Europe
    Workshop 6A

    18 April 2023 09:30-11:00 Session

    Contents available soon.

  • 09:30-11:00
    Workshop 7A - Turkey FTTH Market Overview: past, present and ways forward
    Organised by Turknet, ZTE & Zyxel
    Workshop 7A - Turkey FTTH Market Overview: past, present and ways forward

    18 April 2023 09:30-11:00 Session

    Zoom on the Turkish FTTH market, one of Europe’s largest broadband markets with 84m inhabitants and over 25m households. The market has shown strong demand, remarkable growth and significant upside potential, but also challenges such as relatively low ARPU and a tough macro-financial environment. Already a serious FTTH player in Europe, Turkey has the opportunity to leapfrog even further ahead by playing its cards right.

    The workshop will discuss the regulatory context, market developments to date, key issues & challenges and opportunities to accelerate, taking into account demand-side and supply-side drivers and also looking at other European countries experiences and choices.

  • 11:00-11:30
    Coffee break
    Coffee break

    18 April 2023 11:00-11:30 Break

     

  • 11:30-13:00
    Workshop 2B - It's in the details! How to maximize the overall efficiency in the deployment without risking the quality
    Organised by Hexatronic, CityFibre + K-net
    Workshop 2B - It's in the details! How to maximize the overall efficiency in the deployment without risking the quality

    18 April 2023 11:30-13:00 Session

    Deploying a FTTH network at such a rapid pace across numerous cities comes with numerous challenges. Using Cityfibre's model as a case study this work shop will show how to counter these challenges by employing robust build practices that ensure projects are delivered in a timely manner to a high standard.

    These build practices include high specification product selection, Cityfibre specific training programmes for all build partners, defined deliverables from build partners. This deliverable outlines the physical network deployment and also optical performance.

  • 11:30-13:00
    Workshop 3B - FTTH Adoption: What role for Policy and Regulation?
    Organised by the FTTH Council Europe Policy & Regulation Committee
    Workshop 3B - FTTH Adoption: What role for Policy and Regulation?

    18 April 2023 11:30-13:00 Session

    The workshop will address a key challenge facing our industry: how to boost the fibre network adoption and what role policy and regulation can and should play. While the FTTH/B rollout coverage in Europe now amounts to 57% and is progressing steadily, the take-up rate is yet to reach the 50% mark, with considerable differences at country level. In practice, this means that only 27% of the population is effectively connected to a full fibre network. Based on the insights from the study commissioned by FTTH Council Europe to Plum Consulting on FTTH Adoption Drivers and Hurdles in Europe, the workshop will look at the possible ways how policymakers can address this challenge.

  • 11:30-13:00
    Workshop 4B - Bringing Fiber everywhere for a more sustainable world. Next stop: Enterprise, to the edge of the network and beyond!
    Organised by Nokia, Corning & Exfo
    Workshop 4B - Bringing Fiber everywhere for a more sustainable world. Next stop: Enterprise, to the edge of the network and beyond!

    18 April 2023 11:30-13:00 Session

    Fiber-to-the-business? Why not inside the business, taking fiber and power all the way to the edge of the network and the endpoints with a green fiber-based LAN technology ready for 10G devices and beyond, and testing tools and procedures that allow to deploy on time and within budget.

    Alfonso Domesi
    EMEA Business Development Manager | EXFO
    Juan Carlos Palomo Alcalde
    Europe Partners & Enterprise Business Development | Nokia
    Pedro Perla Valdivia
    EMEA Key Account Manager for Carrier Networks | Corning Optical Communications SL
  • 11:30-13:00
    Workshop 5B
    Organised by Members and Committees of the FTTH Council Europe
    Workshop 5B

    18 April 2023 11:30-13:00 Session

    Contents available soon

  • 11:30-13:00
    Workshop 6B - Attracting talent to the FTTH industry – sharing best practise
    Organised by the FTTH Council Europe Women in Fibre Commitee
    Workshop 6B - Attracting talent to the FTTH industry – sharing best practise

    18 April 2023 11:30-13:00 Session

    We give the floor to leaders in charge of attracting talent into our industry. Attracting the right people is more critical than ever, a lack of a diverse and creative talent pool will slow deployment plans and reduce organisational competitive advantage.

  • 11:30-13:00
    Workshop 7B - FTTH market: Spain. Lessons learned and challenges ahead
    Organised by the FTTH Council Europe Market Intelligence Committee
    Workshop 7B - FTTH market: Spain. Lessons learned and challenges ahead

    18 April 2023 11:30-13:00 Session

    In the European FTTH landscape, Spain is a virtuous example: having set up early the right framework for the operators to invest in fibre, it’s now enjoying a very high level of coverage, and an encouraging penetration rate. How was that possible, and what are the lessons learned, which other countries may be interested into? Which are the next challenges that Spain is now facing as a mature FTTH market?

    We are going to answer this with the point of view of key experts in the Spanish market, ranging from the Tier 1 operators, to alternative and rural operators, as well as policymakers

    Joaquín Guerrero García
    Director | Nae
    Alberto Moreno Rebollo
    Head of Regulation | Telefónica España
    Arturo Azcorra Saloña
    Secretary General of Telecommunications and Regulation of Audiovisual Communication Services | Ministry for Economic Affairs and Digital Transformation of Spain
    Jesús Villacorta
    Strategy, Business Development & Transformation Director | Orange Spain
  • 11:30-13:00
    Workshop 1B - Maximising Efficiency and Reliability in Fiber Optic Network Deployments – The Masterclass’ (part 2)
    Organised by Emtelle, IQGeo & Comsof
    Workshop 1B - Maximising Efficiency and Reliability in Fiber Optic Network Deployments – The Masterclass’ (part 2)

    18 April 2023 11:30-13:00 Session

    In this two-part workshop we will Explore the various strategies and best practices for deploying FTTx networks in an efficient and cost-effective manner, despite resource scarcity. We will Cover the latest advancements in fibre optic technology and how they can be leveraged to simplify and streamline network developments. We will also show the benefits of pre-connectorized solutions. And finally, we will delve into the challenges and opportunities facing fibre optic network deployments in the UK, and how hardened fibre connectivity has helped address them.

  • 13:00-14:00
    Lunch break
    Lunch break

    18 April 2023 13:00-14:00 Break

     

  • 14:00-15:30
    Workshop 1C - GPON to XGSPON transition and Ground Rules for next Generation PON
    Organised by: Setics, CREDO & S&T Iskratel
    Workshop 1C - GPON to XGSPON transition and Ground Rules for next Generation PON

    18 April 2023 14:00-15:30 Session

    FTTH networks in Europe are mainly based on G-PON technology. However, it appears necessary to upgrade them, to stay competitive in the future with new capabilities and users’ demand (10 Gbit/s and download/upload symmetry).  
    XGS-PON offer these possibilities and some operators are already upgrading their network or deploying compatible OLTs.   Nevertheless, solving the last mile XGS-PON deployment challenge implies considering, between others, the constraints related to the use of new wavelength.  

    Furthermore, shall operators who are still at the beginning of their deployment opt immediately for XGS-PON?   
    The strategies to migrate from G-PON to XG-PON will most probably rely on Combo solutions (both technologies on the same line), but how is it actually implemented and how long shall the transition period last? 
    In addition, further evolutions of the PON technologies should be anticipated. 

    Antonio Castano
    Director, Market Development CN EMEA | Corning
    Mitja Golja
    Director of Business Development Broadband BU | S&T Iskratel
    Sam Bureau
    Director EMEA Solutions Engineer | Viavi
  • 14:00-15:30
    Workshop 2C - Assuring, validating, and visualizing outside plant quality, ensuring Netco’s can get buildouts done right the first time, every time, in time and on time
    Organised by TCS (Tata Consulting Services), Inveniam
    Workshop 2C - Assuring, validating, and visualizing outside plant quality, ensuring Netco’s can get buildouts done right the first time, every time, in time and on time

    18 April 2023 14:00-15:30 Session

    Exploring Technologies and procedures that help Netco’s to keep track of and document the status, health, and value of their outside plant. Limiting expensive service visits and time-consuming repeated truck rolls is fundamental to reduce unnecessary costs

  • 14:00-15:30
    Workshop 3C - Copper Switch off: Best approach and policy recommendations
    Organised by STL, Open Fiber & Deutsche Glasfaser
    Workshop 3C - Copper Switch off: Best approach and policy recommendations

    18 April 2023 14:00-15:30 Session

    The fibre rollout is on its way in order to help achieve the 2030 European connectivity goals. Main challenges are adoption of VHC and marked differences in between Member states. This workshop will identify the benefits of copper switch-off for operators and society alike. In the second session we will focus on the policy implications of “getting it right”. Are there lessons to be learned from the early birds among the member states? And how should the different market and rollout situation among Member States influence the correct policy response to achieve high fibre adoption, as well as sustainable retail and deployment competition?

    OpenFiber, STL and Deutsche Glasfaser will host an interdisclpinary discussion on both Regulatory and Industry perspectives.

    Christof Sommerberg
    Senior Vice President Public Affairs at Deutsche Glasfaser Holding GmbH | Board Member, FTTH Council Europe
    Samuel Leeman
    Product lifecycle management - Optical Interconnect | STL
  • 14:00-15:30
    Workshop 4C - Expand your network, not your footprint
    Organised by Dura-line, Plumettaz, Prysmian & Lyntia
    Workshop 4C - Expand your network, not your footprint

    18 April 2023 14:00-15:30 Session

    In the past, the two most important success factors for a full-fibre build were cost and time to market. But today, there’s a third factor: sustainability.

    Often, the cheapest, fastest, and most environmentally friendly way to deploy new fibre is to use an existing right of way.

    In this workshop you will learn how this works in practice, including:

    • Asset reuse strategies that unlock new space in existing telco and public sector ducts

    • Fibre deployment methods that avoid overbuild and accelerate time to market

    • Optical cable innovations that deliver unprecedented fibre density

    • Network infrastructure products that eliminate emissions and increase circularity with no compromise on quality

    Whether you’re an incumbent operator adding extra capacity, an agile competitor entering a new market, or a public sector organisation with assets that could be repurposed, join this panel of thought leaders and discover how to expand your network without increasing your footprint.

     

  • 14:00-15:30
    Workshop 5C - In-home Broadband Excellence: Getting Wi-Fi to the next level
    Organised by the FTTH Council Europe In-Home Broadband Excellence Committee
    Workshop 5C - In-home Broadband Excellence: Getting Wi-Fi to the next level

    18 April 2023 14:00-15:30 Session

    We will present an update of where the CSPs are in their journey to IBE and how they adapt to the challenges ahead, and we will discuss new trends and developments addressed by the updated IBE Guide.

    We will hear from Wi-Fi Alliance CEO Kevin Robinson about what is happening with Wi-Fi 6E and 7, EasyMesh and other technologies, and how these will help get Wi-Fi to the next level.

    Finally, to bring it all together, a case study is presented of how Deutsche Glasfaser successfully deployed Wi-Fi 6E in the field and the challenges they met along the way.

    Maarten Egmond
    CTO at Genexis | In-Home Broadband Excellence Committee Chair, FTTH Council Europe
  • 14:00-15:30
    Workshop 6C
    Organised by ING & Deutsche Giganetz with FTTH Council Europe Investors Committee
    Workshop 6C

    18 April 2023 14:00-15:30 Session

    Contents available soon

    Steffen Leiwesmeier
    Head of Strategic Treasury | Deutsche GigaNetz GmbH
  • 14:00-15:30
    Workshop 7C - Learning together, succeeding together: France’s experience on fiber deployment
    Organised by Infranum, Acome & EuroTechnocom
    Workshop 7C - Learning together, succeeding together: France’s experience on fiber deployment

    18 April 2023 14:00-15:30 Session

    FTTH deployment in France has not been a long and quiet river. Through the eyes of experts, let’s look back on France’s greatest infrastructure project of the decade and its keys of success: standardisation, mutualisation, industrialisation of processes, telco equipment and human resource mobilisation.

  • 15:30-16:00
    Coffee break
    Coffee break

    18 April 2023 15:30-16:00 Break

     

  • 16:00-17:30
    Workshop 1D - Next Generation PON Technology Overview and Transition Strategies
    Organised by CommScope, DZS & CREDO
    Workshop 1D - Next Generation PON Technology Overview and Transition Strategies

    18 April 2023 16:00-17:30 Session

    From XGS-PON to what? What are the critical advancements needed in the Fiber Access network to release new use cases and services that subscribers will demand and pay for in the next 5 years? Reviewing the options for 25G, 50G and even 100G fiber access and what operators need to be aware of when deploying today and planning for tomorrow.

    David Keane-Mirajkar
    RVP, Solutions Architecture, Service Provider Sales EMEA | CommScope
    Keith Nauman
    SVP Access Edge Solutions | DZS
  • 16:00-17:30
    Workshop 2D - Investing in Rural Broadband Infrastructure: Gain opportunity insights considering commercial and technical challenges
    Organised by Viavi, Indigo Telecom Group & CEBF
    Workshop 2D - Investing in Rural Broadband Infrastructure: Gain opportunity insights considering commercial and technical challenges

    18 April 2023 16:00-17:30 Session

    Accelerating rural FTTH deployments and take-up continues to be a challenge for both investors and service providers. Join us get unique insights into investment considerations for rural fiber assets. We will explore deployment landscape considerations for optimized design, planning, implementation, and ROI with real application use-cases.

    Mustafa Demir
    Senior Investment Manager | Cube Infrastructure Managers
    Patrick Faraj
    Global Product Line Manager | Viavi Solutions
    William Tobin
    Contracts Manager | Indigo
  • 16:00-17:30
    Workshop 3D - “Governmental Day” Workshop
    Organised by atene KOM with the FTTH Council Europe Policy & Regulation Committee
    Workshop 3D - “Governmental Day” Workshop

    18 April 2023 16:00-17:30 Session

    Update on the policies and future plans from the EU Commission, progress & update of the German Federal broadband funding scheme, overview of award winning projects in broadband rollout as well as an exchange among the broadband community are in the focus of the workshop, delivered through a mix of keynotes and discussions.

    Franco Accordino
    Head of Unit, Investment in High-Capacity Networks | European Commission, DG CONNECT
  • 16:00-17:30
    Workshop 4D - Green Digital Infrastructure: Focusing Data Centres & Taxonomy
    Organised by Di4, HCOB & SwissFibre
    Workshop 4D - Green Digital Infrastructure: Focusing Data Centres & Taxonomy

    18 April 2023 16:00-17:30 Session

    Contents available soon

  • 16:00-17:30
    Workshop 5D - Marketing strategies for open access wholesale business models
    Organised by Onivia, Open Fiber Austria Association (OFAA)
    Workshop 5D - Marketing strategies for open access wholesale business models

    18 April 2023 16:00-17:30 Session

    Open access wholesale-only business models face unique challenges when it comes to marketing, as they typically have limited opportunities to interact directly with end consumers. The marketing approach needs to be more creative to deal with different barriers and be effective in promoting this type of business: How to identify the right target audience? what is better to communicate B2B or B2B2C?, how to gain new insights and create guidelines that work? What are the implications of building and operating an open access FTTH network?

    Join us to learn first-hand about best practices and practical experiences from across Europe.

    Icíar Martínez Núñez
    Markets and Product Director | Onivia
    Paweł Biarda
    Chief Commercial Officer | Nexera
  • 16:00-17:30
    Workshop 6D - HFC physical network evolution investments; from Fibre to the Node towards physical Fiber to the Premise
    Organised by the FTTH Council Europe Investors Committee
    Workshop 6D - HFC physical network evolution investments; from Fibre to the Node towards physical Fiber to the Premise

    18 April 2023 16:00-17:30 Session

    This workshop will dive into the fibre investment considerations of HFC networks from a topology and service perspective. Cable Operators were on the forefront of Fibre deployments already decades ago; leaving only the very last mile based on Coax. We now see a trend that this last Coax mile is, and should be, subject to investment reconsiderations.

    Andreas Waber
    CEO | Swiss Fibre Net AG
    Thomas Miller
    Executive Director, Hamburg Commercial Bank AG | Investors Committee Chair, FTTH Council Europe
  • 16:00-17:30
    Workshop 7D - Know your network: plan, build and deploy with experiences of Vento Rede, the leading Galician FTTH network in sparsely populated areas
    Organised by Keypro Oy, PacketFront
    Workshop 7D - Know your network: plan, build and deploy with experiences of Vento Rede, the leading Galician FTTH network in sparsely populated areas

    18 April 2023 16:00-17:30 Session

    Data drives the deployment and service assurance. Topics of field work, service activation, assurance and monitoring are covered with experience of the fast growing Galician FTTH network Vento Rede and network planning and network contractors.

    Kirmo Uusitalot
    Product Line Director | Keypro Oy
    Timo Kuusela
    Vice President, Sales | PacketFront Software

The annual FTTH Conference is a unique event, bringing together 'C' level representatives, technical and regulatory experts from FTTH Council Europe member and non-member companies plus senior government and industry representatives, technology specialists, engineers, policy makers, regulators and investors to discuss and debate all aspects of FTTH and other fiber enabled technologies and services, and the benefit they bring to society. There is no other conference quite like it.

<<Swipe to see all FTTH Conference 2023 tracks>>
  • 9:30-9:45
    Opening speech
    By the FTTH Council Europe's President
    Opening speech

    19 April 2023 9:30-9:45 Keynote

    FTTH Council Europe's President  Eric Festraets welcomes all delegates of the FTTH Conference 2023 and kicks off the plenary session, by touching upon the Council's mission and vision, and taking stock of the hottest topics for the European FTTH industry in 2023.

    Eric Festraets
    Strategic Marketing Director Fixed Networks at Nokia | President, FTTH Council Europe
  • 9:45-10:00
    Keynote speech 1 - Roberto Viola
    Director General of DG CNECT, European Commission
    Keynote speech 1 - Roberto Viola

    19 April 2023 9:45-10:00 Keynote

    The European commission recently presented a set of actions aimed at making Gigabit connectivity available to all citizens and businesses across the EU by 2030, in line with the objectives of Europe's Digital Decade, and to enable the transformation of the connectivity sector in the EU. What are the impacts of these initiatives on the European FTTH industry? How do they concretely support the deployment of full fibre infrastractures across Europe?

    Roberto Viola
    Director General for Communications Networks, Content and Technology (CNECT) | European Commission
  • 10:00-10:20
    Keynote speech 2 - Arturo Azcorra Saloña
    Secretary General of Telecommunications and Regulation of Audiovisual Communication Services, Ministry for Economic Affairs and Digital Transformation of Spain
    Keynote speech 2 - Arturo Azcorra Saloña

    19 April 2023 10:00-10:20 Keynote

    A focus on Spain's digital strategy and FTTH rollout and adoption plans: this session will deep-dive into the lessons we can learn from the successful fibre deployment happened in the country over the past few years, as well as into the challenges ahead for this very mature market. What is the Government's plan to make sure that all Spanish citizens enjoy the utmost benefits of fibre connectivity?

    Arturo Azcorra Saloña
    Secretary General of Telecommunications and Regulation of Audiovisual Communication Services | Ministry for Economic Affairs and Digital Transformation of Spain
  • 10:20-10:40
    Keynote speech 3 - Ulrik Vestegergaard Knudsen
    OECD Deputy Secretary-General
    Keynote speech 3 - Ulrik Vestegergaard Knudsen

    19 April 2023 10:20-10:40 Keynote

    Deputy Secretary-General Ulrik Vestegergaard Knudsen will touch upon the OECD's ongoing initiatives to ensure access to high-quality broadband services at affordable prices for all citizens around the world, including its roadmap of policies and regulations with overarching principles to extend connectivity and improve the quality of broadband networks at global level.

    Ulrik Vestegergaard Knudsen
    Deputy Secretary-General | OECD
  • 10:40-11:00
    Keynote speech 4 - Tomas Lamanauskas
    ITU Deputy Secretary-General
    Keynote speech 4 - Tomas Lamanauskas

    19 April 2023 10:40-11:00 Keynote

    What are the undergoing initiatives from the ITU and the challenges ahead of the industry in bringing high-speed sustainable digital connectivity to all? Let's hear from Tomas Lamanauskas, Deputy Secretary-General, as he spells out ITU'sstrategy in favour of the deployment of FTTH networks and the adoption of fibre-based services by end users.

    Tomas Lamanauskas
    Deputy Secretary-General | International Telecommunication Union (ITU)
  • 11:00-11:30
    Coffee break
    Coffee break

    19 April 2023 11:00-11:30 Break

  • 11:30-11:45
    FTTH Awards 2023 Ceremony
    FTTH Awards 2023 Ceremony

    19 April 2023 11:30-11:45 Session

    Winners of the Operator Award, Individual Award, Charles Kao Award and the brand-new Woman in Fibre Award are announced during this special ceremony, hosted by the President of the FTTH Council Europe, Eric Festraets

    Eric Festraets
    Strategic Marketing Director Fixed Networks at Nokia | President, FTTH Council Europe
  • 11:45-13:00
    Panel 1 - Opening panel
    Featuring senior level speakers from major European fibre operators
    Panel 1 - Opening panel

    19 April 2023 11:45-13:00 Session

    While the economic context is increasingly challenging, how can our industry stay on course to achieve the goal of bringing full fibre networks to everyone and everywhere? Senior leaders from key European FTTH operators will review the state of play of FTTH deployment, with a future-looking perspective on the next opportunities and challenges ahead for the sector. Don't miss the opening panel to hear from some of the top leaders in the European FTTH industry and gain insights into the latest trends and developments in this critical sector.

    Vincent Garnier
    Director General | FTTH Council Europe Team
    Andreas Pfisterer
    Chief Executive Officer | Deutsche Glasfaser ManagementGmbH
    Dana Tobak
    Founder & CEO | Hyperoptic
    David Elfassy
    President | Altitude Infra
    Enrique Blanco
    Telefónica Global CTIO | Telefónica
    Mario Rossetti
    Chief Executive Officer | Open Fiber
  • 13:00-14:30
    Lunch break
    Lunch break

    19 April 2023 13:00-14:30 Break

  • 14:30-15:45
    Panel 2 - FTTH Market Panorama
    Official presentation of the annual market reports commissioned by the FTTH Council Europe
    Panel 2 - FTTH Market Panorama

    19 April 2023 14:30-15:45 Session

    Curious to know where your country will position on the leaderboard of our FTTH/B Market Panorama 2023? Join this panel as an expert line-up of speakers from different regions of the world will comment on the latest figures from our flagship report.

    Together with the official launch of the Market Panorama, we will be presenting the FTTH/B Global Ranking, the FTTH/B Market Forecasts for 2023-2028 and an overview of FTTH/B deployments in rural areas. If you are keen on fibre market insights and trends, this is the panel you cannot afford to miss!

    Stefano Fogli
    Business Development Director EMEA at Adtran | Market intelligence Committee Chair, FTTH Council Europe
    Gary Bolton
    President and CEO | Fiber Broadband Association
    Juanita Clark
    Chief Executive | Digital Council Africa
    Roland Montagne
    Principal Analyst Broadband & FTTx, Director Networks & Smart Territories Business Unit | IDATE DigiWorld
    Verena Weber
    Head of the Communication Infrastructures and Services Policy Unit | OECD
  • 14:30-15:45
    Panel 3 - Policy & Regulation
    Featuring director-level representatives from European institutions, regulatory bodies and operators
    Panel 3 - Policy & Regulation

    19 April 2023 14:30-15:45 Session

    What is the expected impact of the latest set of initiatives from the European Commission on the European FTTH market? Are we on track to meet the Commission's objectives for the digital transformation of Europe by 2030, as spelled out by the "Path to the Digital Decade" policy programme? What are the operators' strategies to support the achievement of such ambitious goals? How are regulators across Europe reacting to this dynamic scenario?

    This thought-provoking panel with prominent leaders from the European Commission, BEREC, and senior representatives from major fibre operators will answer these questions and much more, shedding light on the latest policy and regulatory developments affecting the FTTH market.

    Philippe Defraigne
    Director | Cullen International
    Alex Blowers
    Director of Regulatory Affairs | CityFibre
    Juan Montero Rodil
    Chief Public Policy, Competition and Regulatory Officer | Telefónica
    Kamila Kloc
    Acting Director B, Connectivity – DG CONNECT | European Commission
    Konstantinos Masselos
    Chair 2023 | BEREC
    Wolfgang Kopf
    Senior Vice President Group Public and Regulatory Affairs | Deutsche Telekom AG
  • 14:30-15:45
    Panel 4 - CTO panel
    Featuring CTOs and technical experts from major European fibre operators
    Panel 4 - CTO panel

    19 April 2023 14:30-15:45 Session

    There is no doubt that the FTTH industry is experiencing unprecedented technology developments. The transition to 10G and beyond, the convergence with 5G, the decommissioning of copper networks, adapting the infrastructure to future applications running on fibre, and avoiding in-home connectivity from becoming a bottleneck are only some of the key technology issues that major fibre players from all around Europe are facing today.

    Are you curious to know what is on the agenda of Chief Technology Officers from leading European FTTH operators? Join this strategic conversation as some prominent technology leaders spell out the latest trends and innovations shaping the industry.

    Suzanne Tracy
    CTO at SIRO | Board Member, FTTH Council Europe
    Eilish O'Connor
    CTO | Viatel
    Eric Kuisch
    Chief Operating Officer | Eurofiber
    Joost Steltenpool
    EVP FTTH Rollout | KPN
    Laurent Leboucher
    Senior Vice President Orange Innovation Networks | Orange
  • 15:45-16:15
    Coffee break
    Coffee break

    19 April 2023 15:45-16:15 Break

  • 16:15-17:30
    Panel 5 - Investors panel
    Featuring senior representatives from prominent European banks and investment funds
    Panel 5 - Investors panel

    19 April 2023 16:15-17:30 Session

    Public and private investors strategies are shaping the European FTTH market. Will the investment surge we have been observing in the past few months continue? What is to be expected next and what does it mean for the ecosystem?

    Senior representatives from some of the most prominent European investment bodies come on stage to share their perspectives on the business case of rolling out FTTH networks in Europe. With hands-on experiences and practical case studies of successful fibre business models, there is much to learn from such an expert panel.

    Thomas Miller
    Executive Director, Hamburg Commercial Bank AG | Investors Committee Chair, FTTH Council Europe
    Christopher Brody
    Chief Investment Officer | Hamburg Commercial Bank AG
    Harald Gruber
    Head of Digital Infrastructure | European Investment Bank
    Jeroen Kleinjan
    Managing Director I Global Lead Telecom I Head of TMT & Healthcare | ING Wholesale Banking
    Johanna Reinkemeier
    Vice President Telecommunications | KfW IPEX-Bank GmbH
    Oliver Bradley
    Managing Director | Macquarie Capital
  • 16:15-17:30
    Panel 6 - Future applications to run on fibre networks
    Featuring high-level representatives from big techs, fibre operators and research centres
    Panel 6 - Future applications to run on fibre networks

    19 April 2023 16:15-17:30 Session

    While the expansion of FTTH infrastructures continues, it is important to also keep an eye on the new opportunities arising from this technology. With faster internet speeds and greater reliability, fibre networks open up a world of opportunities for new applications and services: from virtual and augmented reality to smart homes and cities, fiber networks are already transforming the way we live and work. 

    In this forward-looking session with prominent experts from some of the companies working on the internet-based services of tomorrow, we will explore the role of fibre networks in supporting emerging technologies such as the Internet of Things (IoT), artificial intelligence, machine learning, telemedicine, online education, and entertainment, and how these will continue to flourish thanks to very high-capacity networks.

    Eric Festraets
    Strategic Marketing Director Fixed Networks at Nokia | President, FTTH Council Europe
    Julian David
    CEO | techUK
    Lorelien Hoet
    Director of EU Government Affairs | Microsoft
    Rupert Wood
    Research Director | Analysys Mason
    Scott Blue
    Director Global Wireless Policy | CISCO
    Walid Mathlouthi
    Head of Future Networks and Spectrum Management | International Telecommunication Union (ITU)
  • 16:15-17:30
    Panel 7 - Towards FTTH maturity, what is next?
    Featuring senior technology experts from leading fibre operators
    Panel 7 - Towards FTTH maturity, what is next?

    19 April 2023 16:15-17:30 Session

    As countries around Europe continue to invest in full fibre coverage, it is important to consider what comes next: what happens when a market approaches 90% FTTH coverage? What are the next goals and challenges for all stakeholders as they adjust to a new paradigm?

    This panel session brings together prominent experts of different backgrounds from the telecom industry, to discuss the experiences and perspectives of countries already facing these issues. Be prepared for a thought-provoking discussion on how telecom operators, investors, and regulators alike shall adapt their strategies to look beyond the priorities of today.

    Gerrit Hecking
    Senior Vice President Project Finance for Infrastructure at Hamburg Commercial Bank AG | Treasurer, FTTH Council Europe
    Alejandra De Iturriaga Gandini
    Director of Telecommunications and Audiovisual Sector | Spain's National Authority for Markets and Competition (CNMC)
    Elin Bertilsson
    Business Area Manager | Karlstads El- och Stadsnät
    João Teixeira
    CTIO | Altice Portugal
    Kristian O. P. Freiesleben
    International Business Director | OpenNet A/S
    Sergio Sanchez Gallego
    CTO | Telefónica España
  • 17:30-18:30
    Cocktail reception
    Cocktail reception

    19 April 2023 17:30-18:30 Exhibition Hall Break

  • 19:30-midnight
    Fibration Night party
    The mid-week networking party of the FTTH Conference 2023
    Fibration Night party

    19 April 2023 19:30-midnight Platea Madrid Session

    Fibration Night is the unmissable mid-week party bringing additional life and colour to our annual FTTH Conference.  Bringing together around 500+ people, the event is the perfect opportunity to seek high quality entertainment during the FTTH Conference 2023: participants will have the chance to network, chat and relax, share views about latest FTTH developments and trends or simply grab a drink and enjoy the relaxing atmosphere of PLATEA, a unique venue in the heart of Madrid. Click here to learn more.

The annual FTTH Conference is a unique event, bringing together 'C' level representatives, technical and regulatory experts from FTTH Council Europe member and non-member companies plus senior government and industry representatives, technology specialists, engineers, policy makers, regulators and investors to discuss and debate all aspects of FTTH and other fiber enabled technologies and services, and the benefit they bring to society. There is no other conference quite like it.

<<Swipe to see all FTTH Conference 2023 tracks>>
  • 9:30-10:45
    Panel 8 - Voice of Industry 1
    Featuring industry experts from Members of the FTTH Council Europe
    Panel 8 - Voice of Industry 1

    20 April 2023 9:30-10:45 Session

    Experts speakers representing the European fibre supply chain will discuss how the changing industry dynamics and investments are creating new market opportunities for fibre.

    Final contents of this session to be confirmed.

    Jan Schindler
    Market Intelligence & Business Development at Prysmian Group | Board Member, FTTH Council Europe
    Björn Capens
    Vice President Europe, Fixed Networks | NOKIA
    Jose Luis Gonzalez
    Regional Product Manager & FTTH Network Architect | CommScope
    Rahul Puri
    Business Head of Europe | STL
    Tom Ronan
    Global Director, Regional Product Management | Viavi Solutions
  • 9:30-10:45
    Panel 9 - Voice of Industry 2
    Featuring industry experts from Members of the FTTH Council Europe
    Panel 9 - Voice of Industry 2

    20 April 2023 9:30-10:45 Session

    Experts speakers representing the European fibre supply chain will discuss how the changing industry dynamics and investments are creating new market opportunities for fibre.

    Final contents of this session to be confirmed.

    Raf Meersman
    Chief Executive Officer at Comsof | Board Member, FTTH Council Europe
    Antonio Castano
    Director, Market Development CN EMEA | Corning
    Colin Kirkpatrick
    Solutions Director | Emtelle
    Johannes Pruchnow
    Managing Director, Gabocom | HellermannTyton
    Peter Weimann
    Chief Technology Officer, Optical Fibre Cable | HFCL
  • 9:30-10:45
    Panel 10 - Voice of Industry 3
    Featuring industry experts from Members of the FTTH Council Europe
    Panel 10 - Voice of Industry 3

    20 April 2023 9:30-10:45 Session

    Experts speakers representing the European fibre supply chain will discuss how the changing industry dynamics and investments are creating new market opportunities for fibre.

    Final contents of this session to be confirmed.

    Tom Bambury
    Director, Business Development, Fujikura Europe Limited | Fujikura
    Alessandro Pirri
    Cost Roadmap and Sustainability TLC Manager | Prysmian Group
    Edgar Maldonado
    5G FWA Program Manager | S&T Iskratel
    Hans Neff
    CTO Group Director | ZTE
    Rui Meleiro
    Senior Director of Services and Digital | Dura-Line
  • 9:30-10:45
    Panel 11 - Germany: status of FTTH roll out
    Featuring prominent representatives from the German fibre market
    Panel 11 - Germany: status of FTTH roll out

    20 April 2023 9:30-10:45 Session

    With close to 30 million households still to be connected to fibre, Germany is arguably the most important market for the European FTTH industry.  With the help of a very high-level speaker line-up, we will explore the unique characteristics of this rapidly evolving market, including the country's mix of urban and rural areas, and the opportunities presented by the growing demand for high-speed internet services.

    Join us for a thought-provoking and informative panel session that will shed light on the state of FTTH in Germany, and the opportunities and challenges it presents for operators, investors, policymakers, and end-users alike.

    Dr Cara Schwarz-Schilling
    General Manager and Director | WIK GmbH
    Dr Wilhelm Eschweiler
    Vice President | Bundesnetzagentur (BNetzA)
    Jan Georg Budden
    CEO and co-founder | Deutsche GigaNetz GmbH
    Jens Prautzsch
    CEO | Unsere Grüne Glasfaser
    Michael Jungwirth
    Member of the Executive Committe Group Public Policy & Regulatory Director | Vodafone Germany | Vodafone Group
    Ruben Queimano Alonso
    Chief Commercial Officer | Deutsche Glasfaser GmbH
  • 10:45-11:15
    Coffee break
    Coffee break

    20 April 2023 10:45-11:15 Break

  • 11:15-12:30
    Panel 12 - Voice of Industry 4
    Featuring industry experts from Members of the FTTH Council Europe
    Panel 12 - Voice of Industry 4

    20 April 2023 11:15-12:30 Session

    Experts speakers representing the European fibre supply chain will discuss how the changing industry dynamics and investments are creating new market opportunities for fibre.

    Final contents of this session to be confirmed.

    Michael Timmers
    Distinguished Member of Technical Staff at Nokia | Deployment & Operations Committee Chair, FTTH Council Europe
    Gerlas van den Hoven
    CEO | Genexis
    Keith Nauman
    SVP Access Edge Solutions | DZS
    Ronan Kelly
    CTO EMEA & APAC | ADTRAN
    Tiffany Stevenson
    Senior Account Manager | Esri
  • 11:15-12:30
    Panel 13 - Voice of Industry 5
    Featuring industry experts from Members of the FTTH Council Europe
    Panel 13 - Voice of Industry 5

    20 April 2023 11:15-12:30 Session

    Experts speakers representing the European fibre supply chain will discuss how the changing industry dynamics and investments are creating new market opportunities for fibre.

    Final contents of this session to be confirmed.

    David De Craemer
    EMEA Vice President - Cable & Connectivity | Board Member, FTTH Council Europe
    Steven Kenney
    Product Line Manager | UCL Swift
    Ernest Zhang
    President, European Enterprise Business | Huawei
  • 11:15-12:30
    Panel 14 - Open Access / Network sharing
    Featuring 'C' level representatives from major fibre wholesale operator and industry associations
    Panel 14 - Open Access / Network sharing

    20 April 2023 11:15-12:30 Session

    With the emergence of multiple open-access operators and the development of network-sharing agreements between many European internet service providers, the fixed-line telecom landscape has gone through considerable changes. This obviously does not come without challenges, that this session will address.

    Join this panel session, where the CEOs from some European open-access operators illustrate the business rationale behind opting for shared networks. Joined on stage by senior representatives of the digital infrastructure industry and the regulatory world, the panel will also touch upon the policy opportunities and roadblocks regulating the network-sharing market.

    Eric Joyce
    Business Development Manager EMEA at Adtran | Board Member, FTTH Council Europe
    Andreas Waber
    CEO | Swiss Fibre Net AG
    José Antonio Vázquez Blanco
    CEO | Onivia
    Marta Wojciechowska
    CEO | Fiberhost
    Philippe Le Grand
    Chairman | InfraNum
    Robert Mourik
    Chairperson | Commission for Communications Regulation (ComReg)
  • 11:15-12:30
    Panel 15 - UK: status of FTTH roll out
    Featuring prominent representatives from the UK fibre market
    Panel 15 - UK: status of FTTH roll out

    20 April 2023 11:15-12:30 Session

    Probably one of the most dynamic markets in Europe, the UK has recently seen a spectacular increase in private initiatives supported by massive investments, which lead FTTH to be rolled out at an unprecedented pace in the past few months.

    Despite this tremendous acceleration, the UK is still lagging behind other European countries when it comes to full-fibre coverage. What are the British operators’ strategies to mind this gap? How is the British government supporting the FTTH rollout? How is the investor community reacting to this moving scenario? Learn the latest from this very high-level roundtable with key industry players from the UK fibre market.

    Gita Sorensen
    Founder Director | GOS Consulting
    Catherine Colloms
    MD Corporate Affairs | Openreach
    Conal Henry
    Founder & Chair | Fibrus
    Greg Mesch
    Chief Executive Officer | CityFibre
    Matt Agar
    Strategy Director | Building Digital UK (BDUK)
  • 12:30-14:00
    Lunch break
    Lunch break

    20 April 2023 12:30-14:00 Break

  • 14:00-15:15
    Panel 16 - Sustainability panel
    Featuring high-level representatives from fibre operators and regulatory bodies
    Panel 16 - Sustainability panel

    20 April 2023 14:00-15:15 Session

    The question is no longer “if” nor “when”, but “how”. With the sustainability issue now having a regular seat in Board rooms, drastically limiting carbon emissions becomes an urgent priority at every stage of the FTTH value chain.

    This unmissable session will bring together industry experts and thought leaders to discuss the best practices for promoting sustainability in the design, construction, and maintenance of fibre networks. Attendees will gain a deeper understanding of the role of the FTTH industry in addressing global sustainability challenges, and will be better equipped to develop and implement sustainable strategies in their own organizations.

     

    We look forward to welcoming you!

    #FTTH23

    Sarah Parsons
    Sustainability Committee Member | FTTH Council Europe
    Emmanuel Gabla
    Board Member | ARCEP
    Laurentiu Prodan
    Senior Investment Manager | Cube Infrastructure Managers
    Lise Fuhr
    Director General | ETNO
    Nicolas Didio
    Head of Investor Relations, Market Watch and Interim Head of ESG | iliad Group
    Trevor Linney
    Network Technology Director | Openreach
  • 14:00-15:15
    Panel 17 - Attracting talents to the FTTH industry
    Featuring 'C' and director level representatives from European operators and talent management excellences
    Panel 17 - Attracting talents to the FTTH industry

    20 April 2023 14:00-15:15 Session

    We give the floor to leaders in charge of talent management. Attracting the right people is more critical than ever for our industry where lack of human resources is potentially slowing down deployment plans.

    Christel Sandstedt
    2022 Chair Woman in Fibre Committee | FTTH Council Europe
    Adam Błażeczek
    CFO | Fiberhost
    Annick Martin
    Managing Director | BESIX Unitec
    Eusebi Llensa
    CEO | Outvise
    Ivan Rebernik
    Director of Human Resources, Organization and Facility | Open Fiber
  • 14:00-15:15
    Panel 18 - FTTH Rural Networks deployment
    Featuring prominent representatives from rural fibre operators and investment bodies
    Panel 18 - FTTH Rural Networks deployment

    20 April 2023 14:00-15:15 Session

     FTTH coverage in rural and low density areas of Europe is lower than in other regions. Despite the ambitious targets in connectivity set by the European Commission for 2030, deploying fibre in these areas will remain a challenge for most countries for the years to come. How can we ensure that no village is left behind?

    Let's hear from the successful experiences of some regional alternative operators, joined on stage by high-level representatives of the investors and regulatory world, debating over the business case of bringing fibre in rural areas.

    Christof Sommerberg
    Senior Vice President Public Affairs at Deutsche Glasfaser Holding GmbH | Board Member, FTTH Council Europe
    Alexandra Reich
    Executive Chairwoman | Speed Connect Austria
    Jacek Wiśniewski
    Chief Executive Officer | NEXERA SP. Z O.O.
    Mariam Sulaberidze
    CEO | N(N)LE OPEN NET
    Pedro Abad
    CEO and founder | ASTEO Red Neutra
    Peter Hendrick
    Chief Executive Officer | National Broadband Ireland - NBI
  • 14:00-15:15
    More sessions in track 2, 3 and 4
    Swipe to see all FTTH Conference 2023 tracks
    More sessions in track 2, 3 and 4

    20 April 2023 14:00-15:15 Session

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