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IN THIS ISSUE

- Latest news from our Members

- Telecom digest:

EU Commission vetoes proposed regulations for Malta's wholesale broadband sector
Ofcom to kick off wholesale telecoms review in 2026 to accelerate gigabit broadband rollout
Orange and MásMóvil joint venture in Spain approved by EU Commission, subject to conditions
CMA warns Three UK and Vodafone merger risks of price increases and reduced competition
FTTH Council Europe unveils new FTTH/B Market Panorama and industry assets at the FTTH Conference 2024
FTTH Awards and FTTH Innovation Awards Winners Announced at the FTTH Conference 2024

- Next events from the FTTH Council Europe

NEWS FROM OUR MEMBERS

Combined with blockchain technology, fiber optics enables ultra-fast and secure data transmission. This perfect combination is ideal for advanced services, especially in the healthcare field, and provides great support for doctors, patients, and industry companies. Discover more details on the Open Fiber website.
To optimize your end-to-end operational processes, from designing your fiber network to planning interventions, deploying, and quality control, you can rely on a range of digital solutions. In this article from Deepomatic, discover how FSM, GIS, and Visual AI technologies are transforming the management of your fiber operations.
Learn more from Genexis about the profound impact of the NIS2 Directive on the broadband industry, emphasizing cybersecurity regulations and compliance requirements. Explore how collaboration and proactive measures are essential for ensuring a secure and resilient broadband industry in Europe amidst evolving legislation. Click here for the full article.
Find out how Deutsche Telekom is accelerating fiber rollout in Germany and meeting the growing demand for high-speed connectivity, passing three million homes annually. Read the IQGeo blog to learn how Deutsche Telekom delivers cost-effective designs and reduces planning time by 50-90%.

TELECOM DIGEST

EU Commission vetoes proposed regulations for Malta's wholesale broadband sector

After a thorough analysis, the European Commission vetoed a set of regulations put forward by Malta Communications Authority (MCA), the national telecom regulator of Malta, that would have regulated the country's wholesale physical and virtual broadband infrastructure access market. Initially notified on December 28, 2023, the draft act by the MCA aimed to establish wholesale control on the market. The Commission concluded, however, that MCA should consider the function of alternative physical infrastructures and the competitive limitations they impose following a comprehensive examination. Consequently, the Commission has exercised its veto power after determining that the draft legislation is incompatible with EU law. The importance of alternative physical infrastructures and the competitive limitations they impose should be considered by the MCA, according to the Commission. Moreover, it was determined that the MCA's explanation for designating GO, one of the two countrywide networks, as possessing considerable market power at the wholesale level was inadequate. The veto decision by the Commission emphasises the significance of a competitive analysis that takes into account all market dynamics without making any assumptions about the existence of a retail competition issue, which the regulator should nevertheless be able to demonstrate.

The Commission took this opportunity to stress that national regulatory bodies shall create environments that support long-term competition and enable effective infrastructure investments without weakening the incentives that any market participant receives for making such investments.

Ofcom to kick off wholesale telecoms review in 2026 to accelerate gigabit broadband rollout

The rules that govern the UK's wholesale telecom markets from April 2026 to March 2031 are now being reviewed by Ofcom, as announced by the national regulator. The review will contribute to ensuring that the broadband infrastructure in the UK is future-proof. Ofcom’s goal is to create the ideal conditions for investment and competition in gigabit-capable broadband in order to give customers more options and better services. More than 23,2 million houses in the UK (78% of all homes) currently have access to gigabit-capable broadband, and more than 17,1 million homes (57%) have full-fibre broadband available. In order to announce its final decisions in early 2026, the regulator plans to release its primary consultation on proposed regulations early in 2025.

Orange and MásMóvil joint venture in Spain approved by EU Commission, subject to conditions

Following a thorough analysis of the proposed transaction and contingent upon Orange and MásMóvil's complete compliance with a commitments package, the European Commission has authorised, under the EU Merger Regulation, the planned formation of a joint venture by Orange and MásMóvil. After conducting its investigation, the Commission was concerned that the deal, as originally announced, would limit competition in Spain's retail markets for the provision of mobile and fixed internet services, whether provided separately or in bundles. In response to the Commission's worries about competition, Orange and MásMóvil agreed to provide Digi access to spectrum that MásMóvil owned in two medium frequency bands—1,800 MHz and 2,100 MHz—and one high frequency band—3.5 GHz. Digi will be able to create its own mobile network and impose significant competitive pressure on the joint venture thanks to the mobile spectrum that will be divested. Additionally, a voluntary national roaming agreement was entered into, which Digi is free to use or not. By using the relinquished spectrum, Digi will be able to expand its own network while also having the option to use the JV's network. This option is crucial since, similar to MásMóvil's current network, Digi's future mobile network probably won't reach all of Spain. Digi will have the choice to continue using its present wholesale provider, Telefonica, or to select an other mobile network operator in Spain, such as the joint venture or Vodafone, as the national roaming arrangement is optional.

CMA warns Three UK and Vodafone merger risks of price increases and reduced competition

The Phase 1 investigation by the UK's Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) into the proposed mega-merger between Vodafone and Three UK is now complete. The main result of the investigation is a strong concern by the authority that the deal, which combines two of the four mobile network operators in the UK, could lead to higher prices and reduced quality. Three UK was "generally the cheapest" of the four mobile network carriers, according to CMA, which added that "price pressure from competitors can help maintain low costs and serve as a significant incentive for network operators to enhance their services, including by investing in network quality." According to the CMA's Phase 1 investigation, both Vodafone and Three UK are "currently viable and competitive businesses and that they would continue to invest in their networks absent the merger," based on their recent financial performance and internal strategic papers. According to the CMA, both would "continue to compete with each other, as well as with other mobile operators, in a broadly similar way as today" if the merger did not proceed.

With this in hand, Vodafone UK and Three UK had five working days to provide the CMA with "meaningful solutions"; failing to do so will send the merger to a more thorough Phase 2 investigation.

FTTH Council Europe unveils new FTTH/B Market Panorama and industry assets at the FTTH Conference 2024

As part of the programme of the FTTH Conference 2024 in Berlin, the FTTH Council Europe revealed today several market reports outlining the latest figures on fibre deployment trends in Europe: the European FTTH/B Market Panorama 2024, the FTTH/B Global Ranking 2024, the FTTH/B Forecasts for 2023-2029, and the updated report on FTTH/B in Rural Areas, prepared by IDATE. All reports are based on the latest available data from September 2023.

In addition, the FTTH Council Europe presented an update to its FTTH/B Investments Tracker report and the brand new FTTH/B Market Sentiment Survey, initiatives of its Sustainability Committee, as well as the new white paper “FTTH Council Carbon Footprint Project: a Reporting Model for the Entire Sector”, produced by the Sustainability Committee.

FTTH Awards and FTTH Innovation Awards Winners Announced at the FTTH Conference 2024

The FTTH Conference 2024 saw the announcement of the annual FTTH Awards winners: Prysmian is the winner of the Champion of Diversity Award, for their unwavering commitment to addressing diversity issues within the fibre industry. Mr. Ian Gordon Fudge, Owner of FiberDK is the winner of the FTTH Individual Award, for his remarkable efforts in championing the advancement of FTTH technology in Europe. Open Fiber is the winner of the FTTH Operator Award, for its exceptional contribution to the development and widespread implementation of FTTH.

Newly introduced at the FTTH Conference 2024 in Berlin, the FTTH Innovation Awards recognise the most innovative FTTH technology product solutions that support the FTTH Council Europe's key objectives. After receiving 55 entries from 42 companies, a distinguished jury consisting of FTTH Council Europe’s Executive Board, Committee Chairs, and speakers of the FTTH Conference, selected the winning solutions across the five proposed categories::

BendBright 180 ¬µm optical fiber by Prysmian Group is the winner for the Passive Infrastructure Category
Genexis TrueTalk (PON autosensing software) by Genexis is the winner for the Active Infrastructure - Central Network Category
IOWRT SDK 7.3 by Genexis is the winner for the Active Infrastructure - Home Network Category
Network Manager Telecom by IQGeo is the winner for the Planning, Workflow, Mapping/GIS, AI Software Category
View 8X - AI-Driven, IoT-Connected, GPS-Enabled Fusion Splicer by Inno Instrument is the winner for the Installation Equipment, Tools, Test & Measurement Instruments Category

NEXT EVENTS

In the context of the upcoming Next Giga Connect Europe 2024 event, organised by Dataxis and taking place at the Cavendish Conference Centre in London, on 4th June 2024, our Director General Vincent Garnier will join prominent representatives from the European telecom industry to discuss the current state of fibre optic rollout in Europe.

Where do we stand on the path to bringing gigabit connectivity to everyone in Europe by 2030? What are the most successful strategies and the hurdles that industry players are facing while deploying network infrastructures?

Join us on 4^th June in London to find out the answers!

The FTTH Council Europe is happy to announce its brand-new regional event, set to bring the expertise and experience of the FTTH Council Europe as an event organiser to support the FTTH industry in regions that deserve greater attention. The first edition of the event will happen in Dubrovnik, Croatia, on 29-30 October 2024. The congress will complement the annual FTTH Conference and focus on the specificities of FTTH deployment in the Balkans. Do not miss this opportunity to meet and better understand the key drivers of this developing region.

Stay tuned for more information and registration launching soon.

Save the date for the next edition of Europe’s leading fibre summit, taking place in Amsterdam on 25-27 March 2025. Let’s stay connected: we will soon provide you with more information about the Conference. Keep following us on our social media channels below and our official website to stay up to date.

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The FTTH Council Europe is an industry organisation with a mission to advance ubiquitous full fibre-based connectivity to the whole of Europe.

Our vision is that fibre connectivity will transform and enhance the way we live, do business and interact, connecting everyone and everything, everywhere. Fibre is the future-proof, climate-friendly infrastructure which is a crucial prerequisite for safeguarding Europe’s global competitiveness while playing a leading global role in sustainability.

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