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MARCH 2025 EDITION
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- Latest news from our Members
- Telecom digest:
- Ofcom's Telecoms Access Review 2026-31: Advancing Full-Fibre, Competition, and Consumer Protections
- German Associations Urge Digital Ministers to Accelerate Network Expansion
- Nkom Proposes Deregulation of Broadband Market to Enhance Competition and Consumer Choice
- Switzerland Proposes CHF 730 Million Funding Program to Boost Fibre and Wireless Broadband
- CPPC Sets Conditions for 4th Call to Expand Broadband in White Spot Areas of Poland
- Next events from the FTTH Council Europe
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Highlights from the FTTH Conference 2025
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The FTTH Conference 2025 in Amsterdam brought together the brightest minds in fibre to accelerate Europe’s full-fibre future! From game-changing keynotes to live tech demos and high-level debates on technology, investment and regulation, this year’s event set new benchmarks for innovation. Missed the action? Catch the energy in our highlights video here – and save the date for #FTTH2026 in London, where we will take the conversation even further!
The fibre revolution waits for no one – will you be part of it?
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NEWS FROM OUR MEMBERS
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50G Passive Optical Networks (50G-PON): What Is It All About? Key insights from Bill Bittancourt, AVP, Product Line Leadership at Calix.
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Exploring the ambitious plans for broadband rollout across Europe, Tobias Schubert, Marketing Manager Major Accounts at Corning Optical Communications, looks at the progress being made by Germany, France, and the UK towards universal connectivity by 2030.
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Discover how Visual AI transforms as-built documentation and digital twins, enhancing accuracy and efficiency in managing expanding telecom networks. Read Deepomatic's blog to learn how this technology streamlines operations, ensures quality control, and maintains network performance.
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Explore with Emtelle the key terms and stages of Fiber-to-the-Home (FTTH) network deployments, including Homes Passed, Homes Passed Plus, and Homes Connected. Understand their significance in enhancing connectivity, improving customer experience, and future-proofing networks for growing demand.
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Wi-Fi 7 is here, bringing ultra-fast speeds, lower latency, and greater efficiency. For ISPs, this is a game-changer. Offering next-level reliability and speed means staying ahead of the competition and meeting the growing demands of smart homes, gaming, and AR/VR applications. But is now the right time to make the switch? Keep reading on Icotera's website.
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Thanks to FTTH fiber optic networks and technologies like the Internet of Things (IoT) and Building Information Modeling (BIM), construction sites are increasingly becoming hubs of innovation, where every phase of work is optimized: from environmental condition monitoring to predictive equipment management. Learn more on the Open Fiber website.
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Keeping Acquisition Pain-Free: Migrating data in complex fibre operations requires scrutiny. Overlooking details risks costly disruptions. Ensuring continuity means validating data, assessing system compatibility, and questioning assumptions. Does the approach guarantee zero downtime? Is every step verified? The fine print matters—missed details can be expensive. Learn more on VertiGIS website.
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Ofcom's Telecoms Access Review 2026-31: Advancing Full-Fibre, Competition, and Consumer Protections
As part of its Telecoms Access Review 2026-31, Ofcom has proposed revisions to the 2021 FWTMR and has announced that full-fibre coverage will be available to nearly the entire UK by 2027. The proposals consist of the following: protection of consumers, the closure of the copper network, the promotion of competition, the emphasis on the roll-out of rural fibre, and the continuation of the company's support for investment and competition. Ofcom is proposing to increase the percentage of the UK that is identified as having competition between networks or the potential for it, from 70% to 90%. Competitors will continue to have access to Openreach's poles and ducts, which will enable them to deploy networks without the need to excavate themselves. Ofcom will prioritise the promotion of full fibre construction by Openreach in rural or remote regions of the country, as well as the development of new backstop standards for the quality and timeliness of repairs and installations for full-fibre services.
Ofcom will also safeguard consumers by restricting the nominal price that Openreach can charge retail providers for download speeds of up to 80Mb/s, while higher-speed products will remain unregulated. The organisation will also facilitate the seamless transition from outdated copper lines to fibre and initiate the process of terminating redundant exchanges in the years ahead. Ofcom's proposals are currently available for consultation until 12th June 2025, and its decisions are anticipated to be made in March 2026.
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German Associations Urge Digital Ministers to Accelerate Network Expansion
Germany's leading telecommunications associations ANGA, Bitkom, BREKO, and VATM have issued an urgent appeal to the Digital Ministers' Conference for investment-friendly and competition-oriented policies to accelerate fibre-optic and mobile network expansion. They call for a nationwide "expansion acceleration law" that prioritizes digital infrastructure, streamlines administrative processes, and reduces bureaucracy. Key demands include a digital notification system for approvals and a long-term, structured funding approach rather than short-term financial injections. While the federal government plans to allocate €3,5 billion annually for gigabit funding, the industry stresses the need for stable, predictable funding of €1 billion per year throughout the legislative period to avoid rising costs and delays, especially as 70% of existing subsidies remain unused.
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Nkom Proposes Deregulation of Broadband Market to Enhance Competition and Consumer Choice
The Norwegian Communications Authority (Nkom) has proposed the deregulation of the broadband market to enhance consumer choice and foster competition. Previously, Nkom aimed to regulate companies with significant market power; however, it now advocates for the voluntary opening of fibre networks as an alternative. Kamilla Sharma, Director of Market and Services at Nkom, highlights that market conditions have evolved, with many operators expressing willingness to grant network access to competitors. At present, only Telenor is mandated to provide access to its broadband network, but a transition to voluntary access could promote greater competition. Nkom will closely monitor the implementation, ensuring that access terms remain fair and reasonable. Should dominant market players fail to facilitate fair access, regulatory measures may be reinstated. Stakeholders are invited to submit their comments on the proposal by 12th May 2025.
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Switzerland Proposes CHF 730 Million Funding Program to Boost Fibre and Wireless Broadband
The Federal Council of Switzerland has initiated a consultation for a new program to enhance nationwide high-speed internet access via the Broadband Promotion Act (BPA). The program seeks to encourage the deployment of fibre-optic and wireless networks, particularly in rural regions where market participants are less inclined to invest due to diminished demand. The program will furnish financial assistance for these regions, specifically for networks delivering speeds of no less than 1 Gb/s. Municipalities may seek funds that will subsidise up to 50% of the financial deficit in expansion projects, with the remaining expenses borne by the canton. The program, with a budget of CHF 730 million (around €766 million), will span 7 to 10 years and seeks to promote effective competition by mandating that subsidised infrastructure be accessible to numerous service providers. The consultation period will conclude on 23rd June 2025.
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CPPC Sets Conditions for 4th Call to Expand Broadband in White Spot Areas of Poland
The CPPC (Centrum Projektów Polska Cyfrowa) has outlined specific conditions for the fourth call to expand broadband services in white spot areas under Investment C1.1.1. Applicants can freely select addresses from an established list without predefined administrative boundaries, with each address point treated as a separate competitive area. Projects must cover at least 200 address points or have a minimum value of PLN 800.000 (€192.000), with a maximum of PLN 40 million (€9,6 million). Funding includes a 95% subsidy covering both deployment and three years of maintenance, while applicants can reduce public contribution costs by up to 10%. The implementation is divided into three phases, with completion deadlines extending to 31st August 2027, subject to European Commission approval. Applications follow a simplified process, with financial requirements varying based on project size, and selection criteria favour cost efficiency and early submission.
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NEXT EVENTS
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As part of Connect Europe’s Policy Summit 2025, our Director General, Vincent Garnier, will moderate the high-level panel titled "The Digital Networks Act – A Bold Move for the Future of EU Telecoms Regulation."
This panel will explore the transformative potential of the Digital Networks Act, a landmark initiative poised to reshape telecom regulation across Europe. With Europe’s digital transformation reaching a defining moment, ensuring a connected, competitive, and sovereign digital future has never been more urgent. As technology and connectivity drive economic growth and societal change, the need for forward-thinking policy and investment is clear. Learn more and secure your spot now.
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Upcoming FTTH Council Europe events – SAVE THE DATES!
Stay ahead in the fibre industry by joining us at our upcoming events:
FTTH Congress CEE - Warsaw, Poland, 7-8 October 2025
A key gathering for fibre professionals in Central and Eastern Europe, featuring insightful discussions and networking opportunities.
FTTH Conference 2026 - London, UK, 14-16 April 2026
The world’s largest fibre summit, bringing together industry leaders, innovators, and policymakers to shape the future of FTTH.
We look forward to welcoming you, mark your calendars!
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#FibreHorizon is the FTTH Council Europe's monthly selection
of digital and fibre-related news.
For more information, check our website or contact us.
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About Us
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.
The FTTH Council Europe consists of more than 160 member companies.
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