From your experience as Committee Chair, what is the main benefit for Members of the FTTH Council Europe to join and actively participate in the Policy & Regulation Committee?
I would say that the main benefit is the opportunity to directly influence the policy landscape shaping the future of fibre networks in Europe. The policy and regulatory framework sets the rules of the game for businesses. Members can engage in dialogue with policymakers, regulators, and key stakeholders, allowing them to contribute to the development of favourable policies and regulations that drive fibre deployment and adoption.
Active participation also provides members with early access to crucial information about regulatory changes, market trends, and legislative initiatives. This foresight enables members to strategically position their businesses, anticipate challenges, and, hopefully, capitalize on emerging opportunities. Additionally, the Committee serves as a collaborative platform where members can exchange insights, share best practices, and learn from one another’s experiences. This collective knowledge strengthens their advocacy efforts and amplifies their voice in the policymaking process.
Ultimately, participation empowers members to drive positive change, gain competitive advantages, and contribute to the sustainable growth of full-fibre networks across Europe.
In the picture on the right, Arturs Alksnis during the Policy & Regulation panel at the FTTH Conference 2024, in Berlin.
What current major trends in the fibre industry is the committee focusing on?
The Policy & Regulation Committee is focusing on how the policy and regulatory framework can be improved to facilitate the deployment of fibre networks, boost adoption, increase investment incentives, maintain a competitive market, and support the green transition. By addressing these priorities, the Committee aims to create a robust environment that encourages growth and innovation within the fibre industry across Europe.
A major priority is advocating for a clear policy objective to promote the copper switch-off. We welcomed the fact that the European Commission highlighted this as a major topic in its White Paper ‘How to master Europe’s digital infrastructure needs?’ You can read our full contribution here. To ensure this transition is fair and competitive, the Commission needs to establish guidelines that prevent any manipulation that could shift market power unfairly from copper to fibre networks. A definitive copper switch-off policy would also provide certainty for investors, assuring them that the networks they develop will be utilized within a predictable timeframe, thereby encouraging investment.
Another critical focus is the effective implementation of the Gigabit Infrastructure Act (GIA). Although the GIA's cost reduction measures can support fibre deployment, they are not sufficient alone. To truly drive fibre investments, these measures must be coupled with clear objectives and incentives for commercial operators. Read our position on the Gigabit Infrastracture Act here.
The committee is also addressing the risk that Europe could miss out on the next wave of the Wi-Fi evolution, which is essential for many digital use cases that rely on indoor Wi-Fi. Ensuring adequate spectrum availability is crucial to support these applications.
Additionally, supporting the green transition remains a priority. Accelerating the shift to fibre networks can significantly reduce energy consumption, and the Committee is working closely with Sustainability and Investors Committees on the EU Taxonomy to be applied to FTTH networks based on solid, science-based metrics.
In the picture on the left, Franco Accordino, Head of Unit "Investment in High-Capacity networks" at European Commission, during the Policy & Regulation panel at the FTTH Conference 2024, in Berlin.
Can you give an example of a recent regulatory change that has had a significant impact on the fibre industry and how your committee responded to it?
A recent regulatory change that has significantly impacted the fibre industry is the Gigabit Infrastructure Act (GIA), which came into force on 11 May 2024, replacing the previous Broadband Cost Reduction Directive. The GIA aims to support the cost-efficient and timely rollout of very high-capacity networks to meet the growing demand for connectivity. It addresses key areas affecting our members' operations, such as permitting, shared use of infrastructure, and coordination of civil works for network deployment.
In response, our Committee has been actively engaged in the discussions and preparations around these changes. We have closely monitored the legislative process, provided input, and represented the interests of our industry to ensure the regulation promotes a fair, competitive market and drives investment in fibre networks. Alongside the GIA, we have also focused on the Gigabit Connectivity Recommendation, adopted in February 2024, which provides guidelines on designing access remedy obligations for operators with significant market power to promote competition. The Committee will continue to follow the implementation of these measures closely, to see that they deliver their intended benefits to the industry.
In your view, what are the main challenges that the EU will need to address in light of the election results, and how can these be addressed?
Following the European elections earlier this year, a significant number of new Members of the European Parliament have taken office, and it's essential for the FTTH Council Europe to engage with these members to communicate our industry's priorities. This outreach will be equally crucial with the new European Commission and the commissioners' teams, as the whole sector is working towards achieving the Digital Decade targets, including ensuring that gigabit connectivity is available to all European households by 2030.
The main challenges post-election will involve the objective of facilitating fibre deployment, encouraging adoption, and creating robust incentives for investment in FTTH networks. We will work to ensure that these aspects are at the core of the future work on the legislative framework when the new European Commission team is finalised later this year and they follow-up with concrete proposals following the recent public consultation on the White Paper.
The FTTH Council Europe is committed to collaborating with key decision-makers in European institutions and National Regulatory Authorities to support these goals and contribute to a competitive and sustainable EU economy. A clear, supportive framework is crucial to reducing barriers, minimizing deployment costs, and providing the certainty needed for long-term investments in FTTH networks.
In the picture on the right, the Policy & Regulation panel at the FTTH Conference 2024, in Berlin.