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BEREC calls for fast fibre network roll-outs
Increasing the speed of roll-out of fibre broadband across member states is a vital component to drive a greener , more competitive economy as Europe gears up for a post pandemic recovery , according to Michel Van Bellinghen , chairman 2021 of BEREC ( Body of European Regulators for Electronic Communications ).
Delivering a keynote speech during the online ‘ A Green and Digital Europe with Full-fibre : Opportunities , Challenges and Best Practices ’ conference , Van Bellinghen suggested that the pandemic and the NextGenerationEU Fund play an impressive role in promoting a boom in supply and demand for digital services .
“ Fast roll-out of fibre networks is a prerequisite for the long-term competitiveness and sustainability of the EU .”
The event took place against the background of the EU ’ s recentlypublished Connectivity Toolbox , which sets out recommendations of best practices to help facilitate the most efficient roll out of very high-capacity networks , including full-fibre broadband . “ Fast roll-out of fibre networks is a prerequisite for the long-term competitiveness and sustainability of the EU ,” said Van Bellinghen .
According to new data , for the first time , over half of European Countries have over 50 % of homes with full fibre , advised Vincent Garnier , director general , FTTH Council
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Europe , quoting figures soon to be released from his organisation ’ s 2021 Market Panorama study . “ As fibre roll-out accelerates , it becomes critical to focus on fibre adoption and to plan for copper switch off ,” he asserted .
“ With the Digital Decade , the EU wants to ensure that its citizens and businesses have access to a choice of state-of-the-art technologies that will make their life better , safer , and even greener – provided they also have the skills to use them ,” advised Rita Wezenbeek , director – connectivity of DG CONNECT , European Commission . “ In the post pandemic world , this is how we will shape together a resilient and digitally-sovereign Europe .”
“ Accelerating the transition to full fibre will require € 300 billion investment by the end of the decade ,” suggested Lise Fuhr , director general of ETNO , the European Telecommunications Network Operators ’ Association . “ However it can bring huge benefits across Europe ; 2.4 million new jobs , annual economic benefits of € 113 billion , and 15 per cent carbon emission cuts .”
“ Achieving a full 5G and full fibre scenario is key to meet Europe ’ s green and digital targets ,” she stated , stressing that investment conditions must dramatically improve in order to meet these investment targets . According to Fuhr , ETNO member companies have made huge advances in using renewable energy . She welcomed the “ important positive steps ” taken by the new EU Commission adding that “ the green transition should be a positive incentive to speed up the shift to full-fibre ,” warning that “ if we transform it into yet another regulatory stick , it may lead to slowing roll-out rather than speeding it up ”.
“ Energy consumption and ICT equipment currently produce 2 to 2.5 per cent of annual greenhouse gases ,” reported Harald Gruber , head of digital infrastructure division , European Investment Bank . He said that Gigabit Society Targets for VHC [ Very High Capacity ] broadband networks are well justified and necessary for Europe , but are far beyond what market forces can deliver . He added that the EIB is focusing on areas of higher “ market failures ” that are hindering digital technologies , such as universal access to VHC infrastructure , adoption barriers due to lack of skills , cybersecurity and legacy infrastructures . “ Full fibre broadband access networks are a key component to tackle climate change and hence fully endorsed for financing by the EIB ,” he confirmed .
Data from Huawei ’ s lab presented at the conference shows that a shift of just ten thousand users from copper lines to fibre results in power saving of five hundred and fifty thousand kilowatt-hours per year , equivalent to planting six thousand trees .
Richard ( Yuzhi ) Jin , president , optical business product line of Huawei , suggested that “ optical fibre is the greenest broadband technology , and can significantly support Europe ’ s Green Deal ”. He also welcomed EU ’ s adoption of Guidelines on VHCNs , harmonising the criteria a network has to fulfil to be considered a Very High Capacity Network , therefore providing a basis for improving the overall connectivity status across EU , and the 2030 Digital Compass , which prioritises infrastructure .