FTTH Conference 2011

Neelie Kroes confirmed as keynote speaker
The Council is delighted to announce that Neelie Kroes, vice-president of the European Commission responsible for the Digital Agenda, will speak in a special closing plenary session on 10 February. A vocal advocate of the importance of high-speed Internet access, vice-president Kroes will explain how FTTH will play a vital part in meeting the ambitious connectivity targets of the Digital Agenda.

Carlota Perez to give plenary presentation
The impressive speaker line up for Milan also includes Professor Carlota Perez, an international authority on the socio-economic effects of technological change. Professor Perez will deliver the keynote speech on day one of the conference, when she will discuss the role of FTTH in sustainable global economic growth.

Full Programme is now online
The conference has official support from the Ministry of Economic Affairs, the city of Milan and the Institute of Advanced Studies in ICT and Communication (ISCTI) in Genoa. Dr Letizia Moratti, Mayor of Milan, has confirmed her opening speech. Preparations are well advanced; the complete programme is now available to view online.
Full conference programme now online >

NEW for 2011! Pre-conference workshops
An afternoon of pre-conference workshops has been organised on 8 February, the day before the main event. Workshops provide an opportunity to discuss the latest technologies and industry developments in a less formal setting with smaller group sizes and a more interactive format. There are seven parallel workshops, including financing of FTTH projects, in-house cabling solutions, standardisation work and organisation, insights into the broadband-enabled society of Fibre Optics Valley in Sweden and the latest technical results from European R&D projects. Register for the conference and get access to the workshops free of charge.

NEW for 2011! FTTH Services Showroom
Not only will conference attendees get to hear about the benefits of FTTH, they will also be invited to gain hands-on experience on FTTH-enabled applications in a dedicated demonstration zone. Major corporations and project developers will present interactive, personalised services in the entertainment, community and business fields, such as online care for the elderly, energy control, e-training tools, interactive maps, personalised TV service and many more. This is a unique opportunity to find out firsthand what a difference FTTH can make to quality of life!

Have you organised your press pass for the FTTH Conference 2011?
The FTTH Council Europe welcomes bona fide journalists to its annual conference free of charge. To obtain a press pass for this year's event in Milan on 9—10 February, simply send an e-mail request with details of your publication and contact information to: nadia.babaali @ ftthcouncil.eu.

Join us for an exclusive preview of the FTTH Market Panorama
Which countries will be the movers and shakers in the new FTTH Rankings, a league table of nations with at least 1% of FTTH-connected households at the end of 2010? Find out by attending our exclusive press event during the FTTH Conference in Milan. Preliminary data from the FTTH Council Europe's market panorama shows that Italy is still one of the largest FTTH markets in Europe and is making ambitious plans to enhance coverage. On 28 October 2010 all the main Italian fixed-line operators signed a memorandum of understanding that defines fundamental aspects of the project "Italia Digitale", a plan to make FTTH connections available to 50% of all households in the country within 10 years.

FTTH Conference makes a green donation to Pro Natura
In keeping with our belief in a sustainable future, the FTTH Conference is supporting a local environmental organisation by donating €3 from each conference entry fee. The recipient of the green donation this time is Federazione Nazionale Pro Natura. Headquartered in Milan, Pro Natura is Italy's oldest environmental organisation; it has been protecting the natural ecosystem and promoting sustainable living for more than 60 years.

Happy New Year!
Last but definitely not least, the Board members and executive team of the FTTH Council Europe would like to wish all our readers a happy new year and an enlightened and colourful 2011.
Read our new year's message on Facebook >

Upcoming Media Events
27 - 28 January

European Telecoms Investment Forum
http://www.easteurolink.co.uk/European-Telecoms-Investment-Forum/
Vienna, Austria
28 - 29 January

Salon de la Plateforme THD
http://digitallyours.fr/thd_revolution_usages/
Paris, France
9 - 10 February

FTTH Conference 2011
http://ftthconference.eu
Milan, Italy
1 - 5
March

CEBIT 2011
http://www.cebit.de/
Hannover, Germany
2 - 3
March

Transport Networks Russia 2011
http://www.comnews-conferences.ru/tn2011eng
Moscow, Russia
6 - 10
March

OFC/NFOEC 2011
http://www.ofcnfoec.org
Los Angeles, US
22 - 24 March

IPTV World Forum 2011
http://www.iptv-forum.com
London, UK

About The FTTH Council Europe:
The FTTH Council Europe is an industry organisation with a mission to accelerate the availability of fibre-based, ultra-high-speed access networks to consumers and businesses. The Council promotes this technology because it will deliver a flow of new services that will enhance the quality of life, contribute to a better environment and increase economic competitiveness. The Council consists of more than 150 member companies. www.ftthcouncil.eu