European FTTH Conference 2021 goes virtual, changes dates

April 27, 2021
This will be the second year in a row the FTTH Council Europe’s FTTH Conference will be held virtually due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

While its U.S. counterpart continues to prep for a live version of its annual show in July, the FTTH Council Europe has decided to convert its FTTH Conference 2021, slated for Berlin, into a virtual event. The dates of the show also have changed, from September 21-23 to September 15-16.

“With just over five months to go to the planned FTTH Conference 2021 in Berlin, it remains unclear when, and in what form, large international conferences and exhibitions will be permitted to run,” the FTTH Council Europe explained in a statement issued today. “Following consultation with multiple stakeholders, we have reached the conclusion that the probability of being able to organize a physical conference in September and offer a successful business outcome for our delegates and sponsors, is extremely low. Even if some conference restrictions were to be lifted by September, the international nature of our event and likely social distancing measures that would be in place, mean there would be great risk that many visitors would not travel, considerably limiting the commercial potential of the event.”

Details of the virtual event will be forthcoming, according to the council, which adds that “the majority of our partners” plan to support the online gathering. Meanwhile, the group reiterated its intentions to hold a live version of the annual conference and exposition next year in Vienna, March 29-31, 2022. The event will return to Berlin March 19-21, 2024, the group added.

This will be the second year in a row the FTTH Council Europe’s FTTH Conference will be held virtually due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Meanwhile, U.S. sibling the Fiber Broadband Association continues to expect to hold its Fiber Connect Conference live in Nashville, TN, July 25-28 (see “Fiber Connect conference moved to Nashville July 2021”).

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