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Releasing The Potential Of Fixed Wireless Access In Europe

About the Event

Fixed Wireless Access (FWA) as a technology is not new. It is well established as a means of providing internet access to homes using wireless mobile network technology rather than fixed lines, and can offer a hugely cost effective alternative to fibre across many rural and hard to reach areas. In the past however, its weakness has been performance – it has not been able to match the speed or latency offered by fixed line broadband connections. As we enter the 5G era however, this is changing. FWA now has the potential to deliver ultra-high-speed or even gigabit-speed broadband in areas where fibre is not available. Despite this however, take up of FWA services across Europe still remains relatively low.

This interactive webinar will discuss the reasons for this and the obstacles that have held back the rollout of FWA in Europe to date. It will explore the potential that FWA can play as part of national broadband plans that are being developed across Member States, and to help to contribute to EU connectivity targets in both the short term and longer term. And finally, with unprecedented levels of public funding currently available to boost connectivity through the EU Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF) and other instruments, it will look at how FWA fits within the context of this, and at what member states and industry can do to take advantage of the subsidies and support that is available.

Is it finally time for the potential of fixed wireless access across Europe to be realised?

Schedule

19 May 2022 | 09:15– 12:30 CEST

Releasing the Potential of Fixed Wireless Access in Europe
2022-05-19
09:15 - 09:35
Keynote opening presentation
Keynote opening presentation image
Franco Accordino
Head of Unit, Investment in High-Capacity Networks, European Commission
09:35 - 10:55
Session 1: What role for FWA in delivering the gigabit society in Europe?
    • What potential does Fixed Wireless Access have in offering a solution to provide very high capacity networks (VHCN) that can deliver ‘last mile connectivity’ at a reasonable price as a substitute for fibre?
    • What benefits can be provided by FWA in terms of capacity and cost-effectiveness? What are the pros and cons compared to fibre networks?
    • What progress has been made in those countries (both in Europe and elsewhere) in which fixed wireless access has been launched, and what trends are being seen?
    • What have been the obstacles to rollout of fixed wireless access in Europe so far and how can regulators and industry representatives work together to overcome these?
    • What role can FWA play in contributing to connectivity targets and helping to close the digital divide as part of national broadband plans across member states?
    • How far can FWA go in the 5G-era, and what can be expected of the technology as we move beyond 5G towards future targets of gigabit speed connectivity?
Session 1: What role for FWA in delivering the gigabit society in Europe? image
Konstantinos Masselos
President, EETT ; Incoming Chair for 2023, BEREC
Session 1: What role for FWA in delivering the gigabit society in Europe? image
Bent Andre Støyva
Head of Section for Spectrum Planning, NKOM Norway
Session 1: What role for FWA in delivering the gigabit society in Europe? image
Julien Grivolas
Chair of GSA 4G-5G FWA Forum
Session 1: What role for FWA in delivering the gigabit society in Europe? image
Katri Perälä
Director of BB Business, DNA
Session 1: What role for FWA in delivering the gigabit society in Europe? image
Patrick Robinson
Vice President – Europe, ATEL
Session 1: What role for FWA in delivering the gigabit society in Europe? image
Stéphanie Char
Director of Studies, iDATE
10:55 - 11:10
Break
11:10 - 12:20
Session 2: Public funding initiatives to support FWA and wireless infrastructure investments – maximising the available support
    • What funding instruments are available at both a European level (through the EU Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF) and other instruments) and at a member state level to help facilitate innovative and forward-looking wireless connectivity projects?
    • What are the criteria that are being seen for accessing these schemes, and what recognition is FWA receiving as part of the solution to help delivering connectivity to rural communities and other ‘challenge’ areas?
    • How can member states and connectivity providers looking to roll-out FWA networks ensure that they are in a position to best take advantage of the funding and subsidies that are available?
    • What examples of projects utilising public funding to supporting connectivity through FWA are already being seen across Europe?
    • What should be considered as the balance between funds allocated to fixed and fixed-wireless networks when it comes to supporting the rollout of broadband networks in underserved areas?
    • How can policymakers best ensure that the public funding that is being made available for cellular infrastructure development is allocated to projects that ensure that 5G is not only a step forward for technology, but also a step forward for affordability and accessibility of service?
Session 2: Public funding initiatives to support FWA and wireless infrastructure investments – maximising the available support image
Maarit Palovirta
Director for Regulatory Affairs, ETNO
Session 2: Public funding initiatives to support FWA and wireless infrastructure investments – maximising the available support image
Philippe Lefebvre
Head of Sector, 5G Deployment Strategy. European Commission
Session 2: Public funding initiatives to support FWA and wireless infrastructure investments – maximising the available support image
Harald Gruber
Head of Digital Infrastructure Division, European Investment Bank
Session 2: Public funding initiatives to support FWA and wireless infrastructure investments – maximising the available support image
Dr Michael Opitz
Partner, Head of Time Practice Central Europe, Arthur D. Little
12:20 - 12:30
Closing Remarks and Conclusions
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Featuring contributions from:

Franco Accordino_restructured_0

Franco Accordino

Head of Unit, Investment in High-Capacity Networks, European Commission

Maarit

Maarit Palovirta

Director for Regulatory Affairs,
ETNO

H Gruber picture (002)

Harald Gruber

Head of Digital Infrastructure Division, European Investment Bank

Untitled design (1)

Philippe Lefebvre

Head of Sector, 5G Deployment Strategy,
European Commission

CHAR_Stéphanie (1)

Stéphanie Char

Director of Studies
IDATE

Konstantinos Masselos

Konstantinos Masselos

President, EETT;
Incoming Chair for 2023,
BEREC

Photo_Bio_Julien_Grivolas

Julien Grivolas

Chair,
GSA 4G- 5G FWA Forum

Bent André Støyva

Bent André Støyva

Head of Section for Spectrum Planning,
NKOM Norway

Patrick Robinson

Patrick Robinson

Vice President – Europe,
ATEL

Katri Perala

Katri Perälä

Director of BB Business,
DNA

Untitled design (79)

Michael Opitz

Partner, Head of Time Practice Central Europe, Arthur D. Little

Organisers & Partners

forumeuropelogo
ETNO
idate logo
GSA 4G-5G FWA Forum Logo-01
arthur

Event Platform

This event will be taking place using Forum Europe’s virtual event platform.

#FWAinEurope

Contact

For more information on any aspect of this event, please contact event manager Bronagh Diamond using any of the details below.

Bronagh Diamond
Event Manager
Forum Europe

bronagh.diamond@forum-europe.com

Tel: +44 (0) 2922 338 311