FFTH Council Europe: “CSPs facing many challenges”
December 7, 2023
The In-Home Broadband Excellence (IBE) Committee of the FTTH Council Europe has announced the release of its In-Home Connectivity Survey Report 2023, providing insights into the strategies and challenges faced by Communication Service Providers (CSPs) across Europe.
Structured along the main topics of Strategy and Marketing, Customer Satisfaction, and Technology, and based on a thorough analysis of qualitative interviews conducted between February and March 2023 with CSPs from across Europe, this resource for the industry provides insight into the state of play of in-home connectivity, including strategic priorities, pain points in deployments, and the evolving dynamics between CSP and end-user.
Key highlights from the report:
- Installation: The challenges of the in-home network already start directly at installation time. Endusers do not have enough knowledge, technicians are expensive and not always trained consistently. Nevertheless, technicians are offered in most cases, to retain a connection to the end-user and offer a better first impression. The report emphasises the need for effective communication and a positive initial impression.
- In-Home Network Challenges: Installation challenges are not the only hurdle. The report delves into the complexities of the in-home network, with a focus on Wi-Fi solutions. It highlights the end-user’s perception of Wi-Fi as an integral part of the package, regardless of CSP responsibility, and the potential risks of prioritising upfront cost over equipment performance.
- Wi-Fi 6 Adoption: While the adoption of Wi-Fi 6 is widespread, the report reveals challenges in the current state of technology, particularly in mesh networking. Open standards for mesh networking are preferred, but seamless multi-vendor interoperability remains a work in progress.
- The Sustainability Factor: A new trend on the rise is sustainability. The report challenges the notion that ‘adding more Wi-Fi’ is the solution to in-home network issues, citing concerns about cost, power consumption, and the industry’s commitment to achieving ‘net zero’ emissions.
- Opportunities for fast followers: The report suggests that being a ‘fast follower’ in technology adoption may be more advantageous than being a ‘first mover’ for those unprepared for the complexities of early adoption. Consumer loyalty is not guaranteed, presenting ample opportunities for late adopters.
“In today’s telecom market, Communication Service Providers (CSPs) have many challenges. In the big picture, society is demanding more and better connectivity, while economic parameters changed substantially quite recently,” commented Maarten Egmond, Chair of the In-Home Broadband Excellence Committee of the FTTH Council Europe. “At a more detailed level, there are concerns about labour shortages, sustainability and climate impact (and goals), all the way down to the technical challenges in the search for more ‘stickiness’ and additional revenue opportunities. Since the In-home Broadband Excellence committee is here to help the CSPs to navigate this complex landscape, we set out to create this report with clear findings that allow CSPs to benchmark themselves against the European market, and can help identify what steps to take next”.