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2 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 organisation promotes this technology because it is an enabler of cutting-edge services and applications. The development of new digital services and content will enhance quality of life, contribute to a better environment, increase employment and economic competitiveness, and finally help combat some of the major issues facing society today, for instance, by improving health care services for an aging population. In addition, we also believe that FTTH is the key to developing a sustainable future, as it is now widely acknowledged that FTTH is the only future-proof technology for broadband Internet access, when it comes to speed, reliability, security and scalability. Rolling out FTTH in Europe is a way to create a brighter future for the next generation. 2

3 Introducing the "Gimme Fibre Day Since 2013, 4 November has been the worldwide Gimme Fibre Day! This annual event was created by the FTTH Council Global Alliance (including the five FTTH Councils: Africa, Americas, APAC, Europe and MENA) to celebrate the only future-proof broadband access solution, showcase how fibre has positively impacted individuals and their communities across the world in terms of economy, society and quality of life. "We want fibre to the home, and we want it now!" On this day, a series of activities around the globe will remind policy makers, operators and end-users that FTTH is more than just faster internet it is a revolution of how we make business, how we communicate and how we live our daily life. 3

4 The Story 4 November is the birthdate of Nobel Prize winner Sir Charles Kuen Kao, the man who changed the way the world communicates and was awarded the 2009 Nobel Prize in Physics for "ground-breaking achievements concerning the transmission of light in fibres for optical communication. "Thank you for honouring Professor Kao on his birthday - he will be 80 years old this year", declared Mrs. Gwen Kao, Professor Charles Kao's wife. "Back in the early days, when he announced that optic fibre would change the world, I laughed at him and joked about a Nobel Prize! Decades later, we live in a high-tech world so full of creativity, where products improve so fast that items become obsolete overnight. We are finally able to fully appreciate the impact of his vision. He would be very touched if he understood the event, but he has been suffering from Alzheimer's disease for the last 11 years. On his behalf, I wish you a successful Gimme Fibre Day!" 4

5 Programme 2016 We at the FTTH Council Europe will of course do a lot of additional activities to celebrate Gimme Fibre Day. This will include: - A dedicated online streaming TV channel with videos, interviews and round table discussions about FTTH. You are invited to send us interesting videos about FTTH and the impact of FTTH! - Our website will be THE portal to all activities in Europe if you plan an activity, make sure you let us know we are happy to add it on the website. - We will do several press activities on and around the Gimme Fibre Day. This includes the present press kit, news flash and press release among others. - We will do a dedicated information campaign about the benefits of FTTH on Gimme Fibre Day. A special -blast to selected decision-makers in Europe will remind them about the importance of FTTH. - An online contest on the "I want Fibre" Facebook community. 5

6 How to be part of this event? We encourage companies, individuals, policymakers, institutions and really anyone that show commitment to FTTH to plan their Gimme Fibre Day activities on 4 November. Send a press release, launch a product, give a special discount on fibre connections, hand out goodies or communicate on social media any idea and any activity is welcome! The FTTH Council Europe will collect all the activities and list them on our dedicated website. People just have to send a short message to gimmefibre@ftthcouncil.eu to inform us about their plans. Download the Gimme Fibre Day Kit to customize your activity at: www. gimmefibre.eu 6

7 Examples of actions on Gimme Fibre Day 2013 Len Fiber, a broadband company based in Italy, sold from 28 October until 4 November their FTTH 4 Business, offering the full gigabit symmetric solution for the same price as HDSL Folan, an equipment and solution manufacturer for networks infrastructures, data and telecom, released balloons on 4 November as a symbolic act signalling their support for the Gimme Fibre Day Orange, a French telecommunications company, offered a special subscription in Orange retail stores in the Ile-de-France region. Orange also launched a forum for FTTH customers to ask questions, share ideas and advice about fibre. Facebook Contest 2013 For the first contest organized on Facebook, participants were asked to post a photo or video that showed how end-users feel when they have to wait forever for a download (no doubt we all experienced this). Run 4 Fibre 2014 The #run4fibre competition started on 4 November 2014 and ended on 4 February Participants were asked to show us how far they could go by posting their runs on your Facebook page with the hashtag #run4fibre. Selfie Contest 2015 For last year s Gimme Fibre Day, people took part in a Facebook selfie contest from 4 November to 18 November. Participants were invited to show how strongly they want fibre by taking a selfie holding an I want Fibre sign written in their own language. 7

8 Save the date for the coming years! For more information on Gimme Fibre Day and the FTTH Council Europe, please contact our Press Relations Officer: Jean-Michaël MASSENYA Press Relations Officer 8