The coronavirus (COVID-19) situation continued to worsen significantly over the weekend. According to the authorities, the number of infected people in Germany has doubled and the numbers have also risen in Hesse – the venue of the FIBERDAYS20 trade fair, Germany’s leading trade fair for fiber optic expansion. Numerous trade fairs have been postponed at various locations due to the sharp rise in the number of infections. Following the example of Switzerland, France has now also rigorously banned major events.
The German government has so far taken a different approach for Germany and – as reported – merely referred to the recommendations for action for major events issued by the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) on Friday evening. It has thus delegated the assessment of the risk situation with regard to the respective implementation of a major event to the respective organizer.
Dr. Stephan Albers, Managing Director of the Federal Association of Broadband Communication (BREKO) and Managing Director of BREKO Servicegesellschaft GmbH (organizer of FIBERDAYS20) explains:
“After intensive examination of the criteria of the RKI’s recommendations for action, we have come to the conclusion that we feel compelled to cancel the FIBERDAYS20 planned for March 5 and 6 in Wiesbaden. March in Wiesbaden to a later date, as many of the risk criteria listed there apply to our trade fair.
The decision to postpone FIBERDAYS20 was not an easy one, but after careful consideration of the criteria, there is no alternative.
In this context, we would like to emphasize once again that for us as organizers of FIBERDAYS20, the protection, health and well-being of our visitors, exhibitors, customers, members and employees is our top priority. Due to the changed situation, we see an incalculable risk for visitors, exhibitors, customers, members and employees.
In our considerations, we also had to take into account the fact that the number of cancellations by companies and visitors due to so-called “no travel policies” increased again very significantly over the weekend. The goal of offering exhibitors and visitors the greatest benefit from participating in FIBERDAYS20 cannot be realized in the current situation.
FIBERDAYS20 will not be cancelled. We intend to postpone our trade fair to mid-October 2020. We will announce the final date shortly. We ask everyone involved for your understanding and support.”

Note for all visitors who wanted to travel to Fiberdays by Deutsche Bahn: People who have purchased a DB Fernverkehr ticket to travel to the trade fair can have their ticket refunded free of charge by Deutsche Bahn.