Germany’s leading fiber optic trade fair goes virtual: FIBERWEEK in October 2020

FIBERDAYS trade fair will take place in its usual format in March 2021
Berlin/Bonn, July 10, 2020 BREKO is holding FIBERWEEK20, a virtual trade fair event for the fiber optic and digital industry, for the first time from October 12 to 16, 2020. The FIBERDAYS trade fair will take place next year on 17 and 18 March 2021 at the RheinMain CongressCenter Wiesbaden (RMCC).
Dr. Stephan Albers, Managing Director of the German Broadband Communications Association (BREKO): “We very much regret that we will not be able to hold FIBERDAYS20 as an in-person trade fair in Wiesbaden. In recent years, we have seen how much the telecommunications industry appreciates the personal exchange on fiber optic expansion, smart city and digital topics at FIBERDAYS. Convinced that we would be able to hold on to an in-person event, we postponed the trade fair from March to October and pushed ahead with the planning. However, we have to accept that the coronavirus crisis and the associated distancing and hygiene requirements mean that we are unable to implement a satisfactory concept. Despite the easing of restrictions, there are still considerable restrictions that make it impossible for exhibitors and visitors to successfully hold FIBERDAYS. Nevertheless, we want to offer the fiber optic and digital industry a platform for exchange in October. That is why we are now launching an innovative virtual trade fair concept under the title FIBERWEEK20. Our trade fair team is working on translating proven FIBERDAYS concepts into the digital world. Our aim is to use innovative formats to make the heart of an event – networking – a virtual experience. For us, as for many other organizers at the moment, this is a completely new world. However, we are very happy to take on this challenge with a great deal of curiosity and commitment and are convinced that our partners and guests can only gain from this.”
More than 4,200 visitors and 180 exhibitors from the telecommunications and fiber optics industry have already registered for FIBERDAYS20, which is scheduled to take place on 13 and 14 October at RMCC Wiesbaden. Five theme days with virtual presentations, workshops and networking formats are now planned as part of the virtual FIBERWEEK20. The topics:

Business models and innovative products
Smart Cities & Smart Regions
Digitization of municipalities and companies
Fibre optic expansion
New Media

Stephan Albers on the current implementation status: “We are currently working flat out to make the trade fair a truly virtual experience. That is why we have also decided to extend the digital event to an entire week. The program will be spread out so that as many interested parties as possible have the chance to choose the right formats and content. In order to make networking possible and appealing digitally, we are currently thinking about exciting virtual networking formats and are also planning one or two surprises for the participants. We can’t yet promise exactly what can be implemented by October, but we are getting creative. FIBERDAYS has developed so successfully in recent years that we won’t be discouraged by the current conditions.”
The five days of FIBERWEEK20 are filled with exciting offers: Exhibitors will meet with interested parties at virtual trade fair stands. The conference program is available digitally and will be broadcast in virtual lectures, workshops and webinars. One of the many exciting items on the program has already been confirmed: The panel discussion on the topic of “New Media”. Representatives from ZDF, RTL, Deutsche Telekom and Joyn will be discussing one of the major future fields of the telecommunications industry: streaming. The title of the discussion: “IS EVERYTHING STREAMING? Moving images of the future: ever shorter, ever more on-demand, ever more facets”.
Further content from the virtual trade fair program and tickets for FIBERWEEK20 are expected to be available from August.