Germany’s fiber optic trade fair reinvents itself: Virtual FIBERWEEK celebrates successful premiere

First virtual platform for fibre optic expansion since the start of the coronavirus pandemic
Over 1,000 visitors from 27 countries every day
50-hour congress programme with more than 100 speakers
Important impetus for fibre optic expansion and digitalization

Bonn/Berlin, 16 October 2020 FIBERWEEK20 celebrates its successful premiere with more than 1,000 visitors a day over five days of the trade fair, over 50 hours of conference program and a wide range of topics. The first virtual digital trade fair for all aspects of fibre optic expansion ended with great popularity, important messages for fibre optic expansion and a satisfied organizer. The next FIBERDAYS are planned for March 2021. It remains to be seen whether this will be a hybrid trade fair or purely digital again.
“We have achieved our goal of offering the telecommunications and fiber optic industry a high-performance platform even in these times. During the five days of the trade fair, it became clear how great the need for information and discussion on the topic of fiber optic expansion is. Because one thing is clear: if we want to make progress with digitalization and the expansion of the digital infrastructure, we have to bring politics, associations and practice together, even in this difficult situation. With FIBERWEEK20, we have succeeded in spanning the spectrum from civil engineering to network operation and digital products to the political level and jointly working out clear goals and next steps for Germany’s digitalization,” says BREKO Managing Director Stephan Albers. He and the team from the German Broadband Communications Association (BREKO) had set up the virtual trade fair within a few weeks following the cancellation of the FIBERDAYS face-to-face trade fair due to the pandemic.
Strong interest in virtual platform and industry exchange
The first virtual FIBERWEEK20 was enthusiastically received by the industry and actively used for exchange and discourse. All five days of the trade fair were highly frequented: Every day, over 1,000 visitors from a total of 27 countries visited the virtual FIBERWEEK20 trade fair and congress center. An average of 300 visitors attended each session of the varied congress program, which was presented live by the moderators from the specially set up base camp in Bonn. The workshops and seminars also met with great interest, with an average of 80 participants. The 63 exhibitors experienced that leads can also be successfully generated at a virtual trade fair. On average, the exhibitors recorded 150 new contacts, with the most successful stand even recording over 400. The participants actively exchanged ideas: During the five days of the trade fair, a total of 14,700 chat messages were sent in the seven exhibition halls.
“With FIBEWEEK20, we were able to transfer the success factors of the FIBERDAYS face-to-face trade fair to the virtual world. However, I am most pleased that the spark has also been ignited between people. The interaction on the virtual platform worked, people came into contact with each other. They met in video chats, in discussion groups and at trade fair stands. The enthusiasm, even a real trade fair spirit, was palpable. This is the greatest success for our team and an important learning for future events,” summarizes Stephan Albers.
Substantive discourse and clear goals for the fiber optic industry
From the digital transformation to smart cities and regions to the topic of new media: In terms of content, FIBERWEEK20 brought together all topics and areas for which fiber optic expansion is the essential foundation. Representatives from the various disciplines agreed on the ways and means necessary to accelerate this: the training of skilled workers, the sustainable strengthening of SMEs and continuity in funding, but not over-funding, are of the utmost importance. BREKO Vice President Alfred Rauscher put it in a nutshell during the panel discussion on accelerating fiber optic expansion: “Fiber optic expansion is like running a marathon. You have to keep going at a constant speed. Only then will you reach your goal”. He was referring in particular to sustainable local cooperation in the municipalities, where long-term partnerships are needed to work hand in hand. The virtual FIBERWEEK20 provided the platform this week to strengthen precisely this cooperation and join forces to accelerate the expansion of fiber optics.