Successful XXV Cable and Broadband Catalonia Congress
“The benefits of telecommunication networks, whether they are fiber optic or 5G, will increase in line with the greater demand arising from interactivity, with HbbTV as the maximum exponent”, says Dr. Joan Francesc Fondevila Gascón, director of the Center of Studies on Cable (CECABLE) and professor at the Ramon Llull University (URL), at the conclusion of the XXV Cable and Broadband Catalonia Congress, which took place on June 7, 2021 in person and virtually with great public success and content at the Blanquerna Auditorium in Barcelona organized by CECABLE, Blanquerna-URL, Feceminte and the Official College of Telecommunications Technical Engineers of Catalonia (COETTC).
“The changes in content for the consumer are sensitive: more possibilities for dialogue with brands, more personalization and, therefore, more performance of insertions in audiovisual and Internet”, explains Fondevila, for whom “a period of adaptation by the various actors in the sector, but the HbbTV results are promising, as they are less invasive and more effective”. The main advantage of HbbTV for operators is that “it justifies and promotes investments in guaranteed broadband networks, since it increases profitability”, explains Fondevila.
The Conference studied strategic parameters of telecommunications, such as the evolution of fixed and mobile broadband networks, changes in content and the effects of market standards, especially in HbbTV and 5G.
Natàlia Gómez (Xarxa Oberta de Catalunya) highlighted the value of neutral operators to galvanize the expansion of broadband. Joan Oliver (Wifidom) reflected the advantages of wireless solutions especially for rural areas, and stated that “the idea of small operators is not to do the job for the big ones”. Narcís Coll (Evolutio) remarked that the balance between computing and storage fluctuates between the edge (the closest method), the fog and the cloud (the furthest). Rafael Calonge, CEO of Keynet Systems, highlighted the virtues of a high segregation riser cable in flexible subducts for the interior of buildings. This manufacture complies with the particular requirements of the ICT2. Available in 8, 12, 16, 24, 36, 48 and 64 fibers, it has high flexibility and a wide radius of curvature. Due to the high segmentation of fibers, the protection of the fiber is largely guaranteed, whose cover has two traction elements that facilitate installation work. As a detail, the inside of the cable and the subducts are impregnated with talc, which favors a good sliding of the inside of the cover without damaging the fibers. David Andreu (Anxanet) underlined the weight of broadband and “the opportunity of virtual fiber” in industrial and tourist areas. Ignacio Rojo (Phicus) outlined the advantages of specific monitoring software for operators.
HbbTV will allow advertising to be more directed, interactive and varied, according to Andrés Román (Sony). Xavi Redón (Cellnex) explained that children consume more delayed viewing and that LovesTV’s challenges focus on improving the platform’s functionalities, having more compatible television models and creating new interactive environments outside of linear television on LovesTV. A distinction must be made between programmatic TV and addressable TV, since programmatic TV focuses on automating the processes between advertisers, media agencies and supports, and addressable TV distributes in real time, “which exacerbates the need for a flow guaranteed data”, Apostille Fondevila, for whom” the axioms of the Broadband Society, the universalization and the guarantee of the service, are ideally applied in HbbTV, an opportunity for interactivity in a proximity code, especially for cable operators traditional”.
The round table reflected the possibilities that open up in various services thanks to broadband. Fondevila stressed that “the consolidation of 5G will pave the way for a 6G in which the X reality will star in interactivity”, and emphasized that “the quality of experience in some services will require flows of 1 Tbps in the future”, which consolidates the need for a robust infrastructure: “to avoid the commodity effect, operators can play the guaranteed service card”. Cristina Campillo (Government of Catalonia) indicated that “for the deployment of 5G, collaboration between all those involved is needed, and the digital divide must be overcome”. Xavier Edo (Feceminte) stressed that “proximity is the main success factor for traditional cable operators, who will find solutions if 5G does not reach their municipalities”. Carles Sabaté (Telecos.cat) considered that “training is needed to take advantage of the opportunities of 5G”. Diego Otero (CNMC) admitted that “the 5G auction has had a high starting price”. Agustí Argelich (COETTC) remarked that “the State is very greedy in telecommunications, when it is a basic sector, there is money and you have to use it well”. Juan Junquera (AOTEC) highlighted that “the response capacity is always better in small operators than in large ones”, and questioned the quality of the offer that is being launched in 5G, in addition to requesting the commitment to neutral operators in 5G in rural areas. In fact, Fondevila stressed that the message in favor of territorial balance was the protagonist of the first edition of the event, and “remains a quarter of a century later”.
The event is part of the project “New Forms of Interactive Advertising on Television, Internet and Digital Media. Real Applications in HbbTV” (URL, Cellnex, CECABLE and IntadTV), financed by the Ministry of Economy, Industry and Competitiveness. In addition to the URL, the Pompeu Fabra University (UPF), the Mediterrani University School of the University of Girona, the University of Barcelona, the Autonomous University of Barcelona, the Open University of Catalonia, the Camilo José Cela University, EAE Business School, Cesine, Euncet University Center and the Polytechnic University of Catalonia.
In addition to the universities and Acotec, Generalitat of Catalonia, the Barcelona Marketing Club, the College of Graduate Engineers and Industrial Technical Engineers of Barcelona (CETIB), the Catalan Association of Telecommunications Engineers (Telecos.cat), the College participate and collaborate in the event. of Technical Engineering and Degree in Computer Engineering of Catalonia (COETIC), GrausTIC, National Commission of Markets and Competition (CNMC), Catalan Federation of Telecommunications Installers (Feceminte), Telecommunications Coordinating Federation (FECOTEL), National Federation of Installations Entrepreneurs of Spain (Fenie), National Federation of Telecommunications Installers and Integrators (FENITEL), Barcelona Digital Technological Center, TIC.CAT, Red.es, Localret, National Association of Telecommunications and Internet Service Operators (AOTEC), National Association of Internet Companies (ANEI), Association for the Progress of Management (APD), As Catalan Technology Association (ACTec), Association of Computer Technicians (ATI), Association of Telecommunications Operators and Services Companies (Astel), CTecno, Vallés Technology Park (PTV), National Reference Center for the Application of Technologies Information and ICT Communication (CENATIC), Ilimit, e-deon, Dopuo, International Association of Technology, Education and Development (IATED), Plataforma FOTÓNICA21 or Sociedad Catalana de Tecnología.
