Axione, a major player in the digital development of both rural and urban regions, is introducing a “Fibre Passport” to guarantee the quality of FTTH connections for the public and businesses.
The digital sector and stakeholders are working to improve the quality of FTTH (fibre to the home) connections. To address these concerns, the sector has submitted a quality plan to the Government. One of its priorities is to ensure the skills of those working on FTTH networks.
Following on from the work carried out under InfraNum[1], Axione is now introducing a “Fibre Passport” based on the guidelines drawn up in consultation with all stakeholders in the sector. The aim is to ensure a similar level of quality and safety for all connections made.
The criteria for earning the label are as follows:
- Compliance with security rules
- Careful attention to customer relations
- The quality of on-site work at the client’s location
- Application of engineering rules
- The quality of optical work
- Knowledge of IT tools
This passport is issued to all connection companies and their technicians by means of an official card. This card must always be carried by certified technicians during assignments. Any failure to do so will require the technician to complete a suitable and documented refresher course to regain their passport. The aim is to guarantee and monitor the proper skill level of technicians against the standards defined by the sector as a whole (operators, integrators and subcontractors). Axione will extend this system to all its networks if it proves to be effective.
Moreover, to support the work of the industry, Axione is offering other interested infrastructure operators and commercial operators the opportunity to be fully involved in monitoring the scheme.
We are pleased to be testing a new practice and to be introducing it in the Berry area from March 2023. With this collective scheme, Axione is ensuring that service provider evaluation criteria defined with the sector are applied to maintain the newly built infrastructure network. This label is part of Infranum’s action plan, which is awaited by the government, Arcep and the regions. Initial feedback from connection companies shows that they welcome the scheme. I am sure that this initiative will help the whole sector to progress for the country’s benefit.
Gauthier Nanoux, Head of Operations at Axione.
The fibre passport is a big step forward to ensure that connections are made in compliance with the rules of the trade, to maintain continuity of the very high speed service for all those using the Berry Fibre Optic public network: the label emphasises quality to ensure the durability of the network. For the Berry area, some connectors are already involved; we expect the whole sector to support its roll-out on a national scale.
Laurent Roussat, Manager of Berry Fibre Optique
Berry Numérique has been involved in developing the arrangements for fibre optic connections at national level for several years. After obtaining provisional connection schedules and systematically carrying out spot checks, the certification of operators marks a new stage in improving the quality of these connections. We hope that this label will quickly be applied to all the players in the sector so that this essential public fibre optic network infrastructure is of the highest quality, all the way to the optical socket in every home in our regions.
Patrick Barnier, CEO of Berry Numérique
This approach is essential to ensure high quality, professional connections, but also the durability of the networks built by local authorities.This is why the RIP36 mixed association is fully involved in the initiative to help the people of Indre.
Marc Fleuret, CEO of RIP36.
Back to images on the pilot launch with Berry Numérique :
[1] InfraNum founded the strategic committee for the digital infrastructure sector and has 220 industrial members representing the full value chain involved in providing services to connected regions or those to be connected.