Following the initiative by service providers, telecom installers are committing to ensuring the quality of subscribers’ connections.

A new initiative has been launched to address issues concerning the quality of subscribers’ connections to fiber networks. Following the implementation of a new agreement drawn up between infrastructure and commercial service providers, installers, who are an essential link in these connections, are also taking action. Under the auspices of the InfraNum federation, installers are making a commitment by signing a quality charter setting out the best practices to be implemented.

On March 3rd, the InfraNum federation announced the launch of an unprecedented framework agreement, covering call-out procedures and relations between infrastructure and commercial service providers. This agreement has been adopted and signed by almost every service provider (Altitude Infra, Axione, Orange, TDF and XpFibre).

Installers, who are responsible for connections, are the second essential link in this chain. They are fully committed to this quality improvement initiative, and want to complete the process by drawing up a joint charter to strengthen an effective action plan.

Axians, Circet, Constructel, Eiffage, ENGIE Solutions, Firalp, NGE Infranet, Sade Télécom, Groupe Scopelec, SNEF Télécom, Sogetrel, Solutions 30 and SPIE CityNetworks – all members of InfraNum – have together drawn up the principles of a best practices charter, which they have agreed to sign. These companies alone account for over 70% of all connections in France.

The principles of the best practices charter are:

  • Control of subcontracting levels: a single level of subcontracting, with particular attention paid to the status and qualifications of subcontractors to ensure that work is carried out in compliance with rules concerning safety, technical telecom aspects, etc.
  • Commitment to local employment: use of local labor. Engineers who work in areas they are familiar with are naturally more committed to and concerned about creating a sustainable network.
  • Support through training: with the introduction of specific initiatives to provide initial training or boost skills, in response to the significant levels of job creation in the sector (close to 9,700 new recruits this year(1)).

This means that the entire profession – from optical fiber production and construction of cable routing infrastructures through to subscriber connection – will be involved in ensuring that high-performance processes and tools are set up and implemented, to build and sustainably operate France’s super-fast broadband network.

InfraNum
InfraNum has over 200 member companies representing all areas of expertise in the digital infrastructure sector.

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(1) Figure from the Observatoire national du THD (French national super-fast broadband observatory) 2021: https://infranum.fr/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/OBSERVATOIRE.pdf