Smart Readiness: Opportunities and challenges for optical network installers

PRESS RELEASES

July 10, 2024

Presentation of the action of ‘Information Society’ for the transformation of the country’s buildings into “smart” buildings

The ‘Information Society’ successfully completed the information day for installers on the Smart Readiness programme, which was held yesterday, Tuesday 9 July, at the Grand Bretagne Hotel.

The purpose of the programme is to upgrade the “smart readiness” of 120,000 buildings in the country through the creation of modern digital infrastructure. This is an action of a total budget of EUR 100 million, by the ‘Information Society’, the central hub for the planning and implementation of the projects of the Ministry of Digital Governance.

At the opening of the event, the Minister of Digital Governance, Mr. Dimitris Papastergiou gave an address, who pointed out: “Greece is making a digital leap. Last week, the Digital Decade report (DESI Index) was published, which shows the progress our country has made in the digitization of public services. In many categories we are above the European average. Broadband plays a key role for us to continue. Utilising resources from the Recovery Fund, we are working towards its entrance in every corner of Greece. With “Smart Readiness Vouchers” 120,000 buildings will get ultra-high speeds through the installation of optical fibre, while with “Gigabit Voucher” 400,000 subscribers will get connections with speeds over 250 Mbps”.

In conclusion, Mr. Papastergiou pointed out: “Installers are key to the success of “Smart Readiness”. We redesigned the programme to overcome any obstacles and join forces. We recognize the existing difficulties, but we have to confront a historical responsibility and utilise a unique opportunity, in order to bring a new era in the country’s telecommunications infrastructure”.

Then Mrs. Sophia-Eleni Papathanassopoulou, Head of the Broadband Department of the Directorate of Broadband & Electronic Communications Networks of the General Secretariat of Telecommunications & Post and Director General of Projects, ‘Information Society’ S.A. (IS S.A.), Mr. Dimitris Giantsis took the floor.

In the presentation of the programme, the providers, who cooperate with ‘Information Society’ S.A. (IS S.A.) for this programme, shared their experiences from the implementation of phase B (in-building wiring). Messrs. Kyriakos Bakopoulos, Consumer Fixed Product Marketing Director OTE Group / B2C Fixed Tribe Leader, Michael Kallergis, Customer Relations & External Affairs Senior Manager, NOVA/United Fiber, Konstantinos Stavrou, Technical Director, Fiber2all, Thanassis Tsakirakis, General Manager of Operations, PPC/Fibergrid and Gianna Tanasidou, Head of Legal, Inalan Medianet Invest SA, spoke.

In the second part of the briefing, Messrs. Vassilis Dermosoniadis, Enomix SA, Giorgos Moschonas, President of the Hellenic Optical Fiber Association and Giannis Katis, Representative of the Hellenic Optical Fiber Association, presented the program, highlighting the recent changes and improvements brought to the action by the recent change of the JMD, while they also informed the installers on how to register on the smartreadiness.gov.gr platform in 5 simple steps.

Speaking on behalf of ‘Information Society’ S.A. (IS S.A.), the Director-General for Projects, Mr. Dimitris Giantsis, during his presentation, pointed out, among other issues: “I am very happy that in this packed hall, in fact, a restart happens today, in the action of Smart Readiness. As the Minister said, we are in full cooperation with all the stakeholders of the programme, the providers and especially you, the installers of optical infrastructure, in order to accelerate its implementation.”