NEWSLETTER – ISSUE 143

Welcome to the April 2021 edition of the Fibreoptic Association Newsletter.

As always, FIA is pleased to welcome three new members:

FIA NEW MEMBERS

• Birch Technical Services
• Mitech Consultants Ltd.
• Nene Data Network Solutions

ENERGY & UTILITY SKILLS PARTNERS WITH THE FIBRE-OPTIC INDUSTRY ASSOCIATION ON TELECOMS TRAINING SCHEME (TO PROVIDE A CSCS PARTNER CARD)

Energy & Utility Skills announces new partnership with the Fibreoptic Industry Association (FIA).

The Government’s national infrastructure strategy aims to connect 85% of the UK with ultrafast gigabit broadband by 2025, with £1.2bn allocated to the rollout of full-fibre broadband over the next four years. The majority of the population are also due to have access to a 5G signal within 6 years. The fibreoptic industry is crucial to these plans. In recognition of this, the FIA and Energy & Utility Skills have partnered to help ensure the current and future workforce have the skills required to meet these challenges.

To read the full story click here.

130% TAX RELIEF ON VANS, EQUIPMENT AND IT INFRASTRUCTURE – A REMINDER FROM OUR TREASURER, ALAN BULLEN

The Chancellor’s 130% Super-deduction announced the March 2021 budget can help many FIA members in two ways.

First, 130% of net spend on vans or equipment can be offset against Corporation Tax in that year. Second, IT infrastructure projects, including the data cabling, are covered by the incentive, so it encourages companies to invest.

Here’s an example of how it works: If you purchase test equipment for £10,000 (ex VAT) you can offset £13,000 against your profits for Corporation Tax in Year 1. So that’s 19% of £13k = £2,470 tax saving. That’s almost 25% of your £10,000 spend. Without the 130% Super-deduction, the tax saving would be 19% of £10,000.

FIA AUTUMN SEMINAR

Committed Sponsors:

• FUJIKURA EUROPE LTD.

Dates:  Thursday 14^th & Friday 15^th October 2021

Venue:  Whittlebury Hall, Nr. Towcester, Northants NN12 8QH

Speakers already committed include:

• Illyas Yousaf – Micron – ‘Installing Broadband’ (provisional title)
• Malcom Corbett  – INCA – ‘Digital Broadband’ (provisional title)
• Kieran Stone – Hexatronic UK – ‘Accelerating FTTH Rollouts’ (provisional title)
• Jonathan Lewis – Huber & Suhner (AG) Ltd. ‘5G network densification’
• Darren Smith – Core Integrated Solutions ‘Security, Civils & Equipment’ (provisional title)

If you are interested in providing a presentation or if there is a particular topic you would like to be covered, please contact the Secretary.

DELEGATE FEES:

Delegate fees have been set:

Seminar & Dinner – £165 + VAT – Members

Seminar & Dinner – £205 + VAT – Non-Members

Seminar only £130 + VAT – Members

Seminar only £170 + VAT – Non-Members

Dinner only £48 + VAT – Members

Dinner only £58 + VAT – Non-Members

B&B at Whittlebury Hall –  £118 + VAT per person per night

SPONSORSHIP:

If you are interested in sponsoring the Seminar, you can reserve a particular package or a Table-top exhibition stand now.

On-line booking will be available later this month

THE PACKAGES

Main event Sponsorship £2,000 + VAT. Benefits to include:

• Banner at the front of the Seminar Room on both days
• Logo on slides
• Exhibition Table-top in main Seminar room (half-day on 14th and half-day on 15th October)
• Company logo on event web page
• 5 minute slot at Seminar on Day 1 to introduce the company and provide details of the exhibits
• 2 FOC delegate Seminar & Dinner places
• Follow up Sponsors message (100 words) in the next Newsletter after the event

Dinner Sponsor £1,500 + VAT. Benefits to include:

• Banner and /or Pop Up in the Dining Room on the evening of the Dinner
• Gift on table for Delegates (provided by Sponsor)
• Exhibition Table-top in main Seminar room (half-day on 14th and half-day on 15th October)
• Company logo on event web page
• 5 minute slot at Seminar on Day 1 to introduce the company and provide details of the exhibits
• 2 FOC delegate Seminar & Dinner places
• Follow up Sponsors message (50 words) in the next Newsletter after the event

Exhibitor Table-top Sponsor £575 + VAT for members & £800 + VAT for Non-members.  Benefits include:

• Exhibition Table-top in main Seminar room (half-day on 14th and half-day on 15th October)
• Company logo on event web page
• 5 minute slot during Seminar programme to introduce the company and provide details of the exhibits

Note:  Delegate places are not included in the table-top sponsorship fees and must be additionally booked. 

FIA – ACCREDITED INSTALLER SCHEME:

We are delighted to announce two new Installers have been accepted as FIA Accredited Installers: Birch Technical Services Ltd. & Mitech Consultants Ltd.

If your organisation is interested in joining the scheme, contact the AIS Director, Frank Kler here.

• ABM ELECTRICAL CONTRACTING LTD.
• BIRCH TECHNICAL SERVICES LTD.
• BREXONS LTD.
• CIS SERVICES LTD.
• COMPUTER-LINKS LTD.
• DATANET SOLUTIONS LTD.
• FES LTD.
• GCL LTD.
• INFINET DATACOMS LTD.
• ITM COMMUNICATIONS LTD.
• J BRAND LIMITED.
• LYNX NETWORKS plc.
• MITECH CONSULTANTS LTD.
• NETWORX3 GROUP LTD.
• OPEN NETWORK ASSOCIATES LIMITED.
• PR POWER INSTALLATIONS LTD.
• RAMPTEC LIMITED.
• REMARK GROUP.
• SPLICE GROUP EUROPE LTD.

For full details of all of the FIA AIS Accredited Installers, click here

NEW FIBRE TO THE HOME FTTH SUB-COMMITTEE

A number of members have expressed interest in joining the FIA Sub-committee. A reminder of the request from our Installation Director, Frank Kler.

The FIA has been monitoring the explosion in FTTH installations particularly as a result of the DCMS initiatives and want to ensure that our members can benefit from the investment. Some of you will already be involved in the design, civils, duct, fibre, cable, enclosures and testing and we welcome the opportunity to discuss and review these aspects with you, but we need to know just what information you require (or are prepared to share).

We have already highlighted a number of topics:

• Optical LAN solutions (PON)
• MDU Installation Methods
• Physical Infrastructure Access (PIA)
• Blowing fibre/cable techniques
• Civils – trench/micro-trench/slot
• Training and qualifications

Can you please list your topics and questions and we will endeavour to review and answer them.

If you would like to join the sub-committee FTTH please send your details to the Secretary who will pass the information on to Frank Kler.