Prysmian Group takes part in “Networks convergence: Europe in the new era of connectivity solutions” in Bucharest, Romania

Prysmian Group, world leader in the energy and telecom cable systems industry, sustains the need for synergies between these two areas, as a solution to the technological challenges of the future. This was the main conclusion of the presentations made by the company representatives during the conference “Networks convergence: Europe in the new era of connectivity solutions”, taking place in Bucharest, on June 15th.

Over 30 European and international telecom experts attended the event, organized in partnership with the Ministry of Communications and Information Society and the National Institute for Research and Development in Informatics (ICI). 

“Prysmian Group, with its 112 factories, 25 R&D centers and almost 30.000 employees in 52 countries, believes in a much stronger collaboration between the telecomunications and energy sectors in the coming future, already strongly interdependent. Romania is well positioned to capitalize on the current global trends, as Slatina hosts one of the largest optical fiber plants in Europe, and in the world within Prysmian Group, respectively”, said Thomas Becker, Telecom Solutions Director CEE, Prysmian Group.

Jan Schindler, Global Market Intelligence Manager within Prysmian Group, has shared the European models of networks convergence, and presented case studies from Germany, where valuable lessons can be learned in terms of various schemes and facilities, financial and otherwise, provided by local and national authorities. Cooperation between public entities, local authorities, such as municipalities, and the private sector, is key at ensuring the viability of such projects, in the interest of communities.

Cristian Gheorghe, Telecom Solutions Sales Director Danubian, Prysmian Group, highlighted that “After a total investment of EUR 90M, more than 15.000 training hours for the almost 1,000 employees, with top level professional qualifications, the Prysmian factory in Slatina is a European hub of excellence and innovation for optical cables, as well as a top technological center for HV and MV Energy cables. The hybrid cable, to be developed in Slatina, is a natural consequence of the Romanian research team’s performance.” Mr. Gheorghe presented the opportunities of networks convergence in Romania, in the context of a specific market and regulatory environment, as well as the potential technological challenges to be expected for such an innovative project.

Closing the event, Gabriel Neagu, Ph.D., Scientific Director within ICI and Carmen-Elena Cîrnu, Ph.D., Vice-President of the Scientific Board, President of the Cybersecurity and Critical Infrastructure department, presented the challenges and the risks of the disruptive innovation, as well as examples of successful projects developed by the Institute in the management of disasters and major crises for space technologies.