Well, I'm still without a working computer of my own, but I've borrowed an office at our Paris facility that has a PC with a French keyboard layout, so let's see if I can type anything...
It's been a fascinating week with a some interesting meetings and a few new learnings from the AdvancedTCA Summit Europe, but best for my personal interests was a meeting with Benoît Felten who's blog, Fiberevolution, I've followed avidly since I discovered it last spring.
I hadn't realized Benoît is a telecoms consultant whose work has ranged over a wide variety of telecom topics. Indeed, it appears his avocation, i.e. broadband access, is one of the few telecom areas not part of his day job. So we had wide ranging discussion across all of telecom – really fun!
I also got a much better sense of what going on with FTTH in France. I'd read individual blog posts (e.g. this, this, this, this), but I didn't grasp the extent to which the French have enacted laws and regulations that ensure local authorities are allowed to build telecom networks. Boy, would the folks in Lafayette Louisiana have loved that. But of course I've written on this subject before.
The only curious thing was we chatted in a French bistro in the plaza by the Arch at La Defense, but the house red wine was from Chile – that's a first in my book. :)
Goes to show that the French are adapting to globalization, even when it comes to wine !
It was great chatting with you Brough, and I look forward to meeting you in Boston. The (presumably French) wine will be on you!
I got my future employer on your Eastern European conundrum case. More news if and when relevent !
Posted by: Benoit FELTEN | September 20, 2007 at 02:53 PM