FROM THE INDUSTRY
Yet despite all the changes, the shrinking floorplans, the consolidation, the shifting technologies and the evolving competitive landscape, ANGA remains about one thing above all else: people. The value of the event has never been measured solely in square metres of exhibition space or the number of product launches. It is measured in conversations, relationships and the shared commitment of an industry that continues to connect millions of people every day. We have lost some greats in the past year, including Sam Khola, Liberty Global legend, and other colleagues. Many of the faces I encountered this year I first met decades ago. Many companies have disappeared. Others have merged, rebranded or reinvented themselves. Technologies have come and gone, but the community endures. Perhaps ANGA will eventually return to something resembling its Hall 4 roots. That would not necessarily be a failure. It may simply reflect a more focused and mature market. Whatever shape the event takes in the years ahead, it was encouraging to see so many familiar colleagues still showing up and collaborating - keeping the lights on and the bits flowing. In an industry that rarely stands still, that continuity may be one of its greatest strengths.
Returning to ANGA COM after a three- year absence felt a little like opening a time capsule. My last visit was in 2023 and, while many of the familiar faces remain, the industry around them continues to evolve. Consolidation has left an undeniable mark on both the broadband market and the exhibition floor itself. The relentless merger activity among operators, vendors and investors has reduced the number of participants competing for attention, and that reality was visible throughout the halls of the Koelnmesse. The industry’s centre of gravity has also shifted. Where broadband and cable technology once dominated every corner of the exhibition, today’s conversations increasingly revolve around fibre infrastructure, cloud platforms and data centres. Yet these sectors are beginning to fragment into their own specialist events and communities. Fibre now has its own show circuit. Data centres have become an industry in their own right. The result is that ANGA is once again refining its identity. In many ways, the show felt remarkably similar to my first visit over 20 years ago. Back in 2002, ANGA was fundamentally a German cable show housed in Hall 4 of the Koelnmesse. Walking the floor this year, there were moments when that same atmosphere returned. The international reach remains
present, but the event increasingly feels rooted in its German and European market context. That trend may continue. It was openly discussed during the event that next year two of the largest exhibition footprints, currently occupied separately by CommScope and Amphenol, will be combined into a single shared space. Such moves are practical reflections of a market that is becoming more concentrated and more disciplined in its spending.
The competitive landscape among key cable-capable vendors remains dynamic.
The battle for influence and market share increasingly resembles a game of thrones, with companies positioning themselves around the latest technology trends while seeking to establish clear areas of technical leadership and scale, particularly in the US market where a showdown of vendors is underway. Meanwhile, one of the strongest long-term trends remained impossible to ignore: the continued rise of Asian manufacturing. Their expansion beyond OEM relationships and into direct customer engagement has continued steadily, increasing competitive pressure across multiple product categories. Perhaps the most unexpected reminder of how interconnected telecoms markets are with global geopolitics and conflict; one manufacturer demonstrated fibre optic spooling technology adapted for military drone applications.
Volume 48 No.23 SEPTEMBER 2026
57
Made with FlippingBook - Online magazine maker