ANGA Cable, the most important information and order fair for cable and satellite in Europe has again set marks. The increase of 40 percent in exhibitors’ number was paralleled by an increase in visitors’ number by ca. 30 percent, i.e. over 7,900 trade visitors. During the three-day fair ANGA Cable 2005, 299 exhibitors from 31 countries presented their products and services; the exhibition area covered 7,650 sqm. Ca. 1,000 delegates attended the ANGA Cable Convention 2005 conference which took place at the same time.

”The global success of Highspeed Internet via cable has further increased many German operators’ motivation to upgrade their infrastructures to interactive full service networks and has thus added to market upturn”, said Thomas Braun, President of the Association of Private CATV Operators e.V. (ANGA), on Thursday in Cologne. The fair showed that interest in technologies for Triple Play offerings has increased significantly. Braun: “Cable networks are and will remain the perfect medium to bring TV and Internet together in one terminal device and also to offer additional services such as telephony.”

The exhibitors of the trade fair for cable, satellite and multimedia have expressed high contentedness with the fair’s course. “ANGA Cable has become even more international and more professional”, explained Herbert Strobel, Chairman, Cable & Satellite Trade Association (“Fachverband Kabel & Satellit”) within the German Association of the Electrical Engineering and Electronic Industry (ZVEI).

Industry representatives, among others ASTRA and Premiere, agree that HDTV is a driving force for the nationwide introduction of digital offerings. “The technological innovations in this field are very promising”, said Braun. “What is important now is that as much attractive content and as many broadcasters as possible transmit in this convincing standard. We see a special duty here on the part of the public broadcasters. Advance performance on their side would have a long-term stimulating effect on the market and would trigger many folded investments. HDTV is not only about simple zapping boxes, but about large LCDs and plasma screens, high quality HD-set top boxes, new camera and studio equipment and last but not least, the further upgrading of cable networks – with impact on manufacturers, trade and skilled trade.” Braun also appealed to the Regulatory Authorities to stop the subsidies practiced so far and called for redirection of DTT-payments into a non-discriminating digitisation fund.