Interview with Antonio Mateos Corral, President of FENITEL
The International Exhibition of Electrical and Electronic Equipment, MATELEC 2010, enjoys the backing of the leading trade federations and associations within the market. A good example of an organisation of this kind is FENITEL, the National Federation of Telecommunications Installers, which stages its prestigious International Congress of Telecommunications Installation Companies at each edition, as well as representing the interests of this highly professional group of operators. In this interview, the Federation's President, Antonio Mateos, confirms the federation's commitment to the fair, which serves as a key point of reference for the industry. This edition will present the latest advances in Digital Terrestrial Television (DTT), technology for mobile devices, new features in three-dimensional TV and developments for the Digital Home, etc. In other words, the event will address the challenges that are likely to determine the future of telecommunications installers.
How did you end the year 2009 in financial terms and what prospects do you foresee for the year 2010?
Within the context of the overall recession that is affecting the Spanish economy and all companies, including those whose main activities focus on the integration and installation of telecommunications equipment and systems, the year 2009 was not especially poor. The introduction of the new Digital Terrestrial Television (DTT) signal provided us with the life-raft we needed to stay afloat during the "stormy weather" that affected the economy as a whole.
However, in the same way as with many other sectors, our industry has suffered the consequences of the defaulted payments, which, as we all know, weigh down our economy so seriously. This problem has especially affected companies devoted to the construction of new buildings and the provision of certain Government services.
In this respect, we congratulate ourselves on the fact that the Multi-Sectorial Forum Against Defaulted Payments has been so successful. We form part of this body's Executive Committee and, last 17th June, after a long and tenacious battle, we finally managed to convince the Lower House of Spain's Parliament to approve the new revised text of Law 3/2004 Regarding Measures Against Defaulted Payments. The reformed law requires compulsory payment within 60 days for the private sector and 30 days for the public sector as of the year 2013, following a slow adaptation process. This is, undoubtedly, an excellent piece of news, both in the short and medium term.
The year 2010 is progressing favourably, thanks to the cessation of analogue broadcasts, although the period following the month of May was excessively quiet, especially for those companies that have not been able to diversify by adopting some of the various different opportunities offered by the telecommunications industry. This is an aspect we are working hard to improve at FENITEL, ensuring that our companies take the necessary measures.
What are the main challenges facing the companies represented by your Association?
Returning to the previous answer I gave, the most immediate challenge we face is to diversify our installation and integration activities within the field of telecommunications. Almost all the members of FENITEL are small and medium-sized companies, although we have that gift of being able to adapt to a constantly changing and evolving market.
New technologies emerge that we are required to install and, above all, we must maintain those technologies that are already installed. New regulations for telecommunications installation companies (Royal Decree 244/2010 and Order ITC1142/2010), on which FENITEL has carried out intensive work, provide a sufficiently wide scope of action for us to defend and promote our interests.
Our activities encompass everything, ranging from shared infrastructures - including telecommunications networks, building control and management and automatic doorman services, video-doormen and access surveillance - to video-surveillance and security services unconnected to reception centres and installations for the Digital Home, not to mention telephony, VoIP, fixed and wireless (WiFi) voice and data networks, VSAT stations, megaphone technology, microphones, voice technology, radio and TV broadcasting and re-broadcasting centres, and telecommunications installations in mobile vehicles.
These are the daily challenges that our federation members face and, at FENITEL, we share their work and support them on a permanent basis. Another immediate task that we must pursue at our National Federation is to boost the search for synergies with those who carry out similar activities both inside and outside FENITEL and are obliged to defend their interests, combating disadvantages, infiltration or any other comparative problems.
In short, at the Federation we seek to defend and promote the professionalism of our companies and maximise their profitability. Above all the latter, because, at the end of the day, we are businessmen.
How does MATELEC 2010 further the interests of the electrical, electronics and telecommunications market?
The members of FENITEL have always regarded MATELEC as a showcase we must visit, a forum that enables us to gain a closer insight into the latest new features on the telecommunications market. The fair constitutes a trade forum that offers us a great deal, given that it facilitates know-how and provides a realm for personal relations that would be very difficult to achieve otherwise.
We form part of a market in which direct contact with other individuals is highly valued, given that it enables us to identify those who can cater for orders, provide budget estimates and resolve technical doubts. This kind of contact is habitual among telecommunications integration and installation professionals, given that problems often arise and it is necessary to consult distributors, manufacturers, etc.
In this respect, and in spite of the current state of the market, I believe it is essential to make a special effort to support this fair. We telecommunications installers and integrators will continue to take part at MATELEC, searching for shared ideas and gaining an insight into the technological products and services presented by the participating companies. In this sense, many of these products can later be introduced at our own companies and applied to new lines of business.
What activities or events do you plan to organise within the framework of the fair?
FENITEL will stage its Eighth National Congress of Telecommunications Installers and Integrators, the result of a renewed collaboration agreement with IFEMA, along with the Madrid Association, AMIITEL. In the same way as at previous editions, the Congress will promote a debate about various different trade sector issues, including matters that are of concern to our members on a daily basis, as well as complementary and informative aspects that will help them carry out their work or clear up certain problems that have remained unresolved. We have always been highly active and strongly represented at the fair.
What is the appeal of MATELEC 2010 to exhibitors?
For exhibitors I believe the advantages of the fair are self-evident, given that participants only sell products, goods and services to those who are familiar with their wares. This must be the greatest appeal of the event, namely the opportunity to present products and services and generate confidence and trust among possible new clients, on the one hand, whilst maintaining the confidence of present clients, on the other.
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