vzw FITCE BELGIUM (FITCE.be) asbl

Belgian branch of the Federation of Telecommunications Engineers of the European Union
Forum for European ICT professionals

Introduction 

FITCE is an international organisation with scientific and cultural objectives. Founded in 1961 by telecommunications engineers as a federation of telecom engineers' associations from the European Union member states.

Aims of FITCE:

• To promote the development of scientific and technical knowledge in the fields of informatics and telecommunications.
• To develop international social and cultural contacts among the members of the national associations.
• To study all aspects of the careers of telecom professionals in the EU.
• To offer a forum for the exchange of expertise, for both individuals and organisations, in order to promote the development of telecommunications in all its aspects in the EU. 

 

FITCE.be

The Belgian branch of FITCE

a) Aim and mission

b) Membership

FITCE.be is open to:

Individuals

• Professionals with university (or equivalent) education from the ICT sector

Companies, associations, institutions

• Operators, Service Providers
• Telecommunications industry
• Government Bodies (regulator)
• Umbrella organisations and associations
• Universities and other institutions of higher education 

c) Activities

Contribute to and participate in European FITCE activities:

• Annual international congress
• Quarterly journal (FITCE Forum)
• Study commissions
• Cooperation with the EU

Own initiatives:

• Seminars on ICT topics (possibly in cooperation with other organisations)
• Cultural/social gatherings; company visits
• Newsletter and website
• Annual general assembly 

d) Membership

All information concerning membership types and fees can be found on membership. 

e) A little bit of history : from BITT/UPITT (1927) to FITCE Belgium (1999)

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("Beroepsvereniging Ingenieurs Telegrafie en Telefonie" in Dutch - "Union des Ingénieurs de Télégraphie et Téléphonie" in French, or "Professional Association of Telegraph & Telephone Engineers" ) was the original Belgian Association of Telecom Engineers, representing Belgium in FITCE.This association, was founded in 1927, and was originally an exclusive association of civil (university) engineers working in the RTT (Régie des Télégraphes et des Téléphones, national PTT), with the main purpose to defend the specific interests of its members. 

In 1961, members of BITT-UPITT, together with colleagues from France founded FITCE (Fédération des Ingénieurs des Télécommunications de la Communauté Européenne).

For a long time, membership was exclusively restricted to engineers who belonged to the traditional telcos. Over the last decade, colleagues from the industry (individual and corporate members) have also been allowed membership. The number of members varied between 100-150.

Since a few years, due to a reorganisation of the telecom operator RTT (change from a classical state-owned PTT to a company with a new name BELGACOM) and drastic changes in the top and middle management, the association became less attractive especially to young engineers. Also, the exclusive engineering focus is no longer compatible with modern management requirements.

With the end of the Belgacom monopoly, the number of operators, suppliers, service providers, regulators…, on the market grew. The diversification of services and the privatisation of operators are driving dramatic changes.

So, the 9th of November 1999, a new association "FITCE Belgium" replacing BITT-UPITT was founded.

The objective of "FITCE-Belgium" is to bring together members from different backgrounds. Engineers as well as other telecom experts are welcome, in accordance with the FITCE-statutes. By expert is meant every person working in the telecom domain and not just engineers but also marketing, communication, legal, economical and financial specialists, with a university degree or equivalent. In this new association, members should include colleagues from all licensed operators, suppliers, service providers, telecom experts in large companies, regulatory bodies and Universities/Technical Institutions.

We are sure that this fundamental change in our association will mean a fresh new start, with a much larger target group of interested members. The Belgian partner will again become one of the important, enthusiastic and active associations in FITCE.

November 1999

Ir. José VAN OOTEGHEM

Chairman of FITCE-Belgium
Member of the FITCE-Board
Director BELGACOM 

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