If there's one thing that European cable TV providers know better than anyone else in the world, it's fixed-mobile convergence.

Unlike their US counterparts, European cable TV operators have embraced mobile (voice, data, video and other services) as a key element of their product bundle for years. In fact, at last count, at least 16 European MSOs have adopted network convergence strategies so far, becoming either MNOs or MVNOs. Take that, Comcast and Charter.

But now, with the emergence of 5G wireless technology, the big question is whether cable TV and other predominantly fixed-line providers in Europe can harness 5G to their advantage or will lose out to other, better situated players. Will 5G end up being a friend or foe for cable providers across the Continent?

We will tackle pressing questions like these at Light Reading's inaugural Cable Next-Gen Europe conference in London on November 6. Based on our popular Cable Next-Gen Technologies & Strategies event in Denver each spring, Cable Next-Gen Europe will probe the cable industry's efforts to craft, roll out and cash in on new technologies like 5G, as well as other new platforms, products, services, features and applications. The conference is free for all attendees.

Paulo Valente, director of technology policy at Cable Europe, and Heavy Reading Principal Analyst Gabriel Brown will lead the 5G discussion at the event. Speakers will include 5G experts from Liberty Global Inc. (Nasdaq: LBTY), Orange (NYSE: FTE) and other leading providers.

But 5G will be far from the only topic of discussion at the conference. Cable, broadband and video technologists from throughout Europe and the US will also tackle such timely topics as DOCSIS 3.1, gigabit services, Full Duplex DOCSIS, Distributed Access Architecture, Fiber Deep, FTTH, network virtualization, new video platforms, streaming video and others. Both Cable Europe and SCTE Europe are serving as program partners for the event and will supply moderators and speakers.

Nuno Sanches, Vodafone Group plc (NYSE: VOD)'s head of fixed development, and Jeff Finkelstein, executive director of advanced technologies at Cox Communications Inc. , head the speaking line-up. Other headline speakers include: Chris Aspell, director of strategy roadmap and innovation for Liberty Global Inc. (Nasdaq: LBTY); Kjeld Balmer, head of network technology at Stofa; Anders Bloom, senior systems manager of broadband at Com Hem AB ; Ade Brittain, senior manager, access network innovation at Liberty Global; Mark Burns, HFC architect at Liberty Global; Frode Elverum, head of broadband at Get ; Tony Gunnarsson, principal analyst at Ovum; Steve Heeb, president and general manager at RDK Management LLC ; Jeff Heynen, research director, technology, at S&P Global Market Intelligence; and Jean-Luc Moisson, deputy convergence director at Orange (NYSE: FTE). And more speakers are still coming.

Home in on the opportunities and challenges facing European cable operators. Join Light Reading for the Cable Next-Gen Europe event in London on November 6. All attendees get in free!

The one-day conference will take place Tuesday, November 6 at London's Radisson Blu Portman Hotel. So, if you've been fretting about the impact of 5G on European cable, fret no longer. Please join us for Cable Next-Gen Europe as we tackle 5G and the other most pressing tech topics in the industry today.

Hope to see you all there.

— Alan Breznick, Cable/Video Practice Leader, Light Reading