Interview: Claude Demuth Discusses Upcoming Luxembourg Internet Days

After two successful digital editions, the Luxembourg Internet Days event is back in its original in-person format, set to take place at the Luxembourg Chamber of Commerce on Tuesday 15 and Wednesday 16 November 2022.

Organised by LU-CIX ASBL, this two-day live event is expected to bring together about 1,000 information technology (IT), operational technology (OT) and information and communications technology (ICT) professionals to discuss ways to strive against the pressure of increasing threats and time-consuming actions whilst effectively protecting their organisations.

Chronicle.lu recently reached out to Claude Demuth, Chairman of LU-CIX ASBL and CEO of LU-CIX Management GIE, to learn more about this year's edition of the Luxembourg Internet Days. Note that LU-CIX (the Luxembourg Internet exchange) is divided into two entities: LU-CIX ASBL (non-profit membership-based association) and LU-CIX GIE (economic interest group); the former is the organiser of this event.

Chronicle.lu: Please tell us more about the Luxembourg Internet Days and the goal behind this event.

Claude Demuth: The two main goals of LU-CIX ASBL, the organiser of the Luxembourg Internet Days, are the promotion of Luxembourg as the ICT place of Europe and the development of the national Internet ecosystem. With the event, we participate actively [in] reaching these goals.

Chronicle.lu: The Luxembourg Internet Days is already in its ninth year. How have attendance and post-event collaborations evolved over the years?

Claude Demuth: Over the first years, we gained more and more attendees and reached a peak in 2019 with more than 1,000 participants. In 2020 and 2021, we went digital and had [slightly fewer] people participating. But getting back with a live event with the 2022 edition, we are hoping to get the same number of attendees as in 2019. We already have more than 900 people registered for the event.

Every year we work with multiple partners to help us create the best event and this year is no exception. We're supported by the Chamber of Commerce, Luxembourg House of Cybersecurity, the Representation of the European Commission in Luxembourg, the Ministry of the Economy and the Department of Media, Connectivity and Digital Policy. But we also work with Women Cyber Force, Women in Digital Empowerment ABBL, CLUSIL and other partners.

Chronicle.lu: This year, several sessions are dedicated to cybersecurity, Network & Operational Technology Security and Resilience and evolving (D)DoS attack threats. Could you please elaborate on why these topics are important?

Claude Demuth: Following the cyber war that's been happening the past few months and the recent attacks on critical infrastructures all over Europe, dedicat[ing] the entire event to Cybersecurity and (D)DoS attacks seemed like the logical thing to do.

Chronicle.lu: The current edition will also see the United States as a Partner Country. What are the main goals for a Partner Country for this event? And why was the US chosen this year?

Claude Demuth: We were thinking the past few years already of having the US as a partner country but this year, the timing was right. It's more important than even, in a digital complex world, to support each other and protect our infrastructures. Furthermore, it was important to us to have the birth country of the Internet.
Having a partner country during the event, we try to reinforce the bond between this country and Luxembourg by showcasing companies and making speakers come to Luxembourg to share expertise.

Chronicle.lu: What was the motivation to create LU-CIX ASBL, the organiser of the Luxembourg Internet Days, and LU-CIX GIE in 2009 and how has the Internet Exchange evolved over the years?

Claude Demuth: The goal of the Internet Exchange (IX) promoted by LU-CIX ASBL but operated by LU-CIX GIE is to make the Internet in Luxembourg faster, more efficient and less expensive. It also participates [in] making the national Internet traffic safer.

Chronicle.lu: Last but not least, could you please tell us more about MyConnectivity GIE and how it is connected to and supported by LU-CIX GIE?

Claude Demuth: LU-CIX GIE is one of the two members of MyConnectivity GIE. MyConnectivity aims to promote the development of Ultra High Bandwidth and 5G networks. and without those infrastructures, there can't be any Internet. Having mutual goals and both being neutral, it makes sense to become partners.

To register (free) for this year's Luxembourg Internet Days and to view the full programme, visit https://www.luxembourg-internet-days.com/.