Iván Schmideg

He began his career in 1956 by developing low-channel wireless digital systems and equipment at the Beloiannisz Telecommunications Factory (BHG), then at the Microwave Development Department of Orion as a development engineer and then as a group leader. In the meantime, he was a part-time teaching assistant at the Department of Theoretical Electricity of the Budapest University of Technology (BME) between 1962 and 1966.

He obtained his PhD in 1971. Between 1969 and 1974, he was the head of the scientific department at the Electric Power Industry Research Institute (VEIKI), where he managed the research and development of digital telemechanical systems. Between 1974 and 1981, he worked as an advisor to the technical director of the Fine Mechanics Company.

Between 1981 and 1995, as deputy head of the National Technical Development Committee (OMFB), his task was to promote the strategic development opportunities of domestic telecommunications services and equipment manufacturing, and to develop studies and concepts that would form the basis for the planning of developments.

Between 1969 and 1974, he was a member of the Computer Engineering and Automation Committee of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences, and between 1974 and 2000, he was a member of the Telecommunications Systems Committee. Since 1983, he has been an honorary associate professor at the Budapest University of Technology (BME).

From 1993, for 6 years, he was one of the vice-chairmen of the Telecommunications Engineering Qualification Committee, established under the then law and operating as a ministerial advisory body. Between 1989 and 1995, he participated in the work of the “Institut für Integrationsforschung des Europa-Kollegs Hamburg” at the University of Hamburg.

Since 1995, as the Head of the International Department of the Hungarian Communications Authority, and later as its International Director, his main task has been to build and maintain relations with international, primarily European Union organizations and partner authorities before accession. His task was also to monitor the European Union's telecommunications regulations in order to facilitate their domestic implementation.
In 2001, he became acting deputy chairman of the Hungarian Communications Authority, responsible for technical issues of infocommunications regulation. Between 2002 and 2003, as an advisor to the chairman of the Hungarian Communications Authority, his task was to facilitate the implementation of the new regulatory framework of the European Union.

From 2003 to 2011, he worked as the Managing Director of SchmiCom Telecommunications Consulting Ltd. as an external consultant to the National Communications Authority (NHH) and then to the National Media and Communications Authority (NMHH) in the field of infocommunications regulation, especially in the areas of roaming regulation, next-generation access networks (NGA), network neutrality and digital transition.

Since 2011, he has been a member of the Infocommunications Expert Committee of the Hungarian Association of Information and Communication Sciences (HTE).

His awards: Gábor Baross Award (Minister of Transport, Communications and Water Affairs, 1999), László Kozma Award (Minister of Information Technology and Communications, 2003), Golden Cross of Merit of the Republic of Hungary (2006), HTE Gold Badge (HTE, 2008), Tivadar Puskás Award (HTE, 2012), HTE Lifetime Achievement Award (2018), Dr. Endre Magyari Award (NMHH, 2020); Civil Division of the Knight's Cross of the Hungarian Order of Merit (2020).