Rapid Expansion of Fiber Optic Networks in Netherlands: Over 7 Million Connections Installed

We opened the path to install fiber optic cables not once, but twice, sometimes within a few weeks. The construction of fiber optic networks is going fast and more than 100,000 homes now have two fiber optic cables in the streets, according to figures from research group Telecompaper. Especially in recent months, many houses have been added that have two cables in front of the door.

Fiber optic has been installed in many areas in recent years to make high speed internet possible. KPN in particular continues to install its own fiber optic cables, regardless of whether a competitor is already active.

That’s a conscious choice, says KPN. The telecom company wants customers who currently buy services through the outdated copper network to switch to KPN’s fiber optic network. In theory, it could also offer services through competitors’ fiber optic networks, but the telecommunications company is opting for its own network.

“We are currently replacing our copper network with fiber optic. We are also doing this in places where there is already a network in the ground,” said Wouter Stammeijer, a member of the board at KPN. “In the past you had copper and coax and soon you will have fiber optic networks. That gives the user a lot of choice.”

The company wants to replace 80 percent of its copper network with fiber optic in the next three years. This also means that more homes will get a second fiber optic connection. Sometimes suppliers agree when the street will be dug up for this purpose, but in practice this often means that the street will be opened twice in a short period of time.

Competitor Delta thinks building a second network is a bad idea. “The dual transmission of fiber optic is complete madness,” says director Michiel Admiraal. “Streets are open twice, it’s expensive and the user pays for it. And environmentally, it leads to additional CO2 emissions.”

The Research Authority for Consumers and Markets is happy with several cables in the ground and calls it a good development for competition and freedom of choice for consumers and companies.

KPN’s strategy means that it will become more difficult for companies to recover their investments in fiber optic.

“Construction is a very expensive business and you only earn it if the lines are actually used,” says Erik Compter of Telecompaper. “At the end of the day, people only use one line at home. You have a Ziggo coaxing line and you have two fiber optic lines, so there are parties that are not earning anything on their line. “

He says it is a luxury that Holland has so many good connections. “We have very good networks in the telecom sector, both mobile and fixed. This means that users will get very good services.”

Several companies are busy installing fiber optic networks that will make high speed internet possible. KPN has connected the most households to a large extent, followed by Delta and Open Dutch Fiber.

Municipalities must allow the installation of fiber optic cables if conditions under the Telecom Act are met.

7.1 million homes are now connected to fiber optic. In one year, about 1.5 million links were added. According to the plan, almost every country in the Netherlands will be connected to fiber optic by the end of 2026, with the exception of tens of thousands of homes that, according to the telecommunications companies, are not profitable enough to install .