Opening up Dutch cable networks to third parties is not possible under current EU regulations, according to Dutch finance minister, Henk Kamp.
In response to a parliamentary question, he said the government sees network access as essential to the internet economy and a situation with only two national operators is not sufficiently competitive, reports Telecompaper.com.
While requiring access for new providers on existing networks would improve the situation, the current EU framework requires changes to make access to both the copper and cable networks possible.
When the European Commission will give the green light to the UPC-Ziggo merger, there will be de facto two national broadband providers, KPN and the combined UPC-Ziggo network.
The Dutch ministry of economic affairs is considering the issue, both nationally and at the EU level, and hopes to have more information by the end of the year.
Kamp also repeated that the telco regulator ACM will not take a decision on access to the Reggefiber FTTH network until after the European Commission has decided on the proposed merger of cable operators Ziggo and UPC.
The EC has a deadline of November 3, 2014, for a decision. The current regulation requiring Reggefiber to allow other service providers on the network dates from 2008.