Over 1,000 Dutch villages are to be connected to fibre earlier than planned following new investment from the KPN and the ABP pension fund.
Over €1 billion is being put into the project that will replace copper connections in 700,000 households in villages such as Ankeveen, Grou and Zuidoostbeemster by 2026. 200,000 businesses on 14,000 business parks will also benefit from the rollout.
“The demand for fibre among consumers and companies continues to grow. Everyone wants internet at high speed and able to handle ever larger amounts of data,” said Joost Farwerck, CEO, KPN. Thanks to the cooperation with ABP, the residents in about a thousand villages will have access years earlier to internet with the speed of light, from Vlieland to Middelharnis.
The connections are in addition to the 2.5 million already announced by the Dutch telco to be made in the next five years.
“This collaboration gives our fund an attractive return and thus contributes to a good pension for our participants. ABP likes to invest in the Netherlands to stimulate economic growth, employment and sustainable projects here,” said Menno Snel, board member, ABP.
By the end of 2026, about 80% of all households in the Netherlands will have fibre either through KPN or its new joint venture. Also after that, KPN will remain committed to providing the whole of the Netherlands with superfast internet.
