Data centers have become indispensable
Data centers now play a crucial role in our society. They ensure that servers remain operational at all times, making digital services accessible every hour of every day. Cooling these data centers is currently the biggest challenge, as they must operate 24/7. Without cooling, they would overheat in no time. Many data centers opt to use water for cooling, as energy consumption would otherwise be too high.
Is water consumption in data centers really that high?
Data centers therefore consume a considerable amount of water for cooling. Whether this is too much is, of course, somewhat relative, but given the current risks of drinking water shortages, it is certainly a valid concern. The Dutch government has since established a protocol known as the “Displacement Protocol.” This protocol stipulates that when a drinking water shortage threatens, access to clean water for non-essential purposes will be restricted. Data centers fall under this category, so there’s a good chance they’ll lose access to the water supply in the height of summer and have to switch back to cooling with electricity. At that point, the data centers will no longer be contributing to a potential water shortage, but it’s actually already a bit too late.
Initiatives to reduce water consumption
Fortunately, many organizations are already working on initiatives and alternatives to reduce data center water consumption. Many data centers are actively pursuing what is known as a “water transition.” They are seeking solutions to reduce their reliance on drinking water and minimize water consumption as much as possible. Pathema, for example, is already working on a sustainable initiative that converts linear cooling systems into circular systems. In this process, water is treated without chemicals and can be reused repeatedly within a data center. With this approach, the water footprint can be reduced by 40% and water consumption by as much as 95%!
Smart fiber optics in the North Sea
There are a lot of fiber-optic cables in the North Sea that connect us to other countries, including England. However, some of these cables are not in use and are therefore considered “dark fiber.” TNO plans to use this dark fiber to detect ships approaching the cables, in order to identify and prevent espionage in a timely manner. Using a special technique, they can use the kilometer-long cables as a kind of sensor. When laser light is sent through the cables, a reflection of that light is returned. If a sound source comes close to the cable, the cable distorts slightly, causing the reflection of the laser light to change as well. A special device, the DAS Interrogator, picks up on that change.
How do you know what causes a change?
Of course, such a change in reflection doesn’t necessarily mean we’re being spied on. After all, marine life can also cause changes in the fiber-optic cables. So how do we know what’s causing the change? With the DAS Interrogator, you can pinpoint the exact location and direction of the sound source. That way, they can quickly determine whether the source poses a threat or not. A whale swimming by, for example, is easy to identify.
Do we really need this?
You might be wondering, “Is all of this really necessary?” We can imagine that, but in the summer of 2022, the Nord Stream pipelines were already sabotaged. This made it clear that the installations on the seabed of the North Sea are more vulnerable than we think. Due to the war between Russia and Ukraine, there has been increased attention in recent years on the vulnerability of the North Sea. If an attack were to be carried out on all the cables and installations on the seabed, it would be a disaster not only for the Netherlands but also for the countries around us. That is why securing the North Sea seabed with smart fiber optics is now more important than ever!
Artificial Intelligence and Power Consumption
Behind all existing AI models are data centers that consume enormous amounts of electricity. After all, artificial intelligence requires a great deal of computing power, and generating that power demands a lot of energy. Data centers use about 10 to 50 times as much energy per floor as an average commercial building . A great deal of research has now been conducted on the energy consumption and climate impact of artificial intelligence. For example, a study by the University of Massachusetts shows that training just one AI model results in more than 283,000 kilograms of CO2. Unfortunately, it is difficult to accurately calculate the environmental impact of artificial intelligence, as many tech companies are not transparent about their energy consumption and CO2 emissions.
Artificial intelligence can also have a positive impact on the climate!
So far, we’ve only discussed the negative impact of AI on the climate, but there are also many ways in which AI models can actually contribute to initiatives that have a positive impact on the environment. The Green AI movement has recently emerged, and its goal is to develop sustainable and environmentally friendly algorithms. After all, artificial intelligence can help us better understand climate change and propose solutions to address it. Additionally, we can use AI to better predict natural disasters, allowing people to evacuate in time. Currently, artificial intelligence is already being used for a number of green purposes:
- Combating illegal deforestation: The WWF developed an AI model called Forest Foresight. They use this model to stop illegal deforestation before it happens, using satellite imagery and other tools.
- Monitoring biodiversity: Scientists have combined AI technology with drones and satellite imagery to monitor biodiversity. This allows them to detect changes more quickly and take timely action when necessary. Diseases among wild animals can also be detected more quickly and easily in this way.
- Water purification and reuse: AI can be used to monitor water quality more effectively and treat the water in a timely manner. This allows for quicker detection of chemicals or other contaminants in the water, enabling immediate additional purification.
- Reducing Waste: Food and water waste have a significant impact on the climate. A lot is already being done to combat food waste, but with the help of AI, we can take this a step further. Consider, for example, using dynamic pricing for food based on the expiration date. In addition, AI can make predictions, allowing supermarkets to better align their purchasing with consumer behavior.
These are just a few examples of all the positive ways we can use artificial intelligence in the field of sustainability!
Conclusion
At present, the negative impact of artificial intelligence is still quite evident, but this is beginning to change. Increasing attention is being paid to energy efficiency and sustainability in the construction of data centers and the development of AI models. In addition, there are also many positive ways in which artificial intelligence benefits the environment and the climate. There is a growing focus on developing eco-friendly algorithms that can help achieve sustainability goals. Currently, there are already AI models that are doing good things for the environment, such as helping to reduce waste and monitor biodiversity.
What are deepfakes?
Deepfakes are fake photos or videos that look remarkably real. Often, these photos and videos are virtually indistinguishable from the real thing, which means they can cause a great deal of harm. To create deepfakes, people use deep learning, a form of machine learning. They duplicate someone’s voice or facial expression and superimpose it onto another recording or photo. This makes it seem as though someone was present at a location where they could never have been. You can imagine that this can lead to a lot of deceptive practices, since many people cannot easily recognize deepfakes.
How do people create deepfakes?
There are now plenty of apps and other types of software available that let you create deepfakes, even without having to pay for them. In addition, there are websites that offer deepfake software, making it easy to create these kinds of videos. Currently, artificial intelligence is primarily used to create fake videos or photos. This technology is based on machine learning, and the computer model is constantly fed with data. As a result, it can sometimes be very difficult to spot deepfakes.
How can you spot deepfakes?
There are several ways to spot deepfakes and protect yourself from misinformation and manipulation:
- Unknown sender: If the video comes from a reputable organization, such as a newspaper or a local broadcaster, there’s a good chance the content is genuine and not a deepfake. If the video or photo comes from an unknown sender, don’t just assume that what you’re seeing is real. Do some research on the source first.
- Check out different sources on a topic: Is a photo or video about a topic that’s currently trending and about which people have strong opinions? Don’t base your opinion on just one source; instead, look for more information from various perspectives. This way, you’ll have a complete picture of the situation before forming an opinion. Can’t find any further information about the images in a video or what you see in a photo? Then there’s a good chance it’s a deepfake!
- It’s all in the details: It’s often extremely difficult to spot deepfakes because they differ very little from real footage. Still, there are a number of details that can give a deepfake away. For example, do facial expressions look unnatural or do they not match what is being said? Do people have extra fingers, or are fingers missing? Does the person in the video never blink? These are all details that can indicate that a video or photo is a deepfake.
- Using Google Images to verify: Want to check whether a photo or video is real? You can use Google Images for this. Take a screenshot of the image or video and run it through Google Images. This will help you identify the original source of the content, allowing you to verify whether the video or photo is the original. Google has also recently added features to its search engine to combat AI-generated images.
- Pixels and waves: Check for stuttering pixels or blurry waves in a video. If you see these, it’s likely a deepfake.
Conclusion
Spotting deepfakes isn’t always easy, but if you know what to look for, you can effectively protect yourself against misinformation. Pay attention to the source of the video or photo, to details that don’t add up or seem a bit off, to pixelation and blurring, and to facial expressions that don’t match. Finally, be sure to do your own research if something seems suspicious!
1. A secure connection
One of the biggest advantages of business fiber-optic internet over a traditional connection is that your network is more secure. Cable networks are easier to hack, and some Wi-Fi connections aren’t properly secured against intruders either. As a business, you naturally want to keep your data and your customers’ data securely locked away, so digital security is very important. Fiber-optic internet is very difficult to hack, since a fiber-optic cable must be physically cut to access the data. And if that happens, you’ll know immediately that something is wrong.
2. With business-grade fiber optic internet, you get a stable and consistent connection
When you choose business fiber optic internet, you’re always guaranteed a stable and consistent connection. This is because the performance of fiber optic cables degrades much more slowly than that of traditional copper cables. With a traditional connection, for example, you may experience issues due to bad weather, electrical interference, or the distance from a transmission tower. If your business is located in a more remote area, there’s a good chance you’ll have slow internet with a traditional connection. The speed and reliability of fiber optic internet are not affected by these factors, so you’re always guaranteed a fast and stable connection!
3. Faster internet speeds thanks to business fiber-optic service
Finally, business fiber-optic internet offers much higher speeds than a traditional connection. Business fiber-optic internet provides speeds of up to 1000 Mbps, which is about 20 times faster than a traditional connection. Not only is the overall speed of fiber-optic internet higher, but the download and upload speeds are equally fast. With traditional connections, you often see that the download speed is significantly higher than the upload speed. That might not seem like such a big deal, but it can mean that uploading data takes an enormous amount of time. Since more and more companies are using cloud solutions, it’s certainly nice when uploading is faster too. After all, sometimes a lot of data needs to be uploaded to the cloud.
Conclusion
Business fiber-optic internet offers many advantages over a traditional internet connection. As a business, you naturally want a stable and fast internet connection that is also reliable.
The use of AI in the cultural sector
Artificial intelligence opens up a world of possibilities, including within the cultural sector. The heritage sector is already making extensive use of AI, for example to make handwritten letters searchable, for facial recognition in audiovisual material to make it easier to find specific footage, and to establish new connections between European archives. But AI can, of course, also be used for many purposes in the cultural sector:
- Adding value for audiences or organizations: AI can help make cultural offerings more accessible to the public. This can be achieved, for example, through subtitles or automatic translations. Organizations can use AI to accurately estimate visitor numbers and adjust their staffing levels accordingly, which can lead to significant cost savings.
- Automating and streamlining work processes: With artificial intelligence, an organization can automate many work processes, leading to cost savings and greater efficiency. Examples include automatically translating flyers, editing videos and photos, and answering customer questions via a chatbot. Many cultural institutions are understaffed and need to watch their costs, so this would be a great solution!
- Introducing new products: Artificial intelligence is a valuable tool for creating new products. Creators can use it, for example, as inspiration when composing new music, digitally restoring a painting, or identifying new connections within their own collection to generate fresh content.
- Enhancing the audience experience: The cultural sector can use AI to better serve its audiences, leading to a more engaging experience. Examples include personalized digital interactive tours and guided tours using apps, as well as personalized offers on cultural institutions’ platforms.
What negative impact does AI have on cultural development?
We’ve now highlighted many of the benefits that artificial intelligence brings to the cultural sector, but there are, of course, a number of challenges as well. For instance, the quality of AI output is sometimes still questionable, especially since we often don’t know exactly where the information comes from and whether it’s accurate. In addition, creators need to be mindful of copyright, even if you’re using an AI sample solely as inspiration. After all, AI can extract information from a work that is protected by copyright. And the biggest challenge we currently face with the use of artificial intelligence is that it often operates based on biases.
AI and Bias
Ultimately, its use can therefore reinforce certain biases—an effect we obviously do not want from AI, as it often hinders cultural development. For example, many generative AI tools have an American and European bias. This means that the content generated by the AI is often not representative of people from around the world. The way AI is trained determines the results it produces. If only information containing biases about a certain race or gender is used, there is a high chance that the AI will produce discriminatory results. This is one of the reasons companies are still hesitant to use AI in their recruitment process. Fortunately, steps are already being taken to address this challenge, such as training AI with more diverse datasets. So in the future, we can make artificial intelligence bias-free too!
Competition among fiber-optic providers
There is clearly a competitive battle underway among various fiber-optic providers. In some areas, the road is dug up on a weekly basis. Some providers don’t even care if another provider’s fiber-optic cables are already in place—they simply lay theirs right next to them. We can imagine you’re now wondering: but is that even allowed? Yes, according to European legislation, anyone who wants to can install fiber optic cables, even if cables from another provider are already in place. It’s not just the well-known, larger companies that are competing with each other, such as KPN and Ziggo. New companies have also entered the market that focus exclusively on fiber optics, such as Glaspoort. This is increasing competition in the fiber optic installation sector.
Minimize disruption as much as possible
The new company Glaspoort focuses solely on laying fiber-optic cables and aims to provide fiber-optic coverage throughout the Netherlands. They have currently reached 35% coverage and hope to achieve their goal by 2028, according to a company spokesperson. The company partners with 22 different fiber-optic service providers. Since they do not offer subscriptions themselves, Glaspoort is less affected by competition in the fiber-optic market. This is entirely positive for them, as it allows them to install more cables. The spokesperson also notes that they are doing their best to minimize disruption by keeping sidewalks open for as short a time as possible while burying the fiber-optic cables. Nevertheless, many people say they are bothered by the fact that sidewalks are constantly dug up for fiber-optic installation.
What exactly is the difference between providers?
Is there actually a big difference between the fiber-optic connections offered by different providers? We often see consumers asking this question, which makes perfect sense. There is little difference in the cables laid underground. What does differ in some cases is the technology a provider uses for its fiber-optic network. In any case, it’s a good thing that there’s going to be more competition in the fiber-optic market among the major players, since prices are unnecessarily high right now. KPN and Ziggo kept raising their prices due to the lack of competition in the fiber-optic market, but hopefully that will soon be a thing of the past. The major providers are losing more and more subscribers to newcomers in the fiber-optic market. This is often because competitors offer a better price for the same product.
Which fiber-optic provider offers the best value?
Thanks to competition in the fiber-optic market, average subscription prices are falling. However, prices are naturally dropping more for some providers than for others. In addition, prices often vary by neighborhood or region. If you’re looking to sign up for a new fiber-optic subscription, we definitely recommend carefully comparing various providers. Also, consider what your household really needs and what’s unnecessary. With fiber-optic internet, you can enjoy incredibly fast speeds, but if you don’t need it, you’re essentially paying too much. And that’s obviously a waste!
More data traffic, fewer call minutes
By 2023, the number of households using fiber-optic internet had increased by about 25%. In addition, mobile data usage rose by more than 25% last year. In contrast, we have been making far fewer calls, both on our cell phones and via landlines. Over the past 10 years, the number of minutes we spend on landline calls has dropped by 75%. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the number of call minutes saw a brief resurgence. We saw each other less and so ended up Many people today don’t even have a landline at home anymore. That’s not really a surprise, of course, because it often seems much easier and faster to send a quick text or email instead of making a call. Among younger generations, we’re even seeing this trend become increasingly common.
Mobile data traffic has quadrupled
There are now a large number of households in our country that use fiber-optic internet. In 2023, 7.13 million households were connected to the fiber-optic network, and the number of households that had actually signed up for a fiber-optic subscription had also risen by 300,000 to 2.64 million. More than a third of Dutch households with a connection have therefore actually signed up for a subscription. The number of copper connections, on the other hand, is declining, as in some areas this service is even being discontinued where fiber-optic internet is available. Eventually, the entire Netherlands will likely switch to fiber-optic internet, and all copper connections will be discontinued.
Mobile data usage in the Netherlands
Mobile data traffic in the Netherlands has quadrupled compared to five years ago. In the third quarter of 2023, usage rose to 558 million gigabytes. That represents an 8.6% increase compared to the second quarter of that year. Since measurements began, the third quarter of 2023 has thus been the quarter with the highest mobile data consumption. The increase in data consumption in the Netherlands can be partly explained by the growing number of devices that use a data connection themselves. Examples include cars, smart meters, and alarm systems.
Conclusion
It is clear that we in the Netherlands are doing more and more online and that we are also using more and more data while on the go. This is clearly reflected in the figures, as total data traffic rose sharply in 2023. In contrast, we’ve actually been making far fewer calls, especially on landlines. More than 7 million households in the Netherlands now have access to the fiber-optic network, and about a third of them also have a fiber-optic subscription. And we’re expected to eventually reach a point where the entire country uses fiber-optic internet, as copper connections are already being phased out in some areas!
Source: ACM Telecommonitor
What are the benefits of fiber-optic internet?
Fiber-optic internet gives you access to incredibly fast internet. Fiber-optic internet speeds range from a minimum of 50 megabits per second to a maximum of 2 gigabits per second—which is up to 40 times faster. Fiber-optic internet is generally much faster than traditional cable internet, but that’s not the only advantage. If you use a DSL connection, the speed and stability of your connection often depend on the distance between you and a local exchange. If you live in a more remote area, that distance is often greater. This means you’re more likely to experience slow internet or a connection that occasionally drops out. With fiber-optic internet, you no longer have to deal with this. This is because the connection isn’t dependent on the distance to a central office, and weather conditions don’t affect the stability of the connection either.
What are the disadvantages of not granting permission for fiber-optic installation?
If a provider wants to connect your home to fiber optic internet, you’ll likely receive a letter in the mail or have someone come to your door. It doesn’t matter whether you own or rent your home. You’ll then be asked whether or not you consent to having your home connected to fiber optic internet. If you’d like to give your consent, you can easily do so online. In most cases, giving your consent does not require you to actually sign up for a fiber-optic subscription with the provider. Are you unsure about this? We recommend checking with the provider requesting your consent. If you give your consent, this will cause you little inconvenience. The only thing you need to keep in mind is that someone must be home when the technician comes to install the connection.
Why would you give your consent?
There are plenty of reasons to choose to grant permission for a fiber-optic connection at your home. For example, if you might want to switch to fiber-optic service in the long run, it’s obviously nice to have the connection already in place. Even if you’re not sure yet, there’s really no harm in giving your permission. Who knows—you might decide to switch in the future after all. Just make sure to check whether the connection is free and that you aren’t required to sign up for a fiber-optic subscription right away. In that case, it won’t be a hassle for you, so it’s a good idea to just give permission for fiber-optic!
Here's how fiber-optic installation works
In some cases, only a small section needs to be dug up, and in others, there is already a pipe network in place through which fiber optic cables can easily be run, or there may even be a fiber optic cable right at the doorstep. Is there already a cable right outside the door? Then it just needs to be pulled through to the utility box of a business or home that wants a fiber-optic connection. If the location isn’t near an existing connection, a new connection must be dug between the building and the nearest manhole.
Before digging begins, a reel cart is prepared with an empty 40mm HDPE pipe. The team then thoroughly analyzes the map again to determine which route to take and what obstacles they might encounter during digging. This includes all pipes, existing fiber-optic cables, power cables, and utility lines, along with their corresponding depths. The plan of action is also indicated on the map.
Let the digging begin
When fiber-optic trenching begins, the unrolled HDPE pipe is already in place, ready to be buried. Trenching starts at the manhole, a short distance from the business or residence that will be connected to the fiber-optic network. The HDPE pipe is connected to the existing manhole. The team then digs the trench along the entire route the cables will follow and unrolls the empty HDPE pipe along the route. The fiber-optic cables are placed inside the pipe and laid in the trench. Before the team backfills the trench, they place a warning tape approximately 30 centimeters below the surface, with the text “Caution: Fiber-Optic Cable!” Should any future excavation work take place in the area, this serves as an additional warning to prevent damage to the fiber-optic cables.