Is internet too expensive in the Netherlands?
Due to the dominant position of Ziggo and KPN in the internet market, Dutch consumers have been paying too much for their internet service for years, according to the Consumers’ Association. They say there is ample evidence that there is insufficient market competition, resulting in prices that are far too high. The two providers currently control at least 75% of the market, according to the association. KPN is currently busy replacing its copper network with fiber optics. The Consumers’ Association explains that the result of this is that consumers will ultimately only be able to choose between cable internet from Ziggo or fiber optics from KPN. The providers’ prices are close to each other, but are also among the highest in Europe. Other providers are allowed to use the fiber-optic network, but here too, the Consumers’ Association sees a catch.
Use of the fiber-optic network
What the Consumers' Association finds striking is that other providers using KPN's fiber-optic network are unable to offer lower prices than KPN providers. Odido, for example, does have a lower rate than KPN—on average 6.50 to 8.50 euros cheaper—but Odido’s network is by no means available everywhere in the Netherlands. The association points to a price survey by the European Commission showing that people in the Netherlands pay an average of 10 euros more for a 100 Mbit subscription than the rest of Europe. In the Netherlands, we pay an average of 30 euros per month for such a subscription, while the average price in Sweden is 17 euros.
According to the ACM, switching discounts are evidence of market forces at work, but the Consumers’ Association notes that consumers are still reluctant to switch internet providers. Reasons for this include the hassle involved, insufficient price savings, and not wanting to lose an email address.
Conclusion of the Consumers' Association
The conclusion drawn by the Consumers' Association from its investigation is that the internet market is currently locked down due to the actions of Ziggo and KPN. This is resulting in fewer and fewer choices and ever-higher prices for consumers. The Consumers' Association is calling on the ACM to intervene and take action against KPN and Ziggo, so that internet service in the Netherlands becomes more affordable again. Ziggo and KPN have not yet responded to the situation.
Measured average speeds worldwide
Cable and M-lab conducted this study and performed speed tests around the world. To do so, they used speed tests conducted by users themselves in each country. In the Netherlands, the researchers used data from 1.7 million IP addresses, and in Belgium, 1.8 million. In total, the research teams analyzed approximately 1.5 million speed tests from around the world. The speeds measured were based on Wi-Fi speeds, which means the results may have been lower than what the connections are actually capable of. Additionally, people often only run a speed test when they suspect there are issues with their connection or when their internet suddenly gets faster. As a result, it is unclear how representative the figures truly are.
Changes over the past few years
Many countries that rank near the bottom of the list have always been near the bottom. Take Syria and Turkmenistan, for example. Nevertheless, there have been some changes in internet speeds in certain countries. For instance, the United Kingdom has dropped in the rankings compared to other countries in Western Europe. The researchers attribute this to the relative pace at which Full Fiber is being rolled out in the United Kingdom. Efforts are underway in England, but progress does not seem to be as rapid as in other European countries. Finally, the researchers note that in some countries, an increasing number of people are consciously choosing subscriptions with lower speeds, primarily due to high costs. This, of course, can also influence the results!
Conclusion
So it looks like the Netherlands is doing well globally when it comes to internet speeds. In recent years, a lot of time and money has suddenly been invested in building fiber-optic networks here. As a result, we already have access to faster and more stable internet in large parts of the country. The average speed here is expected to keep rising in the coming years 😉
Twice as many high-speed fiber-optic plans
In the first quarter of 2024, 380,000 households opted for the fastest fiber-optic subscription with a speed of 1 gigabit or more. In the same period a year earlier, this figure was 200,000 households, so that’s nearly a doubling in just one year. These figures come from the Telecommonitor report by the Netherlands Authority for Consumers and Markets (ACM). And this shows that the growth of fiber-optic internet in the Netherlands is continuing to accelerate. You can definitely see this if you look around. In many places, construction is underway to install fiber-optic infrastructure. Currently, at least 7.38 million households have fiber-optic connections available at their doorstep. More than a third of them actually have a fiber-optic subscription and are therefore using this network.
The installation of fiber-optic cables isn't going as smoothly everywhere
Unfortunately, there are still parts of the Netherlands where fiber-optic installation is lagging behind. This is the case, for example, in some parts of Groningen, North Holland, Zeeland, South Holland, and Limburg. As a result, it is still far from always possible to use a fiber-optic connection in these areas. The number of people using coaxial or copper connections is steadily declining. In particular, there has been a sharp decline in copper connections in the Netherlands.
Bundled plans are no longer as popular
Combined subscriptions that include internet, TV, and landline service are no longer as popular in the Netherlands. Households prefer to opt for a bundle with just two services, since landline service is no longer even used in many households. In addition, the Telecommonitor shows that consumers are increasingly opting for a bundle that includes fixed internet and a mobile plan. Often, they receive a discount on their fixed-line contract and free extra data for their mobile plan.
Conclusion
Fiber-optic internet continues to gain popularity in the Netherlands, especially the fastest fiber-optic plans. And this is despite the fact that parts of the country don’t even have access to a fiber-optic network yet. Fiber-optic infrastructure is currently being rolled out very quickly, but is still lagging behind in some regions. Finally, bundles combining internet, TV, and phone service are becoming less popular, and more consumers are opting for a bundle of fixed-line internet and a mobile plan.
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.
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
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.
Why is fiber-optic internet more expensive in certain regions?
Fiber-optic internet can be significantly more expensive or, conversely, cheaper in one region than in another. This is because the price of a subscription depends on the fiber-optic cable that has been installed to your home. Or, more precisely, it depends on the company that installed the cable. If the cable is from Open Dutch Fiber or DELTA Fiber, the fiber optic subscriptions you can sign up for are often cheaper than if the fiber optic cables were installed by a provider like KPN. That difference can even amount to as much as 10 euros more or less per month.
You can even see differences from one neighborhood to another
Price differences aren’t just seen by region, but sometimes even by neighborhood. After all, fiber-optic service providers don’t have agreements about who offers service in which region. It’s possible that one neighborhood has cables from KPN, while the neighborhood next door has cables from Open Dutch Fiber. KPN states that the reason for this price difference lies in the installation costs. KPN lays fiber-optic cables throughout the country, not just in urban areas. In urban areas, installing fiber-optic networks goes very smoothly and quickly because everything is closer together. In rural areas, installation takes much longer, which means the provider incurs higher costs. In rural areas, homes are farther apart, so more digging is required during installation. Fiber optic service is therefore often more expensive if you live in a more remote area.
Price differences by region are nothing new
Price differences for fiber-optic internet are particularly noticeable now because they can vary by neighborhood, but regional differences in internet plans have existed for years. Twenty years ago, there were already price differences in local cable TV networks when viewed by region. Whether fiber optics is more expensive or cheaper depends on various factors, including installation costs. But the technology behind the network and the fiber optic service a provider offers also influence the price. Smaller providers install their fiber optic networks on a “point-to-point” basis. This means that every home is connected to a network node via its own fiber-optic cable. In other words, every home has its own connection to the network. While this setup is more expensive to install, the network offers greater flexibility in use.
Conclusion
There are indeed price differences between fiber-optic plans depending on the region and sometimes even the neighborhood. Whether fiber-optic service is more expensive or cheaper in your neighborhood depends on the provider that installed the fiber-optic cables. Some providers have higher installation costs than others, and the price is also determined by the fiber-optic technologies and services the provider offers. Price differences are therefore unavoidable at this time.
What is Dark Fiber?
You can take the name “Dark Fiber” quite literally, as it refers to unused fiber-optic cable. In this context, the equipment needed to send and receive data is not used. The fiber therefore remains completely unused. As a result, people often assume that Dark Fiber is simply a cable buried underground that doesn’t do much. However, that is certainly not the case. These cables allow you to create a connection between different locations. There is simply no active connection connected to it yet; your organization can set this up itself. There are two types of Dark Fiber that you can have installed:
- Multimode fiber: Multimode fibers are suitable for shorter distances at lower speeds. The equipment required for this is less expensive compared to that used for single-mode fiber. This is because LEDs or VCSELs are used instead of lasers. Multimode fibers often have poor transmission characteristics in the core due to light scattering. However, this does depend on the manufacturing process of the fibers. The core of multimode fibers has a large diameter. This results in multiple paths. Different wavelengths are used in a multimode fiber core.
- Single-mode fiber: Single-mode fiber is ideal for longer distances and higher speeds. In general, this type of fiber optic cable is the most popular among businesses. Single-mode connections can be transmitted using Coarse Wave Division Multiplexing (CWDM) equipment. This allows you to bridge distances of up to 200 kilometers. With the help of amplifier stations, you can even bridge even longer distances using these fiber-optic cables. Single-mode fibers have only a small core, which means they can transmit only a single beam of light. Only a single beam of light passes through the core of the fiber, so the light travels straight through the center. It does not reflect back off the outer surface of the core, as it does in a multi-mode fiber.
Benefits of Dark Fiber for Businesses
Now that you know what dark fiber is, what are the actual benefits for businesses that use it? Larger companies in particular—those that need a stable, reliable, secure, and scalable connection—benefit from this technology. Especially if they also want full control over their own network. Think, for example, of companies with multiple buildings on the same site, schools with multiple locations, collaborating hospitals or healthcare institutions, and smart energy and water networks. Below, we list the benefits of Dark Fiber for these types of companies!
1. Dark Fiber Provides Greater Scalability
If your business is growing rapidly, your connectivity needs will naturally increase as well. The advantage of dark fiber is that you have full control over the equipment you connect to your fiber-optic network. This allows you to scale up quickly and easily whenever necessary.
2. No bandwidth limits
With Dark Fiber, there is no limit to the bandwidth you can use. You decide which equipment to use and, therefore, what bandwidth you utilize. This technology allows you to achieve extremely high speeds if that is important for your business. With Dark Fiber, you can achieve speeds of many gigabits per second, ensuring optimal connectivity for network users.
3. Full control over your own network
When you use Dark Fiber, you build your own network from the ground up and, as a result, develop your own comprehensive network strategy. This is a major advantage for businesses because they make all strategic decisions regarding the design, management, and security of their network themselves. As a business, you also decide which service providers and vendors you want to partner with. This gives your business complete control over the management and maintenance of your network, as well as the budget and project costs!
4. A secure connection and greater privacy
Companies and organizations are required to protect their data to the fullest extent possible, as stipulated by the General Data Protection Regulation. By using a dark fiber network, your company can be certain that your network is not shared with anyone else. The network is truly 100% private, ensuring that you always comply with regulations. In addition, you can choose to implement additional encryption on your network. This is particularly recommended for organizations that handle sensitive data, such as banks or healthcare institutions.
5. Dark Fiber offers more opportunities for cloud-based work
Finally, dark fiber offers businesses more options for working in the cloud and creating backups. Many applications are currently hosted in the cloud, and many organizations also use cloud solutions to store their critical data. However, they often lack the network resources needed to work seamlessly with these services. Dark fiber is the ideal solution for this.
Conclusion
Dark Fiber is definitely more than just a cable buried underground. It gives your business or organization a great deal of freedom in managing your own network and connections, and offers many advantages in terms of security and scalability. Especially if your organization has multiple locations, Dark Fiber is highly recommended!
What is fiber optics?
Fiber-optic cables allow you to transfer data at extremely high speeds—much faster than with a DSL or cable connection. This is why fiber-optic infrastructure is being installed in more and more areas to provide faster internet, as well as better TV and phone service. A major advantage of a fiber-optic connection is that the upload and download speeds are equally fast. With other types of internet connections, the upload speed is almost always lower than the download speed. If the upload speed is as fast as the download speed, you can send something just as quickly as you can download it.
How can you tell if fiber-optic internet is already available in your neighborhood?
If you’d like to start using fiber-optic internet, it’s obviously helpful to know whether or not fiber-optic service is already available in the neighborhood where you live. Currently, about half of all households in the Netherlands are connected to the fiber-optic network. You can check if your neighborhood is included on the “fiber map” from the Stratix research firm. Using the postal code checker provided by fiber optic providers, you can find out for yourself whether your address is already connected to fiber optic internet or if a provider plans to connect it soon. Check with the following providers:
- DeltaFiber Network
- KPN NetworkNL
- E-Fiber
- Glass Gate
- T-Mobile/Open Dutch Fiber
Get fiber-optic internet installed
If fiber optic internet isn’t available in your neighborhood yet, you can check to see if there are currently any plans to install it there. If a company is planning to install fiber optic internet in your neighborhood, you can expect the process to take a long time. It can easily take a year from the moment you receive the first information about fiber optic internet in your neighborhood. The installation itself takes an average of 3 to 6 months. People are often very satisfied with the new network once it’s installed, but the process can be bumpy and may also cause inconvenience and criticism from neighborhood residents. There are a number of steps in the process for which you do not need to be home, but for the other steps, this is necessary.
You do not need to be home for these steps of the fiber optic connection:
- Fiber-optic cable is being laid in the street. They’re removing tiles from the sidewalk to lay the cable, which may cause some inconvenience. They won’t be closing off the street, but there’s a good chance you’ll have to pull your car over to the side.
- The workers also run the cable from the street to the houses. They use a special drill to bore a tunnel under the yard to the house. They then pull the fiber-optic cable through that tunnel to the house.
You must be at home to complete these steps:
- The technicians will run the fiber-optic cable through the exterior wall into your home to connect it. You can specify where in your home you’d like this to be done. They will then install a device called an FTU in your home. An FTU is a special modem to which the fiber-optic cable is connected.
- Have you already signed up for a fiber-optic internet plan with a provider? If so, the provider’s modem still needs to be installed before you can access the internet via fiber-optic. You can connect the fiber-optic provider’s equipment to the FTU yourself or have a technician do it for you. Once that’s done, you can start using fiber-optic internet right away.
How much does it cost to install and connect fiber-optic internet?
This varies by fiber-optic provider, but in the case of KPN NetwerkNL, fiber-optic installation is usually free if the entire neighborhood is being connected. If fiber-optic cables are already in the neighborhood but haven’t yet reached your home, you’ll often have to pay the connection fee. You can, however, request a free feasibility study to determine whether your home can be connected to fiber-optic service. Other fiber optic providers often operate the same way, but they typically charge connection fees upfront. The cost of retrofitting fiber optic service, if a network is already in your neighborhood, ranges from 150 to 1,500 euros. These costs depend on the distance from your home to the existing cabling.