When it comes to the supply and quality of fast fixed Internet (>1 Gigabit per second), the Netherlands is among the world's best. 99% of households and businesses can now access this. In order to also connect Dutch people in so-called outlying areas, various wireless and affordable solutions are now becoming available via market parties. With this, the 100% is in sight and public financial support from the government is not now foreseen. This is what Minister Dirk Beljaarts (Economic Affairs) writes in a parliamentary letter.
The various telecom providers are currently laying plenty of new digital infrastructure or modernizing existing Internet connections in both urban areas, village centers and outlying areas. Based on forecasts from these market parties, they expect to provide approximately 15,500 of the 27,500 remaining rural addresses with fast fixed Internet - such as fiber - by 2028. For the remaining 12,000 Dutch addresses, wireless solutions will come onto the market where customers can get access at home or at work.
One of these wireless solutions - an Internet package running on the 5G network of one of the Dutch telecom providers - was ceremoniously received today by Minister Beljaarts.
Minister Beljaarts (Economic Affairs): "Fast and reliable access to the Internet is almost unthinkable. For consumers who use digital services such as e-mailing, watching videos, shopping online or making payments. But also for small and large entrepreneurs who digitalize their machines, processes, products or services as a result. That's where we are at 99% in terms of infrastructure. So my goal is to reach that last one percent as well. And that ambition is now in sight without the need for tax money from the government, it seems."
