Fiber optic in rural areas: how does it work?

Do you live in a rural area and are you curious if fiber optic is also possible for you? Then you are not alone. More and more people outside the city want to use fast and stable internet via fiber optic. But how does it work exactly in places where houses are further apart? We asked Jeroen Dangremond, manager of customer operations at Open Dutch Fiber. He explains how fiber optic is installed in rural areas, when there are costs involved, and how you can check if your house qualifies.

Not every rural area automatically gets fiber optic.

In cities and villages, fiber optic is usually installed as standard. But in rural areas, it's different. The houses are often further apart there. As a result, the costs for installation are higher. "Sometimes a municipality says: we also want to include that part of the rural area," says Jeroen. "Then we assess the costs and feasibility."

Open Dutch Fiber does not automatically connect all rural areas. We assess for each project whether it is technically and financially feasible.

Are you eligible for fiber optic and want to know more about the process? Then read the article.This is how the installation of fiber optic in a house works in 5 steps. 

When are there costs for residents? 

If the construction costs are much higher than normal, Open Dutch Fiber may ask residents for a contribution. This only happens if necessary and always in advance. "We are willing to connect rural areas," says Jeroen, "but we have to ensure that the project remains feasible. In some cases, we then ask for a contribution ranging from €500 to €2,000."

Sometimes the municipality contributes. In other cases, Open Dutch Fiber chooses to connect the area without any additional costs for residents.

What are examples of rural areas? 

It often concerns small villages, farms, or new residential areas that are just outside the built-up area. They are located just a bit further away, but sometimes still belong to a larger development area. "For example, in Leidschendam, we have connected a piece of rural area," says Jeroen. "This was only possible because the entire municipality was included in the project." Without such an agreement, homes in rural areas are usually not connected.

Perform the postcode check.

Do you want to know if your home is eligible for fiber optic from Open Dutch Fiber?postcodecheck You can quickly and easily see if your address is already on the schedule. You will immediately see if the installation has already started, or if we will contact you soon. This way, you know exactly what to expect.