Open Dutch Fiber enters into next phase of development with new CEO and secured and expanded financial backing

Bunnik – Open Dutch Fiber (ODF), the leading independent open Fiber-to-the-Home (FTTH) platform in the Netherlands, today announced the appointment of Paul Naastepad as CEO, effective January 2026. Paul will succeed Stephan Zimmermann, who led ODF since 2024 and has been instrumental in building out ODF’s fiber infrastructure network.

Paul’s appointment completes ODF’s recent leadership expansion as the company enters the next chapter in its fiber infrastructure journey. Together with Koen Cluistra (Chief Commercial Officer), Joost Steltenpool (Chief Operating Officer), and Aschwin Hollander (Chief Financial Officer), Paul will drive ODF’s commitment to connectivity and quality across its open-access FTTH platform, aimed at facilitating fast, reliable, and more affordable broadband to a growing number of households across the Netherlands.

Proven Leadership in Telecommunications

Paul Naastepad brings extensive international experience in telecommunications infrastructure. He has held senior leadership positions at AT&T, Vodafone and Emtelle, and served as CEO of XS4ALL. As founding President of the FTTH Council Europe, Paul has been instrumental in advancing open-access fiber infrastructure across the continent. For the past seven years, he has served as Managing Director of Eurofiber Netherlands.

“Open-access infrastructure is the way forward to ensure the most efficient use of talent and capital in the Dutch telecommunications market,” said Paul Naastepad. “Open Dutch Fiber is uniquely positioned to expand this model in the consumer segment, having built a large, high-quality FTTH network designed from day one with open access in mind. I look forward to working with the ODF team, our partners and customers.”

"Paul’s expertise in open-access fiber and his proven leadership make him well-equipped to guide Open Dutch Fiber through its next phase of growth,” Cristina González, Managing Director and European Head of Digital Infrastructure at KKR, ODF’s largest shareholder and board member, said. “KKR and DTCP are fully committed to supporting ODF as it continues to expand its footprint and deliver high-quality connectivity across the Netherlands.”

Expanded Financing to Support and Accelerate Next Phase of Development

The expansion of ODF’s debt facilities to €1.35 billion further strengthens the company’s robust financial position and its continued investment in network rollout and customer connections. The newly secured financing is backed by a broad group of institutional investors.

“This financing represents strong confidence from our investors in ODF’s strategy,” said Aschwin Hollander, CFO of ODF. “We have grown into the leading independent open Fiber-to-the-Home platform in the Netherlands, with a rapidly expanding customer base. The expanded facility supports our next phase of our growth, increasing connections and activations, while building long-term value.”

Building on Strong Momentum

The completion of the management team transition and financing expansion follow a year of significant progress. The company has strengthened its market position through strategic partnerships, including an enhanced collaboration with Eurofiber and the deployment of new Points of Presence (PoPs) such as the recent Amsterdam facility serving 22,000 households.

ODF is backed by KKR and DTCP, a global investment management firm specializing in European digital infrastructure including mobile towers, fiber networks and data centers. On the back of its large and high-quality FTTH infrastructure, ODF is now sharpening its focus to connecting more homes and activating customers, amongst others by revising connection procedures and focusing on households with active service provider subscriptions, aimed at delivering enhanced customer experience and connecting more homes across the Netherlands.

About DTCP

Founded in 2015, DTCP is a global investment management firm with over €3 billion in assets under management and a team of more than 60 professionals across Berlin, Frankfurt, Hamburg, London, Luxembourg, San Francisco, Tel Aviv, and Valencia.

DTCP backs the builders of the digital world — investing in the technologies and infrastructure that connect, compute, and power modern life.

DTCP Infra specializes in investments in European digital infrastructure – mobile towers, fiber networks and data centers. The firm‘s infrastructure investments include Swiss Towers (acquired by Cellnex), Community Fibre Limited, Cellnex Netherlands, Open Dutch Fiber, e-fiber, maincubes, and GreenScale.

For more information on DTCP, visit dtcp.capital

Media Contact

Marc de Zoete