Open Dutch Fiber starts fiber optic installation in Rotterdam Prins Alexander.

Open Dutch Fiber is currently laying fiber optic networks in Zoetermeer, Haarlem, Utrecht, and Ridderkerk. Now, Rotterdam Prins Alexander is being added to this list. Councilor Roos Vermeij, responsible for Economy, neighborhoods, and small cores, is enthusiastic:"Fast and secure internet has become a basic necessity. This has become evident in recent times for residents of Rotterdam who are working from home, but also for the healthcare sector and for entrepreneurs who are increasingly offering their services online. In the coming years, we want to ensure that all residents of Rotterdam can connect to a fast and secure internet connection with a wide range of internet services. I am very pleased that Open Dutch Fiber and Odido are starting the installation of fiber optic in Prins Alexander. This brings us one step closer to our ambition for the entire Rotterdam."

The works will start in November and the first houses will be connected in January 2022. The inconvenience will be minimal because an innovative installation method will be used, allowing work to be done up to five times faster. Open Dutch Fiber and Odido are working hard on the rollout of fiber optic in the Netherlands to announce even more new projects outside Rotterdam later this year.

1,000,000 households

The installation of fiber optic in Rotterdam Prins Alexander fits into the plan presented in April 2021 by Open Dutch Fiber and Odido to connect at least 1,000,000 households in the Netherlands to fiber optic over the next five years. They choose urban areas where fiber optic is not yet available. In this way, Open Dutch Fiber and Odido make a substantial contribution to further digitalization of the Netherlands. Odido and Open Dutch Fiber see opportunities to further expand this ambition in the coming years by connecting even more households to fiber optic.

Unique in the Netherlands: superfast internet at an attractive price

Odido provides access to fiber-optic internet in Rotterdam Prins Alexander with upload and download speeds of up to 1 Gigabit per second (Gbps). The telecom provider offers these speeds at an attractive price, challenging the established order that typically charges higher rates. Tisha van Lammeren, Director of the Consumer Market at Odido: "Great to see that we can now offer fiber optic in this part of Rotterdam. As a Rotterdam resident, I am quite proud of that. It is finally being rolled out on a large scale and we are happy to drive the competition. Recently, I had the opportunity to meet the first activated customer on the new fiber optic network in Zoetermeer. This customer was very happy with the 1 gigabit speed for an attractive price. The customer also mentioned that the installation process was neat and fast. This is important because we still see too many concerns among residents about the impact of rolling out fiber optic. We try to address these concerns as much as possible."

Access to fiber optic as soon as possible for everyone

At Odido, other telecom providers can also make use of the fiber optic network under very attractive conditions. Open Dutch Fiber only lays fiber optic in places where there is currently none, in order to ensure that all of the Netherlands has access to competitive services via fiber optic as soon as possible. Michael Griffioen, CEO of Open Dutch Fiber:"In the past period, we have learned how important access to fast internet is now that we work from home much more. High-quality and reliable fiber optic connections are therefore essential for the Netherlands. A large part of the Dutch population still does not have access to fast internet via fiber optics. This puts us behind in Europe, especially in urban areas. We want to change that and are therefore working hard on the rollout of fiber optics in the Netherlands."