Trends and developments in connectivity and dark fiber in the Netherlands in 2024

The world of connectivity and dark fiber is constantly changing. These changes are fuelled by the growing demand for higher bandwidths and flexible connectivity solutions. In this blog, we will be presenting a summary of the main developments in 2024 in terms of connectivity and dark fiber in the Netherlands. If you have any questions after reading it, please do not hesitate to contact us.

Increasing Demand for Higher Bandwidths

One of the most striking trends in the connectivity market is the continued demand for higher bandwidths. This increase in demand is mainly due to the exponential growth of data traffic, driven by applications such as video streaming, cloud computing, AI, virtual reality and the development of smart cities. For modern organisations, it is essential to have sufficient bandwidth to use these technologies reliably and efficiently. It is worth noting that the Dutch government is investing in the expansion of the fiber network, as stipulated in the National Growth Fund and the Climate Agreement.

Growing Demand for Flexible Connectivity Solutions

Another important trend is the growing demand for flexible connectivity solutions. Organisations are working hard to attain the ability to quickly and effortlessly adapt their connectivity needs to changing circumstances. This includes, for example, scaling up quickly during peak load and scaling down just as quickly when capacity demands it. Dark fiber has emerged as an attractive option to meet this need for flexibility. But what exactly is dark fiber? This is unused fiber capacity that gives organisations absolute freedom to build their own connectivity networks and retain full control over their connections.

Continued Growth of the Dark Fiber Market

In the Netherlands specifically, we are seeing continued growth in the dark fiber market. The Netherlands has an extensive fiber network, offering numerous opportunities for dark fiber deployments. This is reinforced by government investment and a growing awareness of the benefits of dark fiber for organisations.

Major Political Initiatives in the Netherlands and Europe: €6.8 billion Reserved

The Dutch government has taken clear steps to improve its digital infrastructure. The National Growth Fund, with €6.8 billion earmarked for fiber network expansion, highlights the importance of connectivity for the Dutch economy and society. The Climate Agreement also highlights the role of digital technology in achieving climate goals, such as smart energy grids and smart cities.

At the European level, the European Commission is actively working to improve digital infrastructure. Fast internet for all European households by 2025 is targeted, and there are initiatives to ensure cyber security of digital infrastructure.

Technical Developments in the Netherlands and Northwest Europe

In addition to political aspects, it is important to understand how technical developments are shaping the connectivity market:

• Expansion of the fiber network: The Netherlands is investing in expanding its fiber network, making high-speed internet available to all households.
• Artificial intelligence (AI): AI is here to stay and is being widely deployed to combat fraud, to innovate and to improve various sectors.
• Internet of Things (IoT) IoT is being used to increase efficiency, for example in agriculture.
• Quantum Computing: Quantum computing is opening up new opportunities for complex computation and innovation in various domains.

Interesting Growth Forecasts

The growth figures highlight the huge impact of innovation and digitalisation in the Netherlands and North-West Europe. This trend is expected to continue in the coming years:

• Dutch Market for Connectivity: The Dutch connectivity market is expected to grow from €8.4 billion in 2022 to €10.6 billion in 2026, at a CAGR of 4.2%.
• Dutch Market for Dark Fiber: The Dutch dark fiber market is expected to grow from EUR 4.2 billion in 2022 to EUR 5.6 billion in 2026, at a CAGR of 5.4%.

Back to Europe: A Focus on Security and Sovereignty

With growing concerns about data security and privacy laws, bringing data back to Europe is going to be a dominant trend in 2024. Businesses are increasingly realising the value of local data storage in terms of compliance with stricter regulations and maintaining sovereignty over their data. Dark fiber, with its local infrastructure, provides a solid basis for bringing sensitive data back to Europe. This shift to local data storage not only meets the increasing requirements of regulatory authorities, but also strengthens customer confidence through compliance with strict European data protection standards.

Bringing data back to Europe is seen not only as a response to regulation, but also as a strategic move to ensure the security of business-critical information. In 2024, businesses will increasingly opt for connectivity solutions that are not only fast and scalable, but also meet the highest data security standards. Dark fiber, with its local presence and full control over network configurations, will play a crucial role in advancing this movement towards more secure and sovereign data storage in Europe.

Conclusion: Top priority on Political Agenda

In the Netherlands and Europe, connectivity and digital infrastructure are high on the political agenda. This is evidenced by significant investment in the fiber network, the growth of dark fiber, and ongoing technological advances. These developments present a promising view of the future of connectivity and dark fiber.

If you want to dive deeper into this topic, we invite you to read our informative blogs: “Connectivity: The Hot Topic” and “Dark Fiber: Even More Relevant“. In these blogs, we offer detailed insights into the evolution of connectivity and dark fiber. If you would prefer to communicate directly with us on this exciting topic, do not hesitate to contact us. We look forward to your message!