KPN fuels broadband battle with 4Gbps downstream service

Dutch telco KPN is upping the ante in the battle to attract broadband customers by introducing what it says will be the highest internet speed in the Netherlands; 4Gbit per second for both downloading and uploading.

The service, to be launched on October 23, provides what KPN describes as unprecedented speeds for some Dutch fibre network households. KPN’s new fiber network is currently being rolled out across the country.
The 4Gbps service will be available to customers who have been connected to KPN’s up-to-date fiber network since 2021, with XGS-PON technology.

This group will be expanded step by step, until eventually everyone connected to KPN’s fiber network has access to the 4Gbps service. Together with Glaspoort, KPN is rolling out fiber, and aims to have around 80% of all Dutch households connected by 2026.
Consumers and small business customers who want 4Gbps downstream at home receive a special modem from KPN, the Box 14, which is suitable for speeds up to 10 Gbps. The modem has WiFi-6 and is available for €67.50 per month.

KPN’s new XSG-PON network is now available at approximately one million addresses. In the long term, all Dutch households connected to KPN’s fiber optic network will use this technology. A year ago, KPN tested  to 20 Gbit/s up and down. KPN has an open network, which means that other providers can also offer these speeds.

“The need for faster and more powerful internet is increasing and 1 Gbit/s has now become the new standard. That is why we are responding to this and increasing the speed of our fiber optic internet. With the introduction of 4 Gbit/s, we offer the fastest internet for the home and everyone can do their thing on any device with the same high internet speed. Handy if everyone in the house wants to be online at the same time. Whether you’re working from home, want to download your favorite game in no time or watch an entire season of your favorite series in a row. Online at full speed, everyone at the same time. That’s why we do it,” said Robin Clements, EVP Consumer Market at KPN.