The fibre optic project GlasvezelVught will begin rolling out FTTH in Vught on 3 April. OONO, the Open Independent Network Operator, has been contracted as the operator for the active layer. The network will be constructed on behalf of GlasvezelVught, which also wants to include the town centre of Cromvoirt. There will a total of 11,000 connections, not only for homes but also shops, businesses and institutions. As usual, OONO has selected Alcatel-Lucent’s GPON system, with open access and a maximum bandwidth of 1 Gbps symmetrical. New Dutch service provider Glashelder has been contracted as a service provider and there have been talks with three ISPs. The analogue and digital TV signal is being tendered and will be connected to the home coaxial infrastructure. GlasvezelVught has been active in Vught Vught with a FTTO (office) network, with OONO as operator.
OONO entered the Dutch FTTH market for the first time in September 2009, when it became active as an operator on the FTTH network of the VVE (home owners association) in the Rotterdam skyscraper The Red Apple. OONO is also the operator of the OBR (Rotterdam Development Corporation) network, which operates three networks Nesselande, Lloydkwartier and the New Orleans apartment block. In total, the joint fibre initiatives with OONO have passed 5900 homes, with 375 subscribers. OONO is also present on industrial estates (FTTO) in Waalwijk and Vught, and with FTTI (fiber to the institution) in Tilburg.
Contractor Spitters, together with Roos and Bijl, and Iconn, has been contracted to conduct digging in Vught, scheduled to begin on 1 April. Planning for the first 2500 connections is complete, consisting of two districts over three to four months. The fibre roll out for all 11,000 connections must be completed in the course of 2012. It is interesting to note that Reggefiber is also active in Vught, and that it is in the second stage of taking registrations for fibre services. The KPN unit previously announced that it planned to roll fibre out from 3 April if at least 40 percent of households register. KPN, Lijbrandt, OnsBrabantNet and Concepts ICT is also taking part in the registration process.
Glashelder will in Vught offer both triple as well as quad play. A package with 20/20 Mbps, analogue TV (35 channels), digital TV (64 channels) and fixed telephony (free in-network calls, EUR 0.02 per minute to fixed lines, EUR 0.06 per minute to mobile numbers, a connection rate at EUR 0.05) will cost EUR 50 per monthly for a two-year contract. The same package with 100/100 Mbps will be available for EUR 75 per month, with 200/200 Mbps for EUR 105 per month, and with 500/500 for EUR 440 per month. One-off connection fees will not be charged. Mobile telephony from KPN can also be added. The KPN subscription includes 150 call minutes and 75 text messages per month with free in-network calls (with a cap of 1000 minutes) and SMSs. With the KPN subscription, the cheapest package at EUR 50 will cost EUR 60. A dongle will be offered for EUR 65, plus EUR 12.00 per month, or for rental at EUR 15.00 per month.