Dutch municipalities want more support from the national government in coordinating the roll-out of FTTH and 5G networks. The association of municipalities VNG sent a letter to the ministry of economic affairs and parliament in the hope of garnering more support during the annual budget talks for the ministry.
The VNG expects around 5 million new fibre lines and a few hundred more antenna sites will be built in the coming years. This means work for municipalities to accommodate the infrastructure. The latest reform of the Telecom Act requires each municipality to have an antenna policy, and the government also wants more harmonisation on excavation and site building.
According to the VNG, municipalities need more help in developing the policies. They are faced with telecom operators fighting over 'easy' deployment areas, while ignoring the less profitable neighbourhoods, city centres or outlying areas. Residents feel neglected and come to the municipality to complain. Antenna deployments also generate significant debate and high costs for appeals procedures.
While the VNG and municipalities support the improved infrastructure, they want help with the extra costs and policy challenges. Municipalities should be able to control the building works as residents expect, while working in cooperation with all parties and with attention to the energy transition and climate in order to avoid digital duplication and damage to the public space, the group said.
