KPN Mobile on Track to Beat 4G Coverage Deadline

KPN Mobile the Netherlands is on course to complete its 4G Long Term Evolution (LTE) mobile network rollout ahead of schedule, its managing director Joost Farwerck said in an interview. Speaking at an event in Rotterdam today, the official said: ‘We are on schedule and getting to 50% coverage and if we can get to 100% before the summer next year, I won’t hesitate to do it.’ Farwerck notes that there is strong demand from Dutch consumers for 4G, making it logical that the unit forges ahead with its rollout programme.

Hague-based KPN began its domestic LTE deployment in the first quarter of this year after paying EUR1.35 billion (USD1.7 billion) last December to purchase the requisite frequencies from the government. It had originally planned to complete its domestic 4G network by the summer of 2014. ‘We paid much more than we had hoped for, but given this is for 17 years and the billions of euros that are involved in this business, I think investors understand that,’ Farwerck said.