Groningen province initiates plan for rural high-speed internet

The Province of Groningen has launched an informal market consultation to address the lack of high-speed internet in rural areas. This initiative follows the bankruptcy of the company Rodin in 2023, which had previously been tasked with installing fiber optic networks for 8,000 addresses but failed to meet its targets.

Currently, approximately 5,000 households in the region remain without high-speed access. The province aims to use the consultation to gather technical insights and requirements from companies to better prepare for future tenders or regulations. While fiber optics is the preferred solution, officials noted that wireless or satellite connections may be explored for locations where fiber is technically or financially unfeasible.

Under the 'Nij Begun' economic agenda, a maximum of 25 million euros has been provisionally reserved in the 2026–2028 multi-year implementation plan. However, Deputy Erik Jan Bennema indicated that this amount may not be sufficient to cover the entire remaining task. The consultation, conducted by research agency Dialogic, allows interested parties to share experiences and ideas through early September.