The Netherlands’ telecom regulator has confirmed that KPN, Odido, and VodafoneZiggo each secured 100 MHz of spectrum in the highly sought-after 3.5 GHz band in this week’s auction.
The auction raised a total of €174.4 million, with each operator acquiring their allocation at prices only slightly above the reserve. KPN invested €58.4 million, VodafoneZiggo paid €57.5 million, and Odido (formerly T-Mobile Netherlands) paid a similar amount. These licenses run through 2040, providing a stable, long-term basis for expanding advanced 5G services.
The sale had been delayed since 2021 because of a legal dispute with satellite operator Inmarsat, which used the same frequencies for emergency maritime communications. The issue was settled last year after Inmarsat agreed to move the affected ground station to Greece, clearing the way for spectrum allocation.
Joost Farwerck, KPN’s CEO, said the new 3.5 GHz licenses will increase network capacity and enable higher throughput as the company moves into the next phase of 5G. He noted the auction outcome supports KPN’s goals to continue delivering high-quality mobile services and to develop innovative 5G offerings in line with its Connect, Activate & Grow strategy.
Thomas Helbo, CTO of VodafoneZiggo, expressed similar optimism, saying the additional spectrum will strengthen the company’s mobile services and 5G initiatives, support ongoing innovation and digital transformation, and contribute to sustainable development.
The Netherlands already ranks among the world’s leading mobile markets. VodafoneZiggo launched the country’s first nationwide 5G network four years ago, and KPN has advanced its 5G footprint using the 700 MHz band, earning international recognition for network quality and coverage.
Access to 3.5 GHz spectrum is critical for realizing the full promise of 5G. The mid-band frequencies offer a balance of coverage and capacity that enables low-latency, high-speed services essential for both today’s consumers and future enterprise use cases. For VodafoneZiggo, the spectrum strengthens its position within one of Europe’s largest 5G networks and supports its leading role in Internet of Things (IoT) deployments, where it already manages over 175 million connections.
Beyond consumer-facing improvements such as faster mobile speeds and more reliable connections, the enhanced 5G capabilities will accelerate innovation across industries. VodafoneZiggo, for example, has built an ecosystem of 35 active partners, completed more than 10 collaborative projects, and won two innovation awards—efforts that illustrate how wider spectrum availability can drive real-world applications.
As operators bring the 3.5 GHz resources online, users can expect noticeably improved mobile experiences, including higher throughput and reduced latency. Businesses stand to gain new opportunities for productivity improvements, advanced automation, and innovative services that could reshape sectors such as manufacturing, healthcare, transport, and smart cities.
With these telecom leaders expanding their 5G capacity, the Netherlands is likely to see an acceleration of 5G-driven developments over the coming years, from autonomous vehicle trials and connected infrastructure to advanced healthcare solutions and industrial digitalization.
(Photo by Callum Parker)
See also: Nokia and Telefónica partner to boost Spanish private 5G networks
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