Facts underpinning the position paper – Download

What the figures reveal about the Netherlands’ position as a digital hub.

Following the publication of its position paper, the Subsea Cable Coalition has released a factsheet. It further elaborates on the key points from the position paper, providing data and background on the importance of international subsea cables for the Netherlands.

Subsea cables carry approximately 98% of international data traffic, while demand for bandwidth in the Netherlands is growing rapidly (±35% per year). At the same time, much of the infrastructure is ageing, and the number of active cables is expected to decline from 11 to 4.

What the figures also show is that the Netherlands’ position as a digital hub is not guaranteed. A share of international data traffic from other European countries is routed through the Netherlands. At the same time, a growing part of the infrastructure is owned by large tech companies (±65%), highlighting how dependencies within the digital ecosystem are evolving.

The coalition calls for two actions:

1. Joint investment in at least two new open-access intercontinental subsea cables
2. Accelerating permitting and policy processes to keep the Netherlands attractive for cable and data centre investments

The factsheet outlines these developments and their potential implications for the Netherlands’ digital infrastructure.

Download the factsheet here: Factsheet