The Hague, 04-12-2025 – The Netherlands is rapidly losing ground as a digital mainport. International data traffic is growing rapidly, while a large part of the current subsea cable infrastructure is outdated and will be decommissioned in the short term. The Coalition therefore calls on the government and businesses in its recently released position paper to immediately invest in at least two new open intercontinental subsea cables.
Digital growth stagnates without new connections
The Netherlands has traditionally been among the best-connected digital economies in the world. But that position is under pressure. According to research, the demand for international bandwidth in the Netherlands will increase by 35% annually until 2035. At the same time, many existing intercontinental cables will be phased out in the coming years. The last transatlantic cable has already been switched off. All but four cables are over 25 years old and are at risk of being decommissioned at any moment. Moreover, no Dutch telecom company is currently investing in new submarine cables.
Big Tech determines the routes – the Netherlands is at risk of being bypassed
International data routes are rapidly shifting from open consortia to closed cable systems run by major American tech companies. More than 60% of global internet traffic now runs through their (closed) infrastructure. These systems primarily land in locations where Big Tech itself is building data centers, which is not necessarily in the Netherlands. Overcapacity is being shared less and less, making Dutch companies and public services increasingly dependent on foreign infrastructure and legislation.
Member of Parliament Barbara Kathmann already attracted attention during Budget Day by appearing wearing a submarine cable hat, symbolizing the importance of digital infrastructure. “Our digital security is vulnerable. If we don’t invest now, our digital infrastructure will end up in the hands of five major tech companies. We cannot let that happen,” says Kathmann.
Call: Build the new digital bridges now
The consequences will affect virtually all crucial sectors that depend on high data speed and reliability: the financial sector, science and innovation, logistics and trade, and the digital industry. Without new cables, the Netherlands will lose its role as a digital gateway to Europe.
The Sea Cable Coalition therefore makes an urgent appeal:
Business and government must jointly invest in at least two new open intercontinental sea cables to bring Dutch international connectivity to the necessary level and to meet the growing demand until 2035.
To raise awareness of this issue, the Sea Cable Coalition has prepared a position paper clearly outlining the urgency.
You can read it here (in Dutch).
“Our digital bridges are on the verge of collapse,” says the Coalition. “Who will build the new ones?”
