KPN: IPTV is key to FTTX success

KPN's IPTV subscriber numbers may be far from stellar, but the Dutch incumbent is not giving up on the service because it thinks that a combination of IPTV and its ongoing Fiber to the X rollouts will provide a compelling service combination.

At this point there appears to be an imbalance between KPN's IPTV desires and broadband penetration. While KPN reported that it had more than 2.5 million broadband subscribers as of the end of 2009, it only had 90,000 IPTV subscribers. To be fair, KPN saw its IPTV subscriber base double from 45,000 at the end of 2008.   

What's making KPN so adamant that it can build a profitable IPTV business is the success of its Digitenne digital terrestrial TV service, which currently has 880,000 subscribers.

To make good on its IPTV desires, KPN plans to expand its Fiber to the Curb (FTTC) and Fiber to the Home (FTTH) network rollouts throughout the year. KPN will spend $70 million to fit its COs with VDSL equipment to up its copper-based broadband speeds to 40 Mbps downstream/4 Mbps upstream and work with competitive Netherlands provider Reggefiber to expand its FTTH presence.

For more:
- see this Light Reading Europe article

Related articles
KPN sets aggressive Fiber to the X timeline
Euro IPTV grows; Orange burdened by content costs
KPN sees Q2 revenue dip, but net profit grows
KPN makes move to buy remaining stake in iBasis