The Netherlands Authority for Consumers and Markets (ACM) has announced (31 October) it will conduct a further investigation into a planned acquisition by Glaspoort, a joint venture of telecom operator KPN, of part of Delta Fiber Nederland’s fibre-optic network. Covering approximately 200,000 households in various Dutch municipalities, the acquisition would transfer fibre-optic assets from Delta, KPN’s largest fibre-optic competitor, to Glaspoort—a partnership between KPN and Dutch pension provider APG, established in 2021 to bolster KPN’s fiber-optic presence.
ACM’s initial findings indicate potential risks to competition, with concerns that the acquisition could reduce competition between telecom networks, which could lead to price increases. Currently, KPN competes against both Delta’s network and VodafoneZiggo’s in many areas. If the acquisition proceeds, consumers in these areas may face fewer choices, with only KPN/Glaspoort and VodafoneZiggo as network providers.
The ACM also raised concerns about KPN’s “roll-up strategy”—a pattern of acquiring smaller fiber-optic networks over the years. While individual acquisitions may have minimal impact, cumulatively they strengthen KPN’s market position, potentially harming smaller competitors and ultimately consumers. ACM has advocated for a legislative amendment to allow scrutiny of such smaller acquisitions that could have anticompetitive effects.
Next, Glaspoort and Delta must apply for an acquisition license, after which ACM will have up to 13 weeks to decide on the case. The follow-up investigation will assess competition risks, including the extent of competitive pressure from other providers like VodafoneZiggo.
Link to announcement: https://www.acm.nl/en/publications/acm-further-investigation-needed-acquisition-deltas-fiber-optic-networks-kpns-joint-venture
