Telenet is investing in the expansion of a Giga network for everyone

• Investment of 500 million euros over 5 years to upgrade the information superhighway
• Tremendous opportunities for increases in data over the Internet and thus for the digital economy and new digital applications
• In time, Internet speeds of at least 1 Gigabit per second possible for the entire Telenet network
• First Giga network of this scale brings Flanders on top of the list of regions with the best digital infrastructure in Europe

- Over the coming five years, Telenet, as the first operator in Europe, is to invest a total of 500 million euros to upgrade the cable network in Flanders to a Giga network. This network offers tremendous opportunities for increases in data over the Internet and in time will be able to support broadband speeds of at least 1 Gigabit per second. As a result, Flanders will top the list of regions with the best digital infrastructure in Europe. With this large-scale network investment, Telenet is preparing for the ever increasing amount of data traffic and will be catering for the future digital requirements of private users, the business community, government, education, the healthcare and security sector as well as other sectors of society. In addition, 250 new jobs are being created in Flanders during the course of the project.

Upgrading the information superhighway
Over the coming five years, between 2014 and 2019, Telenet will be making a huge investment into upgrading its network so that customers can continue to enjoy the very best digital experience. In specific terms, Telenet will be upgrading the information superhighway from 600 MegaHertz (MHz) to 1 GigaHertz (GHz). As a result of this upgrade to the information superhighway, Telenet will ensure that not only the constantly increasing volume of Internet traffic continues to flow unimpeded but also that in the future, faster and better digital applications will be fully supported for all Telenet customers throughout its entire sales territory. It is the most far-reaching adaptation to the network in the history of Telenet.

Tremendous opportunities for the digital economy and new digital applications
Telenet Internet customers currently enjoy competitive connection speeds of 160 Mbps. As a result of this investment project, in time the network will be able to support Internet connection speeds of at least 1 gigabit per second. Both residential and business customers will be able to upload and download information at superfast speeds, enjoy high-quality video streaming (HD or 4K), use online collaboration tools, engage in remote healthcare, etc.

Flanders is the first regions in Europe in which a 1 GHz network of this scale is being rolled out and will consequently move firmly to the top of the list of regions with the best digital infrastructure in Europe. The investment project will create 250 new jobs in Flanders over the five years.

John Porter, CEO of Telenet: "Telenet has always been a pioneer. Once again we want to make our contribution to the digital future of Flanders. We are proud that with this investment we will ensure that Flanders is a front runner in Europe in rolling out a 1GHz network of this scale. With the 1 GHz network we will be able to guarantee that all of our residential and business customers will be able to have access to the bandwidth, which they will need in the future. The upgrading of the network creates tremendous opportunities in terms of video over the Internet, machine-to-machine communication, e-health, monitoring security, cloud computing and other future innovations. It has the potential to be a huge stimulus for the digital economy in Flanders."

Geert Bourgeois, Minister-president of the Flemish government: "To support future, creative development of the media and telecom sector, further development of the digital distribution infrastructure is required. I am delighted that Telenet is stepping up to this challenge. Partly thanks to Telenet, Flanders already leads Europe in terms of broadband infrastructure. The digital world is evolving at breakneck speed and these new investments will ensure that Flanders remains the No. One region when it comes to digitalisation. Every Flemish resident will be able to reap the benefits of this."

Replacing 150,000 amplifiers and 1.8 million other components
The regions where data traffic is greatest and which are most in need of this upgrade to the digital infrastructure will be first in line. In order to upgrade the network, all 150,000 amplifiers will be replaced across the fixed network throughout Flanders as well as the adaptation or replacement of 1.8 million other components such as splitters and taps. These are located on the side of the road, up poles or on exterior walls. It shouldn't be necessary to dig up any roads or footpaths. Neither will the technicians need to enter customer premises.

What does this mean for the customer?
The work will take place over the coming five years between Monday and Friday, between seven thirty in the morning and five o'clock in the afternoon, in various locations spread across the whole of Flanders. As of 22 September 2014, work will commence throughout regions such as Mechelen, Onze-Lieve-Vrouw-Waver, Lint, Mortsel and Deinze.

Telenet will be doing everything possible to carry out the network changes for each location within one working day. On such days in certain roads the Internet, Wi-Fi, television and fixed telephone services may experience interruptions between seven thirty in the morning and five o'clock in the afternoon. There may also be some interruptions for a few days before and after this working day. In principle, all customers will be back online by five o'clock in the afternoon, and will be able to watch television, make calls on their fixed line and use the internet that evening. The works are not being carried out at night for safety reasons.

Residential customers, who need to use telephony, Internet or television between 7:30 a.m. and 5 p.m. on the day of the works, are best advised to use the mobile telephone and data network (3G and 4G). Telenet will guide its business customers to guarantee the continuity of their business activities and, amongst other things, assist them in finding suitable backup solutions.

Open and continuous communication
Telenet will provide full information to its residential and business customers concerning the scheduled works. Business customers will receive a letter 8 weeks prior to the start of the works containing more information about the works in their road. They will receive a further reminder 14 calendar days in advance. Residential customers will be notified one week in advance. A few days prior to the commencement of the works, Telenet will send another e-mail or text message as a reminder to all customers. Telenet will also ensure through various interest groups and industry organisations that communication is as efficient as possible. From 22 September, a freephone telephone number is also being provided, which all customers can phone should they have any queries. Full information about the works can then also be found at a dedicated website.

"De Grote Netwerf" information campaign
The upgrading of the network is part of the wider, three-stage project "De Grote Netwerf" in which Telenet is not only working on the cable network in your street, but is also investing in wireless Internet through parallel projects using Telenet hot spots and home spots and is optimising in-house installations in customers' homes or on customer premises. The "De Grote Netwerf" information campaign starts from 15 September.