Rodin is temporarily stopping the construction of fiber optic and radio connections in Groningen

Internet provider Rodin Group has temporarily stopped installing fiber optic and radio connections in the province of Groningen. The company cites a series of setbacks, including disagreements with the province, as the cause of the delay.

Via a advertisement in Dagblad van het Noorden gives Rodin a statement for the temporary suspension of the so-called Snel Internet Groningen project. In it it writes that the roll-out of the project has encountered quite a bit of delay over the years. For example, permitting processes for the installation of transmission towers would take longer than planned due to ‘environmental resistance’ and the costs of the project would have increased. This is because ‘more and more people want a fixed, more expensive fiber connection, instead of a radio connection’, says the provider.

In addition, Rodin states that the province of Groningen and local governments have made commitments about the installation of fiberglass to residents without first consulting with the company. Rodin says he tried to enter into talks with the province in January, but to no avail. “The aforementioned setbacks and the confusion created lead to a lot of delay and disappointment for the residents. Naturally, these kinds of matters within construction projects always cost a lot of time and money. The Snel Internet Groningen project is not able to cope with these kinds of setbacks. It will take more time and therefore more money.”

In 2017, the province of Groningen had made 40 million euros available for the construction of ‘superfast internet’ in the province, especially in the outlying areas. Rodin was commissioned to begin construction at the end of that year. RTV Noord wrote at the time that the project should be completed in 2018.