The Netherlands Authority for Consumers and Markets has approved a partnership between Dutch pension fund ABP and telecom provider KPN to establish a new company, TowerCo, which will house 3,800 antenna sites.

ABP and KPN first announced their plans to collaborate in June 2024, with the aim of enhancing the Dutch mobile network.

These antenna sites will include transmission masts and roofs that were previously owned by different companies. The new partnership allows all mobile operators and frequency users to use this infrastructure.

ABP said that despite the number of mobile internet users increasing, the space for antenna sites in the Netherlands is becoming “increasingly scarce”. Therefore, the fund said it was attractive to own, expand, and operate several locations.

ABP chairman of the board, Harmen van Wijnen, previously said that this collaboration with KPN “cuts both ways” as it will help to keep the Netherlands digitally and mobile easily accessible and offers an attractive expected return.

This is not the first collaboration between ABP and KPN, as previously they worked together on the rollout of fibre optics in the Netherlands.

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