Glasvezelgebruikers in Amersfoort get the ability to own virtual networks to be as certain services. The municipality of Amersfoort has concluded an agreement with Reggefiber.
For residents and non-profit organisations is getting the virtual network features a free, but the companies go about 3 euro per month. The services that they offer should be a social interest, says Sebastiaan van ‘t Erve, Alderman Sustainability, Social Security & Integration of Amersfoort. The agreement is valid for the duration of a year.
The networks operate largely point-to-point, so by the provider of the services to some end users. So-called Van ‘t Erve the example of a music school that through its own connection onlinelessen offers with image and sound high quality, and the example of medical service providers that help patients through a video link. Amersfoort stimulates, however, also provide services to larger groups of users, such as with wijktelevisie. Reggefiber allows for a few amenities, such as televisieapplicaties available via his daughter Glashart Media. “There are already some pilots in this area through the project, Amersfoort Wide,” says the alderman about it.
“With these appointments, everyone has their own lane on the digital highway open. Fiber is there enough space for”, continues Van ‘t Erve. Amersfoort receives support from the European Commission for the glasvezelproject and works together with 16 civil society organisations in the field of care, welfare, culture, education, local media, and sport. The initiative is reminiscent of the knowledge neighbourhood-experiments, which are five to ten years ago were held. Again, it was the development and provision of services are as accessible as possible. Knowledge neighbourhood, however, was not the success initially hoped for.