Despite declining profits, CEO Joost Farwerck is optimistic. ‘I thought it was a very good year. Turnover has increased, EBITDA has increased (result before interest payable, taxes, depreciation, ed.), free cash flow has increased and dividends have increased. So we’re closing last year very well.’
Farwerck is particularly pleased with the growth in turnover. ‘We invest for the long term, so it’s not a case of making leaps and bounds in a year. That would be unhealthy. Incidentally, it is the first time since 2007 that the real turnover of services grows in the Netherlands, and this is an important moment for us. Growing through turnover is important for the company.’
Optic fiber
Farwerck isn’t too concerned about the fierce competition in the fiber optic market. “The deployment of our fiber optic network is well underway. We outsold more than 540,000 homes this year, more than all competitors combined. We now cover half of the Netherlands and by the end of 2026 we want to have reached around 80%. It’s a lucrative market, so it’s understandable that other companies are also trying to enter it.’
Also listen | Ewa Skotnicki (Fairphone) on sustainability in telecommunications and impact marketing