KPN Logo

KPN originated in 1989 as the Dutch state-owned postal, telegraph, and telephone service. A transformation took place when the state-owned company, then known as PTT, was privatized and given a new name, Koninklijke PTT Nederland (KPN).

The liberalization of the telecommunications sector in the 1990s opened up favorable conditions for KPN to diversify. Taking advantage of this opportunity, the company began to develop mobile, Internet, and television services. In the following decade, KPN began active acquisition activities: Dutch mobile operator Telfort and German E-Plus, as well as other companies, were taken over.

In 2006, KPN merged with Belgian operator Belgacom, but this partnership was later terminated as KPN decided to exit the Belgian business. Refocusing its efforts on the foundational market of the Netherlands, the company has invested heavily in fiber optic infrastructure in recent years.

KPN is now the leading telecommunications operator in the Netherlands, providing individual and commercial customers with a full range of services, including mobile, broadband, TV, and IT solutions. In 2019, the company’s headquarters were relocated to Rotterdam, and its workforce exceeds 10,000 employees.

Although the Dutch government initially sold its entire stake in the privatization, it retains a minority stake in the company. KPN is a public company, and its shares are listed on the Amsterdam Stock Exchange.