Can KPN International apply the ‘Dutch’ values of ingenuity and creativity to a highly competitive international telecoms market? Caroline Chappell reports.
KPN has always been a company that punches above its weight on the world stage, whether investing in and then acquiring global VoIP provider, iBasis and pioneering the international voice outsourcing model; taking a lead in the M2M market through its partnership with Jasper Wireless; or, most recently, establishing itself at the cutting edge of 100Gbps wavelength service deployment by commercially introducing a 100Gbps service option on its Amsterdam–London route.
But the company operates in a highly competitive market, both domestically and internationally. In May 2011, it came up with a new mantra to guide it through these turbulent economic times – and one that it hopes will keep it among the top five European telcos by revenue: “strengthen, simplify and grow”. The “strengthen” message is mainly aimed at KPN’s Benelux business, to help it maintain its share of the Benelux market through improved cost control and customer service....