AMSTERDAM, 13/10/06 - In Amsterdam, construction of a glass fibre network began yesterday. A total of 40,000 households in the Zeeburg, Osdorp and Oost will be connected to it.

The responsible Alderman, Maarten van Poelgeest, gave the starting signal for the superfast Internet connection, being constructed in partnership with five housing corporations and private investors. Amsterdam Glass Fibre Network (GNA) is the company through which the players operate.

The city council wants to construct the Internet connection to enable it to compete with other world cities like Paris, Cologne and Milan, which already have similar networks. Subscribers with a connection can simultaneously telephone, go on-line and watch high-quality television.

Building company BAM and cable company Draka are involved in the project, which will yield them 30 million euros in sales. Work is expected to be completed in 2008. When the other households in Amsterdam will have access to the new network is not yet clear.