KPN will begin testing more sustainable fiber optic cabling that is made from 90% recycled plastic in September in Buitenpost (Friesland) and Nijmegen Dukenburg. The announcement demonstrates the company’s commitment to the ambitious environmental goals it established, including the reduction of its CO₂ emissions by 50%.
The sustainable fiber optic cabling is a 4.5 mm cable in a 10 mm sleeve instead of the conventional 6 mm cable in a 14 mm sleeve, and so there is a reduction of the volume of plastic needed by 50% when laying the cable. Further, the cable and sleeve are also thinner, so a reel can accommodate more, reducing the number of wooden reels required by 70%.
