Last week, Digital Infrastructure Netherlands (DINL) became the new voice of and contact point for the Netherlands’ digital infrastructure industry. The new umbrella body’s creation is a joint initiative by AMS-IX, DHPA, ISPConnect, NLnet, SIDN and SURFnet. The stakeholders have set themselves the goal of promoting economic growth in the Netherlands by facilitating a secure and reliable on-line economy.
Digital infrastructure industry is at the heart of the on-line economy
The digital infrastructure industry is at the heart of the Dutch on-line economy and plays a key role on the global internet. With a turnover of roughly 1.18 billion euros, and a direct and indirect workforce of around twenty thousand people employed by hundreds of companies, the industry is one of the drivers of Dutch economic growth. The sector’s year-on-year growth is currently about 9 per cent and it accounts for more than 5 per cent of Dutch GDP.
DINL brings together digital infrastructure service providers
DINL is an organisation for all digital infrastructure service providers in the Netherlands: data centres and firms providing hosting and cloud computing services, telecom services for the digital infrastructure industry and internet connectivity services. It also welcomes foundations and associations that support the sector.
DINL contributes to themes related to growth of the on-line economy
As well as providing information to the media, government and the business community, DINL will contribute to themes and debates relevant to the growth of the on-line economy. So, for example it will advise and comment on education, data security and tackling cybercrime. The new foundation has a board made up of representatives of the six kick-start organisations and its CEO is Michiel Steltman.
Research shows that the Dutch digital infrastructure industry is a European leader
DINL’s CEO Michiel Steltman said, “A recent Deloitte study into the role and significance of the Dutch digital infrastructure industry found that this rapidly expanding sector is a frontrunner in Europe, with tremendous potential for driving economic growth and innovation. It is therefore vital that the sector speaks with a single, strong voice. By working together, we can help to clarify numerous themes and developments relating to the internet, and we can contribute tangibly to growth and innovation based on digital infrastructure.”
DINL actively seeking collaboration with other stakeholders
The expectation is that various other organisations active in this sector will affiliate to DINL during 2015. The foundation is actively seeking to collaborate with other stakeholders in the sector.
Read the interview with Michiel Steltman and Roelof Meijer in The.nlyst, ‘Playtime is over’.
