Dutch companies are way ahead in the digital revolution

Last week the world's largest trade fair for communication technology took place: the Mobile World Congress (MWC 2025). Tens of thousands of industry leaders gathered in Barcelona, and I was there as a reporter for IO+. I am responsible for our DATA+ category, so I really couldn't miss this event. What struck me: Dutch companies are playing a pioneering role in shaping the digital future.

Long corridors, conveyor belts, stairs. If you stroll through the busy corridors of MWC, you would do well to follow the signs closely. In daily life I am easily overwhelmed by the flood of stimuli. But the conference in Barcelona is of a completely different order. As I navigate between the stands, I repeat in my head: between halls 4 and 5, that's where I need to be.

I quickly make my way through the crowds. Suddenly I see what I was looking for: a stand with bright orange letters that stands out like a beacon among the crowd. As I approach the Dutch pavilion, I suddenly hear a language I recognize around me. I am welcomed by Mark Beermann and Anke Kuipers of Ecosystem Services, the organization representing the Netherlands, with a cup of cappuccino. The pavilion's coffee machine is working overtime. In addition to numerous colleagues from other countries, Minister Dirk Beljaarts (Economic Affairs) also visited the pavilion.

Robust 5G networks

I quickly get talking to the CEO of Semiblocks, Christiaan van der Sluijs. He is standing next to a sophisticated machine. We discuss his company's contribution to 5G networks, which are playing an increasingly important role in our daily lives. 5G networks not only offer fast and reliable internet for telephone users, but are also the driving force behind innovations such as self-driving cars, smart cities and robots. Start-ups and scale-ups around the world are working on 5G innovations, and Dutch companies are also contributing to these developments, as I discover during my visit to the orange stand.

“What did you think of my speech just now?” the entrepreneur asks me (laughs). ‘Great. You came across as very enthusiastic,’ I tell him. Just before the interview, Semiblocks unveiled its brand-new, innovative timing module for autonomous systems and 5G. It is a powerful device that ensures that everything in the network works in sync. In a 5G network, everything must connect seamlessly so that telephone calls and data transmissions are fast and uninterrupted. The module is designed for applications in 5G, atomic clocks and navigation systems, among others. The module can compensate for temperature fluctuations and mechanical stress without the use of external sensors or expensive ovens. “The system continues to work properly, even when hailstones are falling from the sky,” says Van der Sluijs.

Ultra-secure connections

What else do I learn during my visit to the Dutch pavilion? In our little country, quantum is being used extensively. By 2027, the Dutch quantum industry should reach a market value of 1 billion euros. For example, we are contributing to ultra-secure network connections through quantum key distribution. This is a technology that uses the special properties of quantum particles to encrypt information in a way that is almost impossible to hack.

In Barcelona, Q*Bird and Eurofiber make a big announcement: they have been awarded a €1 million grant of the ERDF program Kansen voor West. The funding supports their joint project QUEST, which applies quantum key distribution in two data centers in the Randstad.

After the presentation, Ingrid Romijn, CEO of Q*Bird, enthusiastically tells me about this year's plans. “Our network is located in the port of Rotterdam, among other places, and we are now expanding it. We have a total of 200 km of secure connections, but we are working towards at least 500 km. We currently have three networks in the Netherlands, and it would be great if we could double that this year.”

Replacing ancient copper networks

There are certainly still plenty of challenges to overcome in the field of digital connections, for example when it comes to sustainability. The network structures we use today are over 50 years old, with kilometers of copper that need to be replaced every 5 to 10 years.

I walk around with my camera to take some pictures of the equipment I see around me. My eye is caught by the machine from FiberUnlimited, a company from Amersfoort. I walk over to the stand and have a chat with Engelbert van Pelt, co-founder and general manager of the company. Their mission is clear: “to do away with outdated networks and create sustainable data connections.” They do this with cables made of polymer optical fiber. Producing these cables requires up to 90% less material than traditional copper networks.

The company was nominated for two global categories at the prestigious GSMA GLOMO Awards during the conference. Broadforward from Amersfoort, which focuses on signaling software, was the only European company to win a GLOMO in the category tech.

FiberUnlimited is currently in a crucial phase. “We now want to apply our networks outside of the Netherlands. This means we will have to manage many processes remotely, which of course brings with it several challenges. But we can handle them,” he assures me. I decide to take some more footage of the entrepreneur for my vlog about the conference.

Digitizing water management

The world is digitizing at lightning speed, but many crucial infrastructures – such as water management, electricity and transportation – are lagging. This is a shame because a lot of valuable information is being lost. The Netherlands is also playing a pioneering role in this area. I meet Marco Sprenkels of Netmore: a global IoT network provider that focuses primarily on the digitization of water companies. The company, founded in 2010, provides real-time insight into water consumption. In the UK, Netmore is working together with Yorkshire Water to replace old water meters with smart meters. Sprenkels, Netmore BeNeLux country manager: “The digitization of water meters is particularly interesting because of the major impact. By quickly detecting leaks, we help save millions of cubic meters of water every year.”

With the increasing scarcity of drinking water, Netmore's IoT solutions are becoming increasingly important. The Dutch government wants to reduce water consumption per person from 134 liters to 100 liters per day in the coming years, partly due to the growing population. “Smart water meters can play an important role in this,” says Sprenkels.

101 innovations

Of course, I knew that there is ingenious technology behind a well-functioning digital network. But my visit to MWC Barcelona has made it clear that there are hundreds of ultra-advanced innovations - from quantum technology to sustainable network cables. And conversations with Dutch entrepreneurs have shown that our country plays an irreplaceable role in this. I am therefore very curious to see which groundbreaking Made in the Netherlands innovations will be unveiled in Barcelona next year!

From sea to operating room: the whole world connected

Reporter Elcke Vels visited the Mobile World Congress (MWC) in Barcelona.