Country case study:
The Netherlands
Ivo Essenberg, ITU
New Initiatives Workshop
‘Creating Trust in
Critical Network Infrastructures’,
20 May 2002
The views expressed in this paper are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the ITU,
its Membership or the Netherlands Administration. The author can contacted by e-mail at ivo.essenberg@itu.int.
International Telecommunication Union
Agenda
l Introduction to the Netherlands
l Networks in the Netherlands
l Legislation in the Netherlands
l Conclusions
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International Telecommunication Union
The Netherlands: the basics
l 41’500 km2 area
l 16 million inhabitants
l Mainly a services economy (74% of GDP)
l Trading nation
Ø Trade revenue: 116% of GDP
l Founding member of EU, CEPT, NATO
and Council of Europe among others
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The Information Society in
the Netherlands
l 1999: USD 3.5 billion investment in
telecommunications infrastructure
l 8+ million fixed line subscribers
l 6.2 million cable TV subscribers
l 10.7 million mobile phone subscribers
l 3.8 million Internet users
l 2.1 million Internet hosts
Ø 6th in the world with host density of 1’360
hosts per 10’000 inhabitants
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International Telecommunication Union
The Netherlands on the
Internet
l Home to 7 of the 78 European Internet
Exchange points
l 5 of the top 10 international Internet routes
connect to Amsterdam
l Amsterdam (AMS-IX):
Ø 2nd largest international Internet hub
Ø One of 5 European cities with 5+ MANs
l Information Society Index:
Ø NL: 6th in 2002
l Participant in DANTE’s GEANT network
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Telecommunications market
l Independent regulator since 1998
l Open to competition (except local calls)
l 5 mobile operators
l 95 licensed operators for fixed service
l 60 authorized international carriers
l 130 Internet service providers
l Availability of a network for emergency
response (Nationaal NoodNet)
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Network organizations
l OPTA: independent regulator
Ø Interconnection fees, frequency allocation
l SIDN: Dutch domain name registry
l NLIP: Internet providers
Ø Code of conduct
l VECAI: cable operators
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Network vulnerabilities
l “Home” of the Kournikova virus
l Increasing number of probes
l Rising number of DoS attacks
l Use of the Internet for critical data
exchange
Ø Water level management
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Physical vulnerabilities
l One cut in optic cable: north eastern
Netherlands without communications
l AMS-IX:
Ø Until 2002, in one single location
Ø Now, 4 locations
Ø Redundant links
l SWIFT:
Ø Reliance on Global Crossing
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User information
l Action at European level
Ø Resolution 15/1/02 calls for strengthening of
information and education campaigns to
increase awareness of network and
information security
l National level
Ø SurfOpSafe: education at user level
Ø CERTs: SURFNET, UNICERT, CERT-RO
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Regulation
l European Parliament
Ø 18 directives on Open Network Provision
Ø Electronic signatures
Ø Data protection and privacy
l National level
Ø OPTA: Supervisor of TTPs
Ø Use of existing laws
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Ongoing activities (1)
l International level
Ø CoE: Cyber crime convention
Ø E-Europe initiative of the EU
• ‘Creating a Safer Information Society by Improving the
Security of Information Infrastructures and Combating
Computer-related Crime’
Ø DNSSEC
• SIDN and NLnetlabs studying technical aspects of protocol
• Active role in IETF
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International Telecommunication Union
Ongoing activities (2)
l National level
Ø NACOTEL: National Continuity Plan
Telecommunication
Ø KWINT report
• Commissioned in 2000
• Studies Internet vulnerabilities and weaknesses
Ø Upgrade of National Noodnet
• Ahead of neighboring countries
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International Telecommunication Union
Conclusion
l Small country, but important
communications node
l Flexible laws offer remedies for
evolution in technology
l Active at international level:
Ø ICANN, CoE, EU, CENTR, …
l Pro-active government action
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