The award was presented during the LCL Carrier Partner Event 2026, an annual gathering that brings together carriers, connectivity players and infrastructure partners around collaboration, innovation and the future of digital connectivity. The Carrier Community Award highlights standout partnerships and contributions across the carrier ecosystem.

At Mobile World Congress 2026 in Barcelona, Eurofiber and Colt presented their joint cross-carrier quantum encryption initiative: a pan-European, quantum-secured fiber corridor connecting London, Amsterdam and Brussels. The initiative combines open digital infrastructure and cross-border connectivity to help safeguard critical data against emerging quantum threats while maintaining low-latency, high-performance network services.

Photo: Daniel Virues—Account Manager for International Clients and Carrier Team Lead—accepts the LCL Carrier Award on behalf of Eurofiber

Marc Hulzebos, Business Innovation Officer at Eurofiber: “This is a great milestone in the Eurofiber–Colt partnership, with industry recognition for the first commercial pan-European, quantum-secured terrestrial and subsea connectivity between London, Amsterdam and Brussels. I’m very proud that our teams are working together on the next generation of encryption—at the most fundamental level—for secure communications across critical segments.”

With Quantum Key Distribution, Eurofiber and Colt are taking an important step towards the next generation of secure connectivity. By using quantum technology for key exchange, QKD adds an extra layer of protection designed to withstand the cyber risks of tomorrow. This responds to the growing demand for resilient, high-performance and quantum-safe connectivity for critical digital processes, including in sectors such as finance.

This recognition underlines not only the strength of the collaboration between Eurofiber and Colt, but also Eurofiber’s ambition to remain at the forefront of innovative infrastructure solutions. Together, the partners continue to build a secure and future-proof digital foundation for Europe.

Thursday 4th December 2025 the ecosystem Quantum Progress celebration brought together the quantum technology community from academia, startups, enterprise and public sector. Philippe Bouyer, Director of Research & Technology and board Chair congratulated Marc ‘for his outstanding contributions to the Dutch quantum ecosystem, taking a leading role as a Netherlands-based industrial player in actively shaping and advancing the market for quantum communication’.

Marc Hulzebos: ‘I feel very proud being awarded for both personal and collective efforts advancing digital infrastructure innovation. It really is an honor to be part of the next generation of innovators and it made me realize how many great people we have working on transformational technology every day.’ Concluding the award ceremony, Marc was invited to share his wish for the ecosystem in the near future.  ‘As innovation thrives not in isolation but through connection, our industry benefits from a shared vision of progress. That is why I wish our community inspires confidence across various other technical and non-technical industries, though our amazing network of innovators, entrepreneurs, researchers, and enablers to anchor quantum technology’s real societal value’

More information at Quantum Delta news site 

According to the latest EcoVadis sustainability rating (May 2024), Eurofiber Netherlands has attained the highest achievable status: Platinum. In attaining this platinum position with its ESG initiatives, Eurofiber has reached the top 1% high-performing companies, out of a total of 130,000 rated by EcoVadis worldwide.

Among other things, Eurofiber’s ESG program resulted in an SBTi-approved 100% reduction in CO2 in 2030 compared to 2021 (scope 1 and 2 emissions). The ambition is to be 100% climate neutral in 2040 (scope 1, 2 and 3).  To achieve this, Eurofiber is working on various sustainability initiatives. Examples include exclusively using sustainably generated electricity, adopting a lease policy focused on 100% electric driving, reducing energy consumption in the supply chain, and increasing circularity of products. 
Pilot projects on carbon-neutral construction and maintenance of the Eurofiber network and reductions in packaging materials will be starting shortly. To promote circular deployability of equipment, Eurofiber is also constantly exploring new opportunities for re-use.

With a platinum-standard final rating, Eurofiber scored higher than 99% of all companies rated by EcoVadis worldwide. The company recently scored 80 points in the sustainable procurement category – a substantial improvement compared to last year.

“Obviously, we are proud of this independent acknowledgement of our Platinum status by EcoVadis. In recent years, we have been making great strides with our Environment, Social & Governance goals and initiatives. Besides various projects to reduce CO2 impact in line with our SBTi ambitions, at the end of 2023 we asked over 40 of our key suppliers to join us in registering with EcoVadis. This enables us to monitor the ESG targets and results of our supply chain as well,” says Jeroen Kanselaar, ESG Manager at Eurofiber.

About EcoVadis
Since the independent agency was founded in 2007, EcoVadis has grown to become the world’s largest provider of business sustainability ratings, creating a global network of more than 100,000+ rated companies in over 180 countries. The EcoVadis Medals are awarded to the top 35% of companies rated by EcoVadis.

Eurofiber received the award for the EUR 1.5 billion debt facilities, which were placed in June 2022. The facilities and the related hedging have sustainability incentives in alignment with Eurofiber’s sustainability program, which includes, among other things, measures that will lead to a 50% CO2 reduction by 2025, furthering the company’s stated goal to be 100% climate proof by 2030, as well as measures regarding gender balance.

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"We are very pleased and proud of this award. It is a recognition from the market of our right strategic direction in which we integrate our sustainability program with the rapid fiber roll-out in the Netherlands, Belgium, France and Germany," said CFO Edze Tollenaar.