(Telecompaper) The number of homes passed with FTTH connections in the Netherlands is expected to pass 3 million in 2021, equal to 38 percent of households, according to the latest report from Telecompaper. Just over half of homes passed are expected to subscribe to the fibre services by the end of the forecast period. In 2016, the number of homes passed increased by 137,000, a sharp slowdown from the 200,000 homes added in 2015. In total, 2.65 million homes had access to a fibre connection at the end of 2016. KPN, via its subsidiary Reggefiber, again added the most homes passed in 2016, mainly in the first half of the yar. In the second half, Reggefiber's roll-out slowed to a near standstill, and this trend is expected to continue, as KPN focuses more on upgrading its copper network and limits fibre to new-build areas. CIF meanwhile is focusing more on bringing fibre to rural and outlying areas. However, it also took a step back last year, which will slow its roll-out in the coming years. Other, smaller parties started taking a bigger role in the market last year. Telecompaper expects these players, such as E-Fiber, Kabelnoord, Rendo and Rekam, to take a larger share of the new homes passed in the coming years.