Quick answer: For IRL streaming in the Netherlands: KPN + Odido is the best 2-modem combination (€35/month data), or KPN + Odido + Vodafone for maximum stability (€50/month). KPN has the best national coverage, Odido the fastest 5G in cities, Vodafone fills gaps in the Randstad. Ziggo/Vodafone share the same network, so DO NOT combine them.
Why Multiple Providers Are Essential
The One Connection Problem
Scenario: You stream IRL on Twitch with a single KPN 4G connection.
Your position: 🚶 → 🏢 → 🚇 → 🌳 → 🏙️
KPN signal: ████ ██░░ ░░░░ ███░ ████
Stream quality: 😊 😐 ❌ 😐 😊
Result: Every time KPN signal drops, your stream goes offline. Viewers leave.
The Solution: Bonding
With KPN + Odido bonding:
Your position: 🚶 → 🏢 → 🚇 → 🌳 → 🏙️
KPN signal: ████ ██░░ ░░░░ ███░ ████
Odido signal: ███░ ████ ██░░ ██░░ ████
──────────────────────── ────────────────────────
Combined (SRTLA): ████ ████ ██░░ ███░ ████
Stream quality: 😊 😊 😊 😊 😊
Result: Even if one provider drops, your stream will remain live through the other. Uptime increases from 70% to 95%+.
The Dutch Network Landscape 2026
The Big Four (Physical Networks)
The Netherlands has 3 physical networks (not 4!): | Provider | Owner | Network | Spectrum | Focus | |----------|----------|--------|----------|-------| | KPN | KPN N.V. | KPN own network | Lowest frequencies (700/800 MHz) | Rural | | Odido | Odido Netherlands | T-Mobile network (rebranded) | Mid-band (1800/2100 MHz) + 5G | Cities + 5G | | Vodafone/Ziggo | VodafoneZiggo | Joint network | High band (2600MHz + mmWave 5G) | Randstad |
⚠️ Important: Vodafone and Ziggo share the same physical network. Combining both is pointless for bonding - you have no redundancy.
MVNOs (Virtual Providers)
These rent network capacity:
| MVNO | Used Network From | Suitable for Bonding? | |------|---------------------|------------------------| | Simyo | KPN | ✅ Yes (= extra KPN SIM) | | Ben | Odido | ✅ Yes (= extra Odido SIM) | | Youfone | KPN/Odido mix | ⚠️ Check specific SIM | | Lebara | KPN | ✅ Yes (cheap KPN) | | Lycamobile | Odido | ✅ Yes |
Pro tip: If you already have KPN, add a Simyo SIM for a 2nd KPN connection (works because different SIM = different network priority).
Coverage Analysis by Provider
KPN: The National King
Strengths:
- ✅ 98.5% national coverage (best in NL)
- ✅ 700 MHz spectrum = penetrates buildings/tunnels
- ✅ Reliable in villages, polders, forests
- ✅ Good indoor coverage
Weaknesses:
- ❌ Not always fastest in cities (priority to telephony)
- ❌5G rollout slower than Odido
- ❌ More expensive than competitors
Ideal for:
- Rural IRL streams (nature, villages)
- Events outside cities
- Basic/backup connection Coverage examples:
| Location | 4G | 5G | Upload (avg.) | |---------|----|----|---------------| | Amsterdam Center | ✅ | ✅ | 25-40 Mbps | | A2 Motorway | ✅ | ⚠️ | 15-30Mbps | | Veluwe Forests | ✅ | ❌ | 5-15 Mbps | | Wadden Islands | ⚠️ | ❌ | 3-10Mbps | | Tunnels (short <500m) | ✅ | ❌ | 5-20Mbps |
Odido (ex T-Mobile): The Speed Winner
Strengths:
- ✅ Fastest 5G in major cities (up to 300 Mbps upload!)
- ✅ Best Randstad coverage
- ✅ Lowest latency (10-20ms)
- ✅ Good in busy areas (crowd management) Weaknesses:
- ❌ Moderate national coverage vs KPN
- ❌ Weaker in Limburg/Groningen
- ❌ Higher frequencies = poorer indoor penetration
Ideal for:
- City IRL streams (Amsterdam, Rotterdam, Utrecht)
- Events with many people
- Primary upload connection (highest bitrate)
Coverage examples:
| Location | 4G | 5G | Upload (avg.) | |---------|----|----|---------------| | Amsterdam Center | ✅ | ✅✅ | 50-80 Mbps | | Rotterdam South | ✅ | ✅ | 35-60Mbps | | Utrecht CS | ✅ | ✅✅ | 40-70 Mbps | | Small villages | ⚠️ | ❌ | 5-15 Mbps | | Brabant countryside | ✅ | ❌ | 10-25 Mbps |
Vodafone/Ziggo: The Randstad Specialist
Strengths:
- ✅ Excellent in Randstad (Amsterdam-Rotterdam-Utrecht triangle)
- ✅ Good indoor coverage in cities (thanks to Ziggo's coax network)
- ✅ mmWave 5G in specific locations (gigabit speeds)
- ✅ Often cheaper than KPN
Weaknesses:
- ❌ Weak outside Randstad (some regions do not have their own masts)
- ❌ Sometimes roaming on T-Mobile/KPN network (inconsistent)
- ❌ Less reliable for critical streams
Ideal for:
- Randstad-only IRL streamers
- 3rd modem in bonding setup
- Urban exploration
Coverage examples:
| Location | 4G | 5G | Upload (avg.) | |---------|----|----|---------------| | Amsterdam | ✅✅ | ✅ | 30-50 Mbps | | The Hague | ✅✅ | ✅ | 25-45 Mbps | | Eindhoven | ✅ | ⚠️ | 20-35 Mbps | | Friesland | ⚠️ | ❌ | 5-15 Mbps (roaming) | | Zeeland | ⚠️ | ❌ | 3-12 Mbps |
Optimal Combinations for IRL Streaming
Budget Setup (€35/month) - 2 Modems
Recommendation: KPN Prepaid + Odido Unlimited
| Provider | Subscription | Month | Dates | Explanation | |----------|------------|-------|------|-------------| | KPN | Prepaid basic | €10 | 2GB + unlimited 1 Mbps | Backup/low bitrate failover | | Odido | Unlimited 5G | €25 | Unlimited | Primary connection | | Total | - | €35 | - | - |
Use case: City streams + occasional trips outside. KPN will provide support if Odido disappears.
Expected reach:
- Randstad: 95-98% uptime
- Nationwide: 85-90% uptime
Standard Setup (€50/month) - 3 Modems
Recommendation: KPN + Odido + Vodafone
| Provider | Subscription | Month | Dates | Explanation | |----------|------------|-------|------|-------------| | KPN | SIM Only 10GB | €15 | 10GB high speed | National backup | | Odido | Unlimited 5G | €25 | Unlimited | Primary in cities | | Vodafone | Data Only 10GB | €10 | 10GB | Randstad supplement | | Total | - | €50 | - | - |
Use case: Pro IRL streamers, daily streams, varying locations. Expected reach:
- Randstad: 98-99% uptime
- Nationwide: 90-95% uptime
- Tunnels/indoor: 80-90% uptime
Pro Setup (€70/month) - 4 Modems
Recommendation: 2x KPN + 2x Odido
| Provider | Subscription | Month | Dates | Explanation | |----------|------------|-------|------|-------------| | KPN | Unlimited | €30 | Unlimited | Primary national | | KPN (Simyo) | 10GB | €10 | 10GB | 2nd KPN path (different routing) | | Odido | Unlimited | €25 | Unlimited | Primary city | | Lebara (KPN network) | Prepaid | €5 | 5GB | 3rd failover | | Total | - | €70 | - | - |
Use case: Full-time streamers where uptime = money. Events, marathon streams.
Expected reach:
- Everywhere: 99%+ uptime
- Extreme situations (deep forest/tunnel): 95%+
Practical Test: Amsterdam → Utrecht → Veluwe
Setup: 3 modems (KPN, Odido, Vodafone), SRTLA bonding, streaming 1080p30 @ 4000 kbps
Results per Traject
| Route | KPN | Odido | Vodafone | Total Upload | Stream Status | |--------|-----|-------|----------|---------------|---------------| | Amsterdam CS | 25Mbps | 65Mbps | 40Mbps | 130Mbps | Perfect ✅ | | A2 Motorway | 20Mbps | 30Mbps | 15Mbps | 65Mbps | Stable ✅ | | Utrecht Center | 30Mbps | 50Mbps | 35Mbps | 115Mbps | Perfect ✅ | | Veluwe Hoge | 12Mbps | 5Mbps | 0Mbps | 17Mbps | Stable ✅ | | Forest (deep) | 8Mbps | 0Mbps | 0Mbps | 8Mbps | Low quality ⚠️ |
Conclusion:
- In cities: Bandwidth overkill (multistreaming possible)
- National: KPN is hero, Odido/Vodafone disappears
- Deep forest: Only KPN works, sufficient for 720p stream
Without bonding (Odido only):
- Amsterdam CS: Perfect
- A2: Dropout at viaducts
- Veluwe: Stream offline 30% of the time
- Forest: Stream offline
Provider-Specific Tips
KPN Optimization
APN Settings for best routing:
APN: Internet
Username: (empty)
Password: (empty)
APN Type: default,supply,mms
Pro tip: KPN has "slow lanes" for prepaid. For critical streams use SIM Only (not prepaid).
Band locking (advanced): KPN Band 20 (800 MHz) gives best penetration but lower speed. Band 3 (1800 MHz) = faster but less range. Leave on Auto for bonding.
Odido Optimization
APN Settings:
APN: Internet
5G Standalone (SA) vs Non-Standalone (NSA): Odido's 5G SA has lower latency (15ms vs 30ms), ideal for streaming. In phone settings: force 5G if available.
Coverage hack: In areas with weak Odido signal, temporarily disable bonding (leave only KPN/Vodafone). Otherwise Odido constantly tries to reconnect = instability.
Vodafone Optimization
APN Settings:
APN: live.vodafone.com
APN Type: default
Roaming detection: Check whether you are on your own network:
# Android via Termux
getprop | grep network.operator.name
If you see 'T-Mobile' instead of 'Vodafone', you are roaming = inconsistent speeds.
Data Usage and Costs
How Much Data Does Streaming Consume?
| Quality | Bit rate | Per Hour | 4 Hour Stream | 10 Streams/Month | |-----------|-------------|--------|--------------|------------------| | 720p30 | 2500kbps | 1.1GB | 4.4GB | 44GB | | 1080p30 | 4000kbps | 1.8GB | 7.2GB | 72GB | | 1080p60 | 6000kbps | 2.7GB | 10.8GB | 108GB |
With 3 modems (bonding):
Data is distributed across modems, not duplicated.
Example: 1080p30 stream with 3 modems:
- KPN gets: ~35% = 0.6 GB/hour
- Odido gets: ~50% = 0.9 GB/hour
- Vodafone gets: ~15% = 0.3 GB/hour
Total: Still 1.8 GB/hour (not 3x 1.8 = 5.4 GB).
Prepaid vs Contract Calculator
Scenario: 10x 4-hour streams per month (1080p30) = 72 GB data | Setup | Monthly costs | First Year | |-------|-------------|-------------| | Prepaid (3x €15 with 10GB each) | €45 | €540 | | Contract (KPN €15 + Odido Unlimited €25) | €40 | €480 | | Pro (2x Unlimited) | €55 | €660 |
Conclusion: For >8 streams/month, contracts are cheaper than prepaid.
Regional Exceptions
Friesland / Groningen (North)
Best combination: KPN + Odido + KPN (Simyo)
Vodafone has limited masts of its own and often roams. Better a 2nd KPN SIM via Simyo/Lebara.
Limburg (South)
Best combination: KPN + Vodafone
Odido has historically weak coverage here (legacy T-Mobile problems). Vodafone has a border crossing to Germany (advantage with Maastricht streams).
Wadden Islands
Reality check: Only KPN is reliable. Odido/Vodafone work on Texel, but not on Vlieland/Terschelling.
Solution for island streams: KPN Unlimited + Starlink Mini as backup (see Starlink Mini for IRL Streaming).
##Tools for Coverage Testing
Before You Buy: Check Coverage
1. OpenSignal App (iOS/Android)
- Download for free
- Show real-world speeds per provider -Community coverage maps
- Speed test with provider breakdown
2. nPerf Coverage Maps
- Website: nperf.com/nl/map
- Filter per provider (KPN/Odido/Vodafone)
- Zoom in on your stream routes
3. Provider Official Tools
- KPN:coverage.kpn.com
- Odido: odido.nl/covering
- Vodafone: vodafone.nl/coverage
⚠️ Please note Official maps are optimistic. Use OpenSignal for a more realistic image.
After Purchase: Live Testing
Field test your SIMs before committing:
Buy prepaid SIMs (€10-15 each), test your stream route for 1 weekend:
Route: Amsterdam → Haarlem → Beach → Back
Test: 2 hours live stream
Tracking results:
- Which modem had the most uptime?
- Where did modems fail?
- Combined uptime %?
If you get <90% uptime with 2 modems, add a 3rd.
Legal Considerations (Dutch Law)
GDPR and IRL Streaming
Important: If you stream IRL in the Netherlands and capture faces/license plates: ✅ Allowed:
- Public space (street, park, station)
- Occasional persons in the picture ("by-catch")
- Events where consent is implied
❌ Prohibited without permission:
- Filming in private space (shops, restaurants) without owner's permission
- Intentional close-ups of people (portrait right)
- Children recognizable in the image without parental permission
Best practice:
- Overlay with "Live IRL Stream in Progress" sign
- Description with "By being in this room, you consent to recording"
- Face blur overlay for chat-requested privacy
Network Neutrality
Dutch providers are not allowed to throttle streaming. If you notice that one provider is consistently slower during stream (but speed test is normal), report to ACM (Consumer & Markets Authority).
Future: 5G Standalone and Network Slicing
5G SA (Standalone) Benefits for Streaming
Odido implements (2025-2026):
- Latency: from 30ms → 10ms
- Upload: from 50 Mbps → 100+ Mbps
- Packet loss recovery: Better QoS for video For IRL streaming: 5G SA + SRTLA = near Starlink-level stability in cities.
Network Slicing (Future)
Providers will sell "dedicated lanes":
Normal data: [████████░░░░░░░░] Variable
Stream slice: [████████████████] Guaranteed 10 Mbps
Expected costs: +€10-20/month for guaranteed bitrate.
Status NL 2026: Still in trial phase (KPN/Odido testing with business customers).
Conclusion: The Winning Combinations
For every budget:
| Budget | Combination | Monthly costs | Expected Uptime | |--------|------------|-------------|------------------| | Starter | KPN Prepaid + Odido Prepaid | €25 | 85-90% | | Standard | KPN 10GB + Odido Unlimited | €40 | 90-95% | | Pro | KPN Unlimited + Odido Unlimited + Vodafone 10GB | €65 | 95-98% | | Extreme | 2x KPN + 2x Odido | €70+ | 98-99%+ |
General advice:
✅ Always KPN there (best fallback for national)
✅ Odido as primary in cities (fastest upload)
⚠️ Vodafone only as 3rd modem (regionally limited)
❌ Never Vodafone + Ziggo (same network!)
Starting point for 90% of streamers: KPN €15 SIM-only + Odido €25 unlimited = €40/month, 2 modems, 90%+ uptime throughout the Netherlands.
Ready to build your IRL streaming setup? Check out our Complete Stream Tas Building Guide for hardware selection and VPS setup. Space-Node VPS offers SRTLA relay servers from €10/month with Amsterdam data center (optimal for Dutch providers).
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