KPNQwest

KPNQwest was a European telecommunications company, a joint venture between the Dutch telecommunications company KPN (Koninklijke PTT Nederland) and the American company Qwest Communications International. It aimed to build and operate a high-capacity pan-European fiber optic network to provide advanced telecommunications services, including broadband internet access, data transmission, and wholesale bandwidth, to businesses and other carriers.

The company was formed in 1998, initially named EUNetworks. KPN invested heavily in building out its fiber network across major European cities and countries, anticipating strong growth in data traffic and internet usage. However, the bursting of the dot-com bubble in the early 2000s significantly impacted KPNQwest's business prospects. Demand for its services did not materialize as expected, and the company struggled with heavy debt.

In June 2002, KPNQwest declared bankruptcy, one of the most significant corporate failures during the telecommunications industry downturn. The bankruptcy had a ripple effect across the European telecommunications sector and significantly impacted KPN's financial performance. Its assets were subsequently sold off to various buyers. The failure of KPNQwest is often cited as a cautionary tale of overinvestment and misjudged market conditions in the telecommunications industry.