Introduction
XS4ALL was founded in 1993 as the first internet service provider for private customers in the Netherlands. The founders were internet pioneers and technical experts from the world of hacking. After the company was formed, it developed rapidly to become one of the most outstanding and progressive internet service providers in the Netherlands.
The beginnings of XS4ALL
Up until 1993, internet access was expensive and available only to universities and multinationals. A small group of pioneers, including Felipe Rodriquez and Rop Gonggrijp, believed that private individuals should also have access to the internet, and they founded XS4ALL (access for all). On the first day, 1 May 1993, more than 500 customers signed up. This enormous interest in the internet came as a surprise, even to XS4ALL.
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Lawsuits
When the internet made its appearance in the Netherlands, no one knew precisely what the legal situation was. There was no internet law. XS4ALL always refused to comply with requests from the police and judicial authorities for access to customers' personal details or internet traffic data while such requests lacked proper legal foundation. Whether the issue is one of privacy, censorship or internet tapping, XS4ALL has never been shy about going to court. This has resulted in a number of high-profile lawsuits.
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Company portraits
A company portrait of XS4ALL has been published annually since 2001. The portraits provide an overview of the year's main events and various figures, such as the number of ADSL customers, turnover and profit.
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