28 Jul 2011Belgium Broadband Overview

Belgium’s broadband market has seen considerable expansion since 2005. This was mostly fuelled by an increased migration of dial-up users to high-speed Internet services, applying equally to the residential and business sectors. Belgium is one of a few European countries which attained a very high broadband penetration rate, resulting in a rather saturated market. Operators like Belgacom and Telenet have responded to this change and begun to realign their customer acquisition strategies. They include reducing churn by offering bundled components, launching new value-added-services such as IPTV and VoD over VDSL and launching converged services for seamless fixed and mobile access.

The incumbent continues the roll-out of its fibre-to-the-curb (FTTC) network, with a declared coverage of more than 70 per cent of households. Fibre-to-the-home (FTTH) remains marginal, apart from a few trials, and the roll-out of NGN-NGA networks continues. A study regarding strategic options to promote the development of broadband was submitted for consultation at the request of the Minister of Enterprise and Simplification. In a consultation note, the regulator expressed its views concerning the actions that might contribute to the stimulation of FTTH deployment.

When the Ministry launched its Digital Action Plan 2010-2015 covering 30 points, attention turned in particular to the necessity of well-performing networks. Some actions like the reinforcement of regulations and the granting of new licences for mobile services are already under way. Other legislative or administrative interventions, regarding for example the rights of way for fibre roll-out and the equipment in buildings or the use of the digital dividend, would still need to be undertaken.

Belgium announced that by 2010 all new building permits in the country will require the installation of ducts for fibre. This will allow network operators to get fibre connections installed in new homes far more quickly and at lower cost.