Belgium - Fixed Broadband Market - Statistics and Analyses

There is effective competition in Belgium between the DSL and cable platforms, while in recent years government support has also encouraged investment in fibre networks. Telenet, supported by its parent Liberty Global, has extended the reach of services based on the DOCSIS3.1 standard, which is capable of providing data at 1Gb/s and higher, while the incumbent telco Proximus (formerly Belgacom), also has extensive fibre/VDSL and FttP deployments.

In a bid to encourage investment in underserved areas, the regulator in 2018 amended the conditions by which market players grant wholesale access to copper and fibre infrastructure. In May 2019 it opened a further consultation on cost models for access to the networks of cablecos and those of Proximus's fibre infrastructure. A reviewed wholesale access cost affecting the networks of Brutélé, VOO and Telenet was submitted in April 2020.

This report profiles Belgium's fixed and wireless broadband markets, providing broadband forecasts and assessing developments in related technologies such as FWA, WLAN and Wi-Fi.

Key Developments:

• Proximus accelerates fibre rollout, aiming to connect 2.4 million homes by 2025, increases data rates for customers for duration of coronavirus measures;
• Proximus engages in 3 billion Fibre for Belgium investment program to 2027;
• Regulator approves amended wholesale access conditions;
• Networks on track to reach national 30Mb/s connectivity by 2020;

The report includes the regulators market data update for 2018, annual report for 2018, telcos financial and operating data to Q1 2020, recent market developments.

Companies mentioned in this report:

Proximus (Belgacom), Telenet, Versatel, Interkabel.