Last updated: 21 May 2012 Update History
Report Status: Archived
Report Pages: 98
Analyst: Henry Lancaster
Publication Overview
This report provides a comprehensive overview of trends and developments in Belgium’s telecommunications market. The report analyses the mobile, broadband, digital TV and converging media sectors. Subjects include:
Key developments:
Telenet Tecteo Bidco awarded fourth 20-year 3G licence; regulator concludes 2.6GHz auction; Telenet extends MVNO agreement with Mobistar to 2017; mobile service revenue continues to fall; Proximus trials LTE in the 1.8GHz band; BASE contracts Ericsson for backhaul upgrade; non-SMS mobile revenue growth outstripping SMS revenue; regulators approve cable wholesale offers to come into effect by late 2012; government’s Start2Surf project furnishes more than 30,000 Belgians with computers and internet access; Belgacom invests in VDSL2 vectoring technology to provide at least 50Mb/s; VOO upgrades broadband offering to 100Mb/s; Telenet and Ziggo begin work on ‘Homespot’ WiFi system; Numéricable sells Belgium unit; regulator pursues cable network access reform; networks on track to reach national 30Mb/s connectivity by 2020; Movistar adds VoD to quintuple-play bundle; regulator proposes opening cable networks to competitors; Belgacom launches TV Everywhere service; CSA consults on Open Cable regulation for resale of analogue TV services, access to digital TV and the resale of broadband access; Norkring België to launch DTT using DVB-T2 standard in early 2013; Numéricable sells Belgian unit; regulator undergoes structural changes to meet strategic vision to 2013; regulator’s November 2011 market data update; telco financial and operating data to Q1 2012; market developments into 2012.
Companies covered in this report include:
Proximus, Mobistar, BASE, Telenet, Belgacom, UPC Belgium, COLT, Scarlet, Tele2, Versatel, Interkabel.
Researcher:- Henry Lancaster
Current publication date:- May 2012 (11th Edition)
Executive Summary
BuddeComm’s half-yearly publication, Belgium - Telecoms, IP Networks, Digital Media and Forecasts, provides a comprehensive overview of the trends and developments in the telecoms and digital media markets in one of Europe’s central and more complex telecom markets. The report includes the regulator’s November 2011 market data update, telco financial and operating data to Q1 2012 and market developments into 2012.
Certain sectors of Belgium’s telecom market, such as broadcasting, are influenced by its larger neighbours France and the Netherlands. The country’s population is split between two main language groups, Flemish and Walloon, with an additional strong German influence. This fragmentation affects regulatory policies. Being the base for several administrative centres of the European Union, Belgium has attracted considerable investment from multinationals, while the significant transient population has also contributed to the high mobile penetration.
Market revenue
The total turnover of the Belgian telecom sector has risen steadily in recent years, despite the economic difficulties which have beset consumers and operators alike since late 2008. Revenue from the fixed market continues to fall slightly, while that from mobile markets has recovered slightly on the back of greater spend on mobile broadband services. This pattern is expected to continue further into 2013 and 2014 though consumer confidence may be slow to return and economic conditions may improve only marginally in the short term. Despite liquidity issues, investment in telecom networks – partly encouraged by government stimulus funds – has grown year-on-year. Alternative operators have invested the largest proportion of the total.
Broadband developments
The broadband sector will be a key prop for overall telecom market growth during the next few years, largely from network upgrades undertaken by Belgacom and the cablecos. The proportion of broadband subscribers with data rates above 10Mb/s is one of the highest in the EU. The scale of the cablecos active in their regional areas has prompted Belgacom to respond with greater endeavour in rolling out FttH/C. The regulator has also promoted FttH, which forms a cornerstone of the government’s Digital Action Plan 2010-2015.
Mobile developments
The 2011 auction of spectrum in the 2.6GHz band – with licences made available from mid-2012 – will help operators reach national broadband goals set by the European Digital Agenda 2020. The conditions of the licenses – for 15 years with the potential for five-year extension, and with no rollout or coverage requirements – were aimed at making it easier for the commercial launch of LTE. Belgium has thus far been a laggard in Europe for 4G, though trials have been undertaken since 2010.
Key telecom parameters – 2010; 2012
Sector |
2010 |
2012 (e) |
Subscribers to telecoms services (million): |
||
Fixed-broadband |
3.36 |
4.05 |
Fixed-line telephony |
4.64 |
4.52 |
Mobile telephony |
12.64 |
12.80 |
Mobile-broadband |
1.30 |
1.95 |
Subscriber penetration by sector: |
||
Fixed-broadband |
31.0% |
35.1% |
Fixed-line telephony |
38% |
34% |
Mobile SIM |
117% |
119% |
(Source: BuddeComm)
Market highlights:
This report is essential reading for those needing high level strategic information and objective analysis on the telecom sector in Belgium. It provides further information on:
Data in this report is the latest available at the time of preparation and may not be for the current year.
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