Belgium reaches deal to open door to fourth telecoms operator (updated)

Orange Belgium NV

24/11/2021 10:50

(Updates with details, telecoms minister)
    By Marine Strauss
    BRUSSELS, Nov 24 (Reuters) - The Belgian government
authorised on Wednesday the auction of the country's 5G spectrum
in 2022 and opened the door to a fourth mobile telecoms operator
following months of discussions.
    The federal government has wanted to encourage the entry of
a new mobile player to increase competition for Proximus
 PROX.BR , the country’s largest operator, Orange Belgium
 OBEL.BR  and Telenet’s BASE  TNET.BR .
    "The consultation committee gives the green light to the
auctioning of 5G spectrum, also opening the door to a fourth
operator on the Belgian telecom market," Belgian Prime Minister
Alexander de Croo wrote on Twitter.
    Belgium's plans for a 5G auction had been blocked for years
due to disagreements between federal and regional governments,
including over the increase of antennas and on the extent of
coverage in rural areas.
    The governments approved a draft law in May for an expected
5G auction in early 2022, but left the issue of a fourth licence
open.  urn:newsml:reuters.com:*:nL3N2NE3EW
    Proximus, Telenet and Orange Belgium were not immediately
available to comment.
    Belgian telecoms minister Petra De Sutter wrote on Twitter
that a potential fourth player should boost competition.
    "That could have positive consequences for all Belgians who
currently pay high prices for their mobile subscriptions," she
said.

 (Reporting by Marine Strauss @StraussMarine
Editing by Philip Blenkinsop and Mark Potter)
 ((Marine.Strauss@thomsonreuters.com; +32 2 287 6830; Reuters
Messaging: marine.strauss.thomsonreuters.com@reuters.net))