Belgium Plans WiMAX and Fourth 3G License Tender in 2009

Belgium's government has outlined plans to shake up the telecoms regulatory regime in the country - as well as awarding new telecoms licenses. In an interview with the local De Tijd newspaper, Belgium's Business minister Vincent Van Quickenborne said that "we want to break open the market,"

The local market is largely dominated by Belgacom - which is also majority owned by the State.

The European Commission has previously criticised the lack of competition in the country and called for the regulator, BIPT to be granted additional powers to intervene in the market.

In a letter made public earlier this month, the European Commission invited BIPT to ensure that wholesale remedies are properly enforced and asks for a new market analysis to be carried out within one year. BIPT should also revise its price control obligation imposed on Belgacom, the telecoms incumbent, to allow Belgian customers to make cheaper calls to mobile phones as soon as possible.

In the mobile market, the Mobile World reports that the country has around 11.1 million customers - representing a population penetration level of 105%.

The business minister also confirmed that a fourth 3G license will be offered - as will a number of WiMAX licenses, which will be priced significantly below the per-Mhz cost for a 3G license. The auctions for the licenses are expected around the middle of 2009.

On the web: BIPT - Mobile World - De Tijd

Posted to the site on 24th November 2008