Competition and market development
Annual report 2025
Promotion of sustainable competition and development of the internal market
To carry out its missions in the regulated sectors, the BIPT must have a perfect insight into the situation of the markets. Monitoring is thus a core activity of the BIPT. Belgium’s results within the framework of the Digital Decade programme are being closely monitored. The BIPT also closely monitors antenna sites, which are essential for the deployment of the new operator DIGI‑Citymesh. It published a new study on the sustainability of networks, confirming the decrease in CO2 emissions and improvement of waste management. The third edition of the qualitative study on fixed and mobile networks, now including 5G, confirms the good to very good coverage in Belgium. The 2024 postal observatory was published in November 2025.
In 2025, the BIPT provided close technical support to the Belgian Competition Authority as regards instructions concerning cooperation projects for the deployment of fibre (Proximus‑Telenet, Proximus‑Orange). At the same time, the BIPT continued preparatory work for the review of the broadband and broadcasting wholesale market analysis, among others via a consumer survey, and made progress on the review of the wholesale dedicated capacity market analysis. It approved several modifications to reference offers and carried out new margin squeeze tests, without finding any infringement.
In 2025, the BIPT continued the implementation of the Data Act by actively participating in national and European work, and contributing to the development of the governance framework and adaptation of the necessary legislative texts. Furthermore, the 2025–2029 federal coalition agreement entrusts the BIPT with the role of data coordinator. The BIPT also participated in the work of the European Data Innovation Board.
Scarce resources management
The BIPT oversees the efficient use of numbers and regularly adapts the numbering plan to allow for the introduction of new services. In 2025, a study was conducted on the sub-allocation of telephone numbers. The BIPT also contributed to the work of ENISA on the implementation of the NIS2 Directive. Following a cyberattack targeting Orange’s data, temporary enhanced security measures were put in place to minimise the risk of number hijacking. The BIPT is also responsible for the operational management of numbering requests and processed 1 068 cases in 2025, with a sharp increase in restitutions of short SMS numbers.
The BIPT assigns frequency bands to operators in order to distribute the radio spectrum in an optimal fashion. In 2025, the BIPT launched an audit of the mobile operators’ compliance with coverage requirements relating to the frequencies allocated in 2022. It also initiated a large-scale national measurement campaign (drive tests, tests in shopping centres, on board trains) to monitor essential KPIs such as download speed, dropped calls, quality, etc. Consultations regarding the 26 GHz band showed no market demand. A measurement campaign aimed at checking compliance with coverage requirements applicable to the fourth mobile operator, DIGI, was launched in September 2025.
In 2025, the BIPT issued various technical provisions on the use of radio equipment. As the BIPT is also responsible for monitoring the spectrum, it carried out 878 preventive checks, inspected 25 major events, and resolved 156 harmful interference cases.
Promotion of VHCN connectivity
In 2025, the BIPT continued to implement the measures set out in the Connectivity Toolbox Recommendation, particularly with regard to administrative simplification, reducing deployment costs and coordination between public and private stakeholders to accelerate the roll-out of VHCN networks.
The BIPT continued to work on the implementation of the Gigabit Infrastructure Act, including the preparation of the national regulatory framework and the preparation of a draft Royal Decree setting out the technical specifications for “fibre-ready” buildings, expected for 2026.
The BIPT continued to develop and enhance the Infofibre platform, which is designed to improve transparency regarding the availability of fibre and to provide end-users with reliable information on connection options.
The BIPT actively participated in calls for projects launched by the FPS Economy. It followed up the 38 selected projects between 2022 and 2024, which received €35 million in funding and are due to continue until 2026. These projects cover a wide range of applications and are helping to drive the adoption of 5G across various economic sectors.
