Belgium is the worst performer in Europe when it comes to the rollout of fiber optics. Why is that? A historical legacy and administrative and practical obstacles are slowing down the catch-up race.
Both the FPS Economy and the European Commission recently examined Belgium’s ICT infrastructure. Our country received a commendation from both its own federal government and the executive body of Europe. However, both reports highlight one major failing: the availability of fiber optics is substandard.
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In 2024, over thirty percent of Belgium’s territory was covered by fiber optics. Despite a significant catch-up compared to 2023, Belgium scores well below the European average of 63 percent. Our country ranks 27th in the European Union, and anyone familiar with the number of member states knows that’s not a position to be proud of.
Why is Belgium so far behind? ITdaily questioned the telecom providers themselves. Proximus, Orange, and Eurofiber responded to our questions, while Telenet referred us to the sector’s position from Agoria.
Historical Lag
Belgium actually lost the fiber optics race before it even properly began. Erik De Herdt, Legal & Regulatory Affairs Manager at Eurofiber Belgium, points to “historical choices” as the main cause of the current lag. Providers have long relied on the existing coax networks. “Due to the good quality of existing networks, the urgency was low for a long time”, Proximus acknowledges in its response.
Agoria also sees practical and administrative obstacles. Belgium’s high degree of urbanization makes infrastructure works more difficult and especially more expensive: costs for providers in Belgium could be up to forty percent higher than in neighboring countries. Complex permits and local taxes make the fiber optics rollout in Belgium a “start-stop story”, where works are initiated but not always completed.
Proximus and Eurofiber point to the complex regulatory framework in our country as a third explanation. The government has long hindered collaborations between providers. “Policymakers lacked the vision for a favorable regulatory climate, especially for future-proof infrastructure in the long term”, says De Herdt.
Fiber Optics not for Everyone Yet
A catch-up effort has begun. The coverage of fiber optics increased by six percent from 2023 to 2024. Agoria praises the investments made by providers and calls the fiber optics rollout “the largest infrastructure project in Belgium behind Oosterweel”. However, fiber availability is limited to urban areas: in rural areas, coverage is barely two percent, according to figures from telecom regulator BIPT.
Proximus reports that it has a coverage rate of forty percent among its customers and aims to increase this to fifty percent this year. In urban areas, it does this itself, while in rural areas it works with local partners. Orange states that by 2030 it wants to provide seventy percent of Flanders and by 2040 two-thirds of the fixed network in Brussels and Wallonia with fiber optics.
Companies are ahead in adopting fiber optics, emphasizes Eurofiber, which specializes in fiber optics infrastructure for the business market. The company has already laid over 75,000 kilometers of fiber optics for business parks, governments, schools, hospitals, and data centers across Belgium and neighboring countries.
Most companies are already connected to fiber optics today, while consumer adoption could use an extra push, Proximus notes. Seven out of ten customers typically take a (often more expensive) fiber optics subscription within a year once it is available in their street. Orange does not share figures on the current adoption rate of fiber optics among its customers.
Full Fiber or Hybrid?
Not all fiber optics networks are the same. There are different levels distinguished based on how far the fiber optics cables are extended. Many fiber optics networks in Belgium are actually not “full-fledged” fiber optics but hybrid networks consisting of fiber optics and coax.
In an FTTC network (fiber to the cabinet), fiber optics are only extended to the distribution cabinet in a street, and the last stretch to your home or office building usually consists of copper. These hybrid networks rarely achieve the same “multigigabit” speeds possible with fiber optics. Orange recently received a slap on the wrist in court for advertising hybrid fiber optics as full-fledged fiber optics.
An FTTH (fiber to the home) or FTTB network (fiber to the building) extends the fiber optics cables to a central distribution point in the recipient’s house or building. Coax is almost gone here, but only FTTP (fiber to the premises) consists entirely of fiber optics. Studies by FPS Economy and the EU look at the availability of this type. The further the fiber optics reach, the faster the network is theoretically.
Coax is Finite
The limited presence of “full-fledged” fiber optics has no immediate consequences. Both FPS Economy and the EU note that the average quality of broadband internet is very reliable in Belgium. Those old, golden coax cables still do their job, but providers unanimously agree that fiber optics are the future.
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“The demand for more bandwidth, redundancy, and lower latency stimulates investments in fiber optics. We don’t really know the practical bandwidth limits of fiber optics yet, because we only use a small portion of the spectrum. Then there’s the ecological component: a cable network is actually not very sustainable because it consists of many active components that all consume energy. Fiber networks consume much less”, says Eurofiber.
Orange seems to hold on to coax the most. The provider wants to continue investing in hybrid networks and prides itself on being able to deliver “gigabit internet” to 95 percent of its customers throughout Belgium with them. HFC standards like DOCSIS continue to develop further to improve the speed and stability of hybrid networks.
“Our goal is to find a good balance between fiber optics and our existing infrastructure, so we’re ready for the future. We won’t hastily and massively roll out fiber optics where it’s not immediately necessary”, says Orange in a response. Proximus, which is fully committed to fiber optics, also sees a future for mixed networks in less populated areas.
We don’t really know the practical limits of fiber optics yet.
Erik De Herdt, Legal Regulatory Affairs Manager Eurofiber Belgium
Friend and Foe
The European Union is increasing the pressure. The Digital Decade goals impose specific objectives on each member state regarding the availability of fast and efficient internet. Belgium is on the right track but will need to step up its game with fiber optics, the sector also admits.
Providers believe that collaborations within and outside the sector can accelerate progress, especially in rural areas. Proximus and Eurofiber find common ground in Unifiber, Telenet established the joint venture Wyre with Fluvius, and Proximus and Orange recently announced plans to collaborate in Wallonia. These partnerships work only as well as the providers agree with each other, and in a sector with strong competition, that’s not easy.
“Collaborations require good coordination, transparency, and a shared long-term vision. Without clear agreements, joint ventures proceed sluggishly. But as a sector, we must dare to think beyond competition alone”, notes De Herdt on behalf of Eurofiber.
Can Belgium still turn the tide? De Herdt concludes on a positive note: “The goal of gigabit connectivity for all citizens by 2030 is ambitious but absolutely achievable. Provided there is strong focus on a favorable investment climate, collaboration, scale, and open infrastructure”.