In Belgium, the virtual mobile network operator market grew by only 1 percent in 2025.
The Belgian virtual mobile network operator market, virtual telecom providers without their own network, grew by just 0.8 percent last year. This is according to figures from Telecompaper. The arrival of new player Digi in particular is creating more competition and slowing further growth.
Market share remains stable
At the end of the third quarter of 2025, the Belgian market had almost 2.7 million SIM cards with virtual operators. This includes both independent MVNOs (Mobile Virtual Network Operator) and sub-brands of existing mobile providers. Together, they represent just over 21 percent of the total SIM market. The share of MVNOs remained at almost 6 percent, while sub-brands account for more than 15 percent. These ratios have remained virtually unchanged over the past two years.
The largest increase within the segment comes from price-sensitive providers that offer basic services at low rates. This segment grew by 2.4 percent, mainly thanks to the sub-brands of Proximus (Scarlet, Mobile Vikings) and Orange (hey!). Despite the arrival of Digi in December 2024, independent MVNOs such as Yoin and Carrefour were able to retain their customer base.
Outlook slightly positive
Telecompaper expects that sub-brands will continue to grow faster than independent MVNOs in the coming years. This growth is expected to come from stronger marketing efforts and better distribution channels. The total market for virtual operators is expected to have an annual growth rate of 2.1 percent by 2029, accounting for a total of 2.9 million SIM cards.