Belgian Consumers Pay for Mobile Data They Never Use

A study by Selectra identifies a significant gap between the mobile data usage of Belgian consumers and what is included in their subscription.

An analysis by comparison site Selectra reveals that many Belgians choose mobile subscriptions that do not match their actual data usage. Despite rising prices, the majority continue to overpay for data they do not use.

Too much or Too Little: Mismatch in Data Volume

Recent figures from telecom regulator BIPT show that the average mobile data usage in Belgium is 10.1 GB per month. However, nearly two out of three mobile subscriptions offer either less than 10 GB or more than 50 GB of data. 32.9 percent of users have a bundle under 10 GB, while 28.9 percent have more than 50 GB of data included. Only 13.2 percent of subscriptions are close to the average, between 10 and 20 GB.

According to Selectra, many subscriptions are sold based on marketing that plays on the fear of running out of data. Large data bundles seem attractive, but in practice, customers often use only 3 to 20 percent of the included data. This means that more than 90 percent of what is paid for data is not utilized.

Operators Capitalize on Psychological Effects

Network operators promote data bundles of 60 GB, 300 GB, or even unlimited data, although there is often a caveat. For them, offering large volumes incurs little extra cost, as the marginal cost of data remains low after network deployment. Virtual operators who rent network capacity are more cautious due to the higher cost per additional gigabyte.

Selectra suggests that subscriptions of 15 to 20 GB best match actual usage. A 15 GB subscription covers an average of 67 percent of effective use, while a 20 GB plan is suitable for about 50 percent. So-called ‘XXL’ subscriptions with more than 50 GB of data are only useful for intensive users without Wi-Fi, such as mobile gamers or people who frequently share internet.

Now that Proximus and Orange have announced a new price increase for 2026, Selectra advises choosing mobile subscriptions more consciously. A better alignment between usage and bundle can significantly limit the impact on the monthly telecom bill. Only pay for the data you actually use.