The Belgian Competition Authority has closed its ongoing investigation into a proposed cooperation agreement between telecommunications operators Proximus and Telenet, alongside their respective infrastructure entities Fiberklaar and Wyre. The decision enables the companies to joint-roll out fiber networks and expand multigigabit connectivity across suburban Flanders, while establishing improved wholesale access conditions for third-party operators.
The joint initiative primarily focuses on sharing network deployment efforts across suburban areas, combined with migrating Proximus customers to Wyre’s hybrid fiber-coaxial network in rural locations. Meanwhile, both operators will continue independent fiber rollouts within major urban centers. Although the BCA recognized the strategic importance of national high-speed connectivity for Belgium’s economic competitiveness, it initially opened an inquiry in July 2024 due to concerns that combining forces would significantly reduce infrastructure competition across the region.
To resolve these competition issues, Proximus, Telenet, Fiberklaar, and Wyre submitted a series of binding commitments designed to pass cost savings directly to consumers, businesses, and alternative market players. Supported by technical assessments from the Belgian Institute for Postal Services and Telecommunications, the agreed-upon obligations mandate the expansion of fiber coverage to over two million living units in suburban Flanders, aiming to complete approximately 75 percent of this target by June 2029.
The commitments also overhaul wholesale access terms across Belgium’s connectivity footprint. Operators will gain open access to Fiberklaar and Wyre’s passive fiber networks in suburban areas at fair, reasonable, and non-discriminatory terms, driving down basic wholesale access rates by 30 percent to under 20 euros per connection per month. Access under similar non-discriminatory principles will extend across Wyre’s coaxial network in rural zones, Proximus’ fiber and legacy DSL networks, and Proximus’ underground duct infrastructure in urban centers. In addition, Wyre committed to upgrading its hybrid fiber-coaxial network starting in 2026 to ensure full multigigabit coverage throughout Flanders, alongside aligning infrastructure access with the EU Gigabit Infrastructure Act.
Because the binding commitments mitigate risks of market foreclosures and exceed the standalone deployment goals of either operator, the BCA concluded that its competition concerns were addressed and formally terminated the investigation without issuing a finding of infringement. The binding conditions will remain in effect for over 25 years, with compliance monitored by the BIPT. Meanwhile, a separate BCA investigation launched in July 2025 regarding a similar fiber-sharing arrangement between Proximus and Orange Belgium in Wallonia remains active.