Only 6.5% of Belgians have access to fibre internet

In Belgium, only 6.5% of households have access to fibre optic networks. This means that the country is lagging far behind the norm, according to a report by Belgian telecom regulator BIPT.

Last year, the number of households and companies with a broadband fibre connection increased to 151,848, an increase of 71% in one year. However, this still only represents 3% of all fixed broadband lines (4.92 million).

Belgian fibre coverage - the number of households that have the possibility of using a fibre optic connection - is very low, at 6.5%. The average in the European Union is 42.5%.

Last year, Belgian telecom operators invested a record amount of 1.022 billion euros in their fixed networks (+23%). According to BIPT, this mainly concerns money for the rollout of fibre optic networks.

Proximus, together with its Flemish and Walloon joint ventures Fiberklaar and Unifiber, is aiming for 4.2 million fibre optic connections in Belgium by 2028, which would cover 70% of all households and companies. Telenet and electricity network manager Fluvius signed a letter of intent last year to jointly roll out fibre in Flanders.

(TOM)

© BELGA PHOTO JAMES ARTHUR GEKIERE