History Telecommunications in Belgium have their origins in the 19th century, in parallel with the very rapid development of communication technologies throughout Europe. In 1837 Samuel Morse invented the telegraph, which soon appeared in Belgium. The first telegraph line in Belgium was launched in 1846, connecting Brussels with Antwerp. This began a new era in Belgian communication, allowing faster and more reliable transmission of information.
The development of the telegraph in Belgium was rapid and dynamic. As early as 1850, the state began providing telegraph services, which contributed to the expansion of the telegraph network covering the country’s main cities and establishing connections with neighboring countries. Within two years, this network was significantly expanded, which significantly influenced the communication and economy of Belgium.
The history of this company dates back to 1879, when the International Bell Telephone Company (IBTC) was founded in Antwerp. The company played a key role in the development of telephony in Belgium, but its operations ran into problems as early as 1893. At that time, the Belgian government terminated the IBTC concession because the company refused to extend its coverage to all parts of the country. The telephone network was taken over by the state, transforming telephony into a state-owned monopoly.
In order to support the development of a large telephone network, the government introduced regulations to regulate its operation. In 1888, the “Post and Telegraph Administration” service of the Ministry of Railways, Post and Telegraph was divided into the Post Office (now BPost) and the Telegraph and Telephony Office. At that time, Brussels established telephone connections with the cities of Malines and Ostend, using overhead wires. Telephones quickly gained popularity, and by 1880 private telephone networks had been established in Liège, Verviers and the Brussels Palace of Justice. At that time, only wealthy citizens could afford a telephone. Calls were made manually by telephone operators who connected the callers using cables and plugs.
Despite the rapid development of telephone services, the Belgian government decided to nationalize almost all private telephone systems in 1883. This was necessary to ensure uniform coverage of the entire country and to facilitate the interconnection of local networks. Critics argued that state administration slowed the development of telephone services, but in the long run nationalization contributed to a more balanced and uniform development of the telecommunications infrastructure.
After World War I, the telephone network was badly damaged and even partially dismantled. To rebuild the network, huge investments were needed, for which the Telegraphy and Telephony Board, as a state-owned enterprise, did not have the financial resources. In 1930, Belgium decided to separate the telegraph and telephone administration from the post office, creating the Régie des Télégraphes et Téléphones (RTT). The newly created company took over about 225,000 subscribers, 51% of which were connected to automatic exchanges. RTT quickly embarked on a plan to automate the network, replace overhead wires with underground cables and expand services abroad. Telephone booths were installed in public places so that families who did not have a telephone at home could also call someone.
The interwar period was a period of rapid growth for RTT, with subscriber numbers increasing by almost a third to 314,000 by the outbreak of World War II. However, the war halted development and modernisation programmes, and subscriber numbers fell. During World War II, the telephone network was again badly damaged. This time, the government provided significant financial support. The number of subscribers increased rapidly. In 1946, some 350,000 people could communicate, and twenty years later the number exceeded one million. In 1956, RTT decided to offer only one device with its own RTT logo. ATEA and Bell collaborated on the development and production of this ‘national device, the RTT 56’.
The 1950s and 1960s saw further technological advances, including the introduction of semaphore systems, digital switchboards and ISDN. Automatic switching systems were also introduced, replacing manual switchboards. Belgium was one of the first countries in Europe to introduce ISDN, enabling the transmission of data and voice in digital form. RTT also began investing in satellite technology, opening the first satellite earth station at Lessive in 1972. This modernisation greatly improved the efficiency and reliability of the telephone network. In addition, international direct dialling (IDD) was introduced, making it easier for Belgians to make international calls without the help of an operator.
In the 1980s, RTT continued to modernize its networks, introducing fiber optics and digital electronic switches. In 1990, Belgium announced the reorganization of RTT as part of a broad deregulation of the public industry, transforming RTT into Belgacom. This reorganization gave Belgacom greater autonomy and flexibility, allowing it to compete more effectively in the international telecommunications market. This transformation also allowed for improved call quality, increased capacity, and the introduction of new services such as voicemail and caller identification.
In 1994, the European Commission announced the full liberalization of the telecommunications market, which influenced the further development of Belgacom. In the same year, in cooperation with British Vodafone, Belgacom founded a subsidiary for mobile telephony, Belgacom Mobile, better known as Proximus. Belgacom also became a public limited company.
Today, Belgacom, operating under the name Proximus, is a leading telecommunications provider in Belgium, offering a wide range of services including fixed, mobile, internet and television. The company continues to play a key role in the Belgian economy, being one of the country’s largest employers and investors.
In its new incarnation as Belgacom, the company belongs to a special class of Belgian public utility companies that aim to both protect the public interest (in this case, maintaining the communications infrastructure and providing the public telephone service) and operate on a commercial basis. Belgacom is one of the most profitable companies in Belgium, with profits of BEF 8.8 billion in 1991, and plays a major role in the Belgian economy, being one of the country’s largest employers and investors.
In the 1990s, Belgacom began expanding internationally, opening its first overseas office in Westport, New York, in 1990. The company formed partnerships with AT&T, PTT Telecom of the Netherlands, and others to provide comprehensive international services.
The end of the 20th century saw the digital revolution transforming telecommunications worldwide. Belgium was also quick to adopt mobile telephony. The first mobile network, Proximus, was launched in 1994 as a subsidiary of Belgacom. This marked the beginning of a new era in Belgian telecommunications, with mobile phones becoming increasingly popular among the population.
1995 saw the launch of the Turbo project, aimed at improving customer service and increasing the company’s competitiveness. John Goossens became CEO of Belgacom, replacing Bessel Kok. In 1996, the Belgian government sold 50 percent minus one share of Belgacom to private investors for 73.3 billion francs. The consortium included companies such as Ameritech, Tele Danmark and Singapore Telecom, as well as the Belgian financial groups Sofina, Dexia and KBC.
The advent of the internet in the 1990s brought another significant breakthrough in telecommunications. Belgacom introduced dial-up internet services in the mid-1990s, followed by ADSL broadband services in 1999. This development provided Belgians with faster and more reliable internet connections, which encouraged the development of the digital economy.
In 1999, Belgacom introduced ADSL (Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line) broadband services, which was a significant step forward. ADSL allowed much faster and more reliable Internet connections compared to dial-up technology. This allowed Belgians to use the Internet on an unprecedented scale, which encouraged the development of the digital economy. Companies began to use the Internet to conduct business, and more and more people used the network for education, entertainment and communication.
In the early 2000s, cable operators such as Telenet entered the Belgian broadband market and began offering consumers high-speed internet services. The entry of new players into the market resulted in greater competition, which drove innovation and improved service quality. Belgacom, which later changed its name to Proximus, had to adapt to the new market conditions, introducing modern solutions and technologies to maintain its leading position.
Competition between Proximus and cable operators such as Telenet has contributed to the dynamic development of the internet infrastructure in Belgium. The introduction of fiber optic technology and the development of 4G and 5G mobile internet have allowed Belgians to access increasingly faster and more reliable internet connections. Thanks to this, Belgium has become one of the leaders in the availability of modern telecommunications services in Europe.
Belgacom acquired the internet provider Skynet in 1997, which quickly became the Belgian market leader. In 1998, the company went through a PTS restructuring, in which over six thousand employees left the company and over eight thousand were trained. 1,500 new employees were also hired. In the same year, Ameritech, which was a shareholder in Belgacom, was taken over by SBC.
In 1999, Belgacom, in cooperation with Tele Danmark, launched the Dutch GSM operator Ben, which was later sold to T-Mobile, a subsidiary of Deutsche Telekom. In 2000, Belgacom merged Skynet with the French Infosources, the French part of which was later sold to Tiscali. Ben also obtained a license for the third generation of mobile telephony (UMTS) in the Netherlands for 375 million euros.
In 2001, Belgacom paid 150.2 million euros for a UMTS license in Belgium, which was significantly lower than in other countries. SBC announced its intention to withdraw from Belgacom’s capital, and negotiations with the Dutch company KPN about a possible merger were eventually abandoned. In 2002, Belgacom began a restructuring of BeST, which resulted in the dismissal of over four thousand employees and the training of three thousand people. In 2004, Belgacom debuted on the stock exchange, which was another important step in its development.
The most important mobile operators currently operating in Belgium
Proximus
History: Proximus, formerly known as Belgacom, is one of the oldest and largest telecommunications operators in Belgium. The company was founded in 1930 as Régie des Télégraphes et Téléphones (RTT). In the 1990s, Belgacom began providing internet services and in 1999 introduced ADSL broadband services. In 2014, the company changed its name to Proximus, consolidating all its services under one brand.
Services: Proximus offers a wide range of telecommunications services, including mobile, fixed and internet. The company invests in the development of 5G technology, fiber-optic infrastructure and innovative digital solutions.
Orange Belgium
History: Orange Belgium, formerly known as Mobistar, was founded in 1996 as a subsidiary of the French Orange Group. Mobistar quickly became a key player in the Belgian telecommunications market. In 2016, the company changed its name to Orange Belgium to better reflect its links with the Orange Group.
Services: Orange Belgium offers mobile, internet and TV services. The company is also actively developing its 5G network and investing in new technologies such as the Internet of Things (IoT).
Telenet
History: Telenet is a Belgian cable operator that entered the mobile market in 2006, offering services as a virtual operator (MVNO) using the infrastructure of other operators. In 2016, Telenet acquired Base, one of the three main mobile operators in Belgium, which allowed it to expand its offering and develop its own mobile infrastructure.
Services: Telenet offers TV, internet and telephone services, both fixed and mobile. After acquiring Base, the company gained its own mobile network and is investing heavily in the development of 5G technology.
BASE (now part of Telenet)
History: Base was founded in 1999 as the third mobile operator in Belgium. Over the years, the company has built a solid market position by focusing on competitive prices and innovative offers. In 2016, Base was acquired by Telenet, which allowed Telenet to enter the mobile market with its own infrastructure.
Services: Under the Base brand, Telenet offers a wide range of mobile services, including postpaid and prepaid plans, as well as Internet and TV services.
Wow
History: Voo is a cable operator operating mainly in the Walloon and Brussels regions. The company was founded in 2006 by merging several local cable operators. From the beginning, Voo focused on providing television, internet and telephone services, and in recent years has expanded its offer to include mobile services.
Services: Voo offers comprehensive service packages, including TV, internet, landline and mobile. The company uses the infrastructure of other operators to provide mobile services.
Proximus, Telenet and Orange Belgium, Telenet, BASE (now part of Telenet), Voo are the main players in the Belgian telecommunications market, offering a wide range of services, including fixed telephony, mobile services, broadband internet and digital television. The Belgian Institute for Postal and Telecommunications Services (BIPT) regulates the industry, ensuring fair competition and protection of consumer rights.
The development of the Internet has also had an impact on other aspects of social and economic life in Belgium. E-commerce, e-government and distance learning have become widely available, and the digital transformation of businesses and public institutions has contributed to increasing the efficiency and innovation of the entire economy. Today, Belgium can boast an advanced telecommunications infrastructure that supports the development of the information society and the digital economy.
Today, Belgium boasts a highly developed telecommunications infrastructure. The country has extensive 4G coverage and is implementing 5G services, providing its population with access to the latest mobile technologies. Fiber-optic networks are being expanded, offering ultra-fast internet speeds in both urban and rural areas.
The history of telecommunications in Belgium is a story of rapid technological advances and continuous improvement. From the early days of the telegraph and telephone to the digital revolution and the era of the internet, Belgium has consistently adopted new technologies to improve its communications infrastructure. Today, Belgium is a leader in telecommunications, with a modern and robust network that supports the needs of its population in an increasingly digital world.
Sources:
- Telephony and telecommunications – etwie.be
- BELGACOM Company History – referenceforbusiness.com
- CHRONOLOGY. From Bell to Belgacom – standaard.be
- belnet.be
- The Cultural and International Impact of the Belgian Electric Telegraph Network
