Proximus, Wyre, Telenet and Fiberklaar sign Memorandum of Understanding to accelerate fiber deployment in Flanders and increase access to gigabit networks
Proximus nv and Wyre bv, together with Telenet bv and Fiberklaar bv, have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for a potential future collaboration on the further deployment of fiber networks in Flanders. The collaboration would ensure that more consumers benefit from high-speed gigabit networks, leading to a broader and faster fiber deployment, while reducing civil works.
High-speed gigabit networks, including fiber, are crucial to stimulate innovation, strengthen our economy and allow citizens to keep up with the ever-evolving digitalization. Today, Europe is investing massively in cutting-edge network technology and both citizens and businesses in our region should also be able to benefit from this development. In that context, Proximus and Wyre, together with Telenet and Fiberklaar, have the ambition to work together on a faster and broader fiber deployment, while limiting civil works.
The intended collaboration would cover approximately 2.7 million homes across zones with intermediate to low population density. The realization of the collaboration is dependent on the parties reaching a final agreement, obtaining regulatory and antitrust approvals and subject to no adverse regulatory findings or impacts. In 'medium-dense' areas, complementary fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) networks would be built by Wyre and Fiberklaar for approximately 2.0 million homes (of which 60% by Wyre and 40% by Fiberklaar), with reciprocal wholesale access to this infrastructure for Proximus and Telenet, respectively. This should result in a more efficient roll-out, broader and faster access to fiber and reduced construction works. In the most sparsely populated zones, Proximus would start offering services using the Hybrid Fiber Coax (HFC) network of Wyre for approximately 0.7 million homes, which would allow to offer gigabit speeds throughout Flanders. In large cities and dense parts of the territory, operators will continue to roll out their own networks separately.
The signing of the MoU is the result of constructive discussions over the past months following the BIPT's and BCA's announcements in October 2023 that they were willing to consider possible collaborations between operators. In line with those announcements, the parties have identified the key terms for a possible collaboration. The parties are engaging with the BIPT and BCA and will fully cooperate with the authorities during their investigations.
No further details will be communicated until the cooperation agreement is formally signed, which is expected to happen at the earliest in the fourth quarter.
We have always been open for partnerships that can guarantee a faster and more efficient roll-out of fiber for households and enterprises, making fiber accessible to as many citizens and businesses as possible. Proximus has been a pioneer in the roll-out of fiber in Belgium since 2017, which allows us to offer up to 8.5 Gbps to around 2 million homes and businesses across the country today. Still, I am convinced that smart collaboration between operators would ensure an optimized deployment and utilization of the network, which would be beneficial for the consumers, all stakeholders and for the competitiveness of society as a whole.
