Brussels had effectively blocked the launch of 5G services in the city due to its strict radiation rules
Belgian operators are set to launch 5G services in the country’s capital city, Brussels, after local authorities eased strict regulations that prevented telcos from offering 5G in the city.
According to local press reports, 5G will be activated in the city this September.
Brussels had effectively blocked the service from launching in the city due to its strict radiation rules. City authorities had also halted 5G pilots in 2019.
Now, the scenario has radically changed via an executive order allowing for the deployment of 5G antennas in Brussels. This executive order follows parliamentary approval earlier this year, which relaxed strict limits on radio frequency emissions in the city.
Local operators Orange, Proximus and Telenet confirmed they will submit their permit applications to the regional environment authority, to be in a position to launch 5G technology. The carriers will upgrade the existing antennas in Brussels from 4G to 5G once approval has been received. According to the reports, the city could be fully covered with 5G technology within a 12-month period.
Last year, Belgium’s 5G spectrum auction had raised a total of 1.2 billion euros (currently $1.34 billion) from five bidders, according to the Belgian Institute for Postal Services and Telecommunications (BIPT).
BIPT stated that local operators Citymesh Mobile, Network Research Belgium, Orange Belgium, Proximus and Telenet Group securred frequencies for a period of 20 years.
The regulator auctioned frequencies for 5G services in the 700 MHz and 3.6 GHz bands, and 2G and 3G spectrum in 900 MHz, 1.8 GHz and 2.1 GHz.
Proximus had committed to pay a total of 491 million euros for the spectrum. The telco said it had obtained 20% more spectrum than all participating companies.
Orange committed to pay 322 million euros for the frequencies and claimed it had secured the maximum amount of the available 5G spectrum frequencies, while Telenet committed to pay a total of 264.3 million euros.
New entrants Citymesh Mobile and Network Research Belgium also secured 5G frequencies in the process.
Proximus was the first telco to launch 5G services in Belgium. The carrier currently uses existing radio frequencies in the 2.1 GHz band and has a temporary permit to use radio frequencies in the 3.6-3.8 GHz band.
Meanwhile, Telenet started the gradual deployment of its 5G network in the country in December 2021.
Telenet, which is controlled by U.S. company Liberty Global, said that its 5G network is expected to reach nationwide coverage by 2025.
