Wireless Federation

Belgium’s 4G spectrum auction valued at US$ 103.7 million (Belgium)

On 11.29.11, In Mobile, By Editor

Belgian regulatory body BIPT (Belgian Institute for Postal Services and Telecommunications) has reportedly said that it has sold 4G licences to four bidders at a value of US$ 103.7 million. According to reports, the 2,575-2,620 MHz frequency block (TDD spectrum) along with 6 frequency blocks in the 2,500-2,570 MHz and 2,620-2,690 MHz frequency bands (FDD spectrum) were put up for the auction.

As per sources, the operators who were successful in the 4G spectrum auction include Belgacom at US$ 26.9 million, BUCD BVBA at US$ 29.9 million, KPN Group Belgium at US$ 20.04 million and Mobistar at US$ 26.7 million. Mobile operator Craig Wireless Belgium also bid for the 4G licence spectrum but was not successful.

Filed under:Mobile Tagged with: 4G • Belgacom • Belgium • BIPT (Belgian Institute for Postal Services and Telecommunications) • BUCD BVBA • Craig Wireless • KPN Group Belgium • Mobistar

Mobistar to upgrade its network with LTE equipment from Huawei (Belgium)

On 09.12.11, In Mobile Operators, Mobile Technology, By Editor

Mobistar, Belgium’s second largest mobile network provider has reportedly said that it plans to replace its entire 2G Nortel equipment with the new Long Term Evolution ready (LTE ready) equipment from Huawei.

The company plans to upgrade its entire network by 2013 citing that the new Huawei base stations would cut the company’s carbon-dioxide by around 50 per cent. As per the contract, nearly 500 cellular antennas will be replaced this year, with the remaining network upgrade spread across the next year, following project completion by 2013.

The new 3G equipment obtained through the $49 million project is expected to increase the firm’s transmission capacity and in-building penetration capabilities.

Filed under:Mobile Operators,Mobile Technology Tagged with: 2G • 3G • Belgium • Huawei • LTE • Mobistar • Nortel

Numericable mulls mobile entry (Belgium)

On 03.17.11, In Mobile, By Editor

Belgian cable operator Numericable is trying to acquire a mobile license. Numericable expressed this during an information session hosted by BIPT (Belgian Institute for Postal services and Telecommunications), the telecom regulator in Belgium.

Dormal Pascal, the CEO of Numericable stated that they definitely want to add mobility to their portfolio. They will try to conclude a tie-up with one of the existing operators – Mobistar, Proximus or Base. They may try to get a private license as well if it is possible. The Belgian government had earlier intended to hold an auction for spectrum but it was delayed and is likely to take place in the Summer.

Filed under:Mobile Tagged with: BASE • Belgium • Dormal Pascal • Mobistar • MVNO • Numericable • operator • Proximus

Belgium plans for 3G and 4G licence auction

On 02.08.11, In Mobile, By Editor

BIPT, Belgium’s telecoms regulator has summarized the timeline for a planned 3G and LTE licence auction.

In 2001 four licences were already put up for auction in the 2.1 GHz band (3G licences). Since then three operators have been granted a 3G licence in Belgium: Belgacom, Mobistar and KPN Group Belgium.

According to the, one or more new 3G licences will be auctioned to acquire the spectrum that corresponds to the 3G licence that was not granted in 2001. On this occasion, a new 3G operator can also acquire spectrum in the 900 MHz and 1800 MHz band.

The regulator will call for applications from the 15th March, with the shortlist announced on the 16th May and the auction taking place on the 6th June 2011.

In a second stage, licences will also be auctioned for the first time in the 2.6 GHz band (4G licences). Currently no operator has a 4G licence in Belgium. The call for applications will go out on the 1st of June, with the shortlist being announced at the end of September. The LTE license auction is expected to take place around the middle of October 2011.

According to ALuc Hindryckx, Chairman of the BIPT Council, the rates of mobile Internet in Belgium rank among the highest in Europe. The entry of a fourth mobile operator will bring a new dynamism to the market, innovation will be stimulated and rates will be more accessible to consumers.

Filed under:Mobile Tagged with: 3G • 4G • ALuc Hindryckx • Belgacom • Belgium • Belgium telecoms regulator • BIPT • Chairman • KPN Group Belgium • license auction • LTE • Mobile • Mobistar

Mobistar signs MVNO deal with Tellink (Belgium)

On 06.10.10, In Mobile, By Editor

www.WirelessFederation.com/news: A partnership deal has been signed between Belgian mobile network operator Mobistar and virtual operator Tellink wherein the latter will switch across all of its customers to the Mobistar network. The MVNO will start porting its 65,000 active SIM cards next month, with the process expected to be complete by end-September 2010.

According to the company, the deal will allow it to boost its market share in the SME sector, with Tellink focusing its service on the small business segment, and the deal falls in line with Mobistar’s strategy to reach specific demographics via specialized partner agreements.

The position of Mobistar had slipped to third place in the Belgian wireless sector with a market share of 28.6%, compared to 30.9% a year earlier. The current market leader is Proximus and second-placed is occupied by BASE, the same telco which was trailing Mobistar until the end of 1Q 2010.

Filed under:Mobile Tagged with: Belgium • Europe • LG • Mobile • Mobistar • operator • Proximus

Mobistar to increase 3G download speed by summer (Belgium)

On 04.27.10, In Mobile, By Editor

www.WirelessFederation.com/news: Trial of the Long Term Evolution (LTE) services has been carried out by Belgium’s second largest mobile network operator by subscribers, Mobistar, since the beginning of April. A team from parent company France Telecom (FT) which already has experience with LTE trials is conducting the tests.

The tests of the technology are conducted from a building in Evere, one of Brussels’ nineteen municipalities. Record downlinks speeds of 60Mbps were managed by the telco in the first test.

According to Benoit Scheen, Mobistar’s CEO, the cellco is aiming to boost the download speeds available over its 3G network and at present it offers a top theoretical download speed of 7.2Mbps, with uploads capped at 1.4Mbps, but by the end of summer Mobistar hopes to increase the former to 14.4Mbps, while it also expects to deploy HSPA+ technology in some major cities by the end of 2010, further increasing downlink rates to up to 28.8Mbps.

Licence to trial LTE services was issued to Mobistar by the Belgian Institute for Post and Telecommunications (BIPT) back in March 2010.

Filed under:Mobile Tagged with: 3G • Belgium • Europe • France • France Telecom • HSPA • LTE • Mobistar • operator

Mobistar gets regulatory approval to buy KPN’s Belgian unit

On 03.29.10, In Mobile, By Editor

www.WirelessFederation.com/news: A regulatory approval has been granted to Belgium’s second largest mobile network operator by subscribers, Mobistar, for its acquisition of the local business telecoms unit of Holland’s KPN.

Mobistar is required to retain those wholesale services under the terms of the approval. The services are currently offered to other operators for 18 months.

It also has to the resale the broadband access under the same terms as prior to the acquisition.

Earlier, it was announced in November 2009 that KPN would sell its fixed line business-to-business carrier activities in Belgium, including its fibre-optic network, for EUR65 million (USD97 million).

Filed under:Mobile Tagged with: Belgium • Europe • KPN • LG • Mobistar • operator

Mobistar considering 4G, can also challenge MTR proposals

On 03.25.10, In Mobile, By Editor

Belgian mobile network Mobistar has announced that the company is looking forward to acquire 4G concession following reports earlier this month that the government would offer such licenses later half of 2010.

Earlier it was reported that Belgian authorities are planning to offer a fourth 3G license alongside five 2600 MHz concessions in September 2010, with an auction for five 15Mhz blocks of 2600MHz spectrum suitable for offering Long Term Evolution (LTE) services to take place immediately after the UMTS frequency sale, with an expected minimum price of EUR15 million per 15MHz block.

According to Mobistar CEO Benoit Scheen, the company will have to see what the conditions are for these 4G licenses, but it is logical that the company is interested. Scheen also informed that Mobistar would seek to challenge regulatory proposals put forward with a view to cut fees for routing calls.

Filed under:Mobile Tagged with: 3G • 3G license • Belgian • Government • Mobistar • MTS • spectrum

Belgium to hold auction for 4th 3G license in Sep

On 03.08.10, In Mobile, By Editor

www.WirelessFederation.com/news: The auction for the fourth 3G license will be conducted by the Belgian government along with the auction of five spectrum blocks for LTE, in the month of September. The first auction will be for the UMTS license in which, 15 MHz block has to yield at least EUR 80 million, or EUR 40 million for 5 MHz blocks. The license had no buyers in the auction which took place in 2001.

Telenet and Voo, the two cable operators in the country have expressed their interest in the auctions. EUR 150 million has already been paid by the Belgacom, Mobistar and KPN Belgian in 2001 for the blocks.

The licenses for five 2.6 GHz spectrum have been divided into four blocks of 15 MHz for LTE, expected to be sold for at least. 50 MHz Wimax license will also be auctioned for at least EUR 25 million.

Filed under:Mobile Tagged with: 3G • Auction • Belgium • Europe • KPN • LG • Mobistar • MTS • operator • spectrum • Telenet • UMTS • WiMAX

Belgium’s Mobistar revenue to fall in FY2009-10

On 02.12.10, In Mobile, By Editor

www.WirelessFederation.com/news: Due to increased regulation and higher levels of investment, Belgium’s second largest mobile network operator by subscribers, Mobistar is expecting lower earnings in its current financial year, ending March 2010. The company also expects EUR100 million (USD137.6 million) in savings over the next three years on operating costs and investments.

In this regard, Mobistar signed a deal with KPN Belgium in October 2009, to work together on the construction and operation of new sites for future deployments of their respective networks.

In Q4 last year, Mobistar recorded a drop of 1.2 % in the service revenue from EUR1.06 billion a year earlier to EUR1.048 billion. Mobistar has claimed that it expects the negative impact of the regulation for MTR and roaming for 2009 on total revenues to be approximately EUR35 million.

Filed under:Mobile Tagged with: Belgium • Europe • KPN • LG • Mobistar • MTR • operator