Wyre, Telenet group, Proximus and Fiberklaar received the green light from the Belgian Competition Authority (BCA) to effectively join forces to accelerate the rollout of fiber networks in large suburban areas of Flanders. The parties have committed to more than two million fiber-connectable homes and businesses, with a majority by 2029 and the remainder by 2037.
Wyre, Telenet, Proximus and Fiberklaar acknowledge the very significant resources mobilized by the BCA and the BIPT throughout the process of assessing the merits of their proposed cooperation, and the important role they have played in enabling them to reach an agreement on the terms of their partnership. They remain committed to cooperate fully with the authorities throughout the implementation of the commitments made binding by the BCA to secure the approval of their cooperation, as monitored by the BIPT.
One fiber network builder per area, with access for other interested providers
In many suburban areas of Flanders that are yet to welcome ultra-fast fiber, either Wyre or Fiberklaar will now be responsible for the rollout of fiber and will give the other partner access to its network.
This collaboration increases efficiency, with fiber installation works carried out by either party under this cooperation project. As a result, more homes and businesses across Flanders will gain access to fiber and will benefit from it sooner, while disruption caused by construction works will be reduced.
And not only Telenet and Proximus, but also other interested providers will have the possibility to connect customers on the Wyre and Fiberklaar networks.
Multigigabit connectivity everywhere
The cooperation between Wyre and Fiberklaar to expand and accelerate the rollout of fiber networks concerns the suburban areas of Flanders, characterized by intermediate levels of population density.
The most densely populated areas, where the fiber networks are already well advanced, fall outside of the scope of the cooperation. In these urban centers Wyre, Proximus and Fiberklaar will continue their rollout efforts independently and their respective networks will coexist.
In the rural areas characterized by low levels of population density, Wyre’s existing HFC (Hybrid Fiber Coax) network will be upgraded to deliver higher speeds and multigigabit connectivity and Proximus will progressively migrate customers on the Wyre HFC network. Similarly, other operators will also have the possibility to offer their services over this network.
Through this approach, households and businesses in Flanders will benefit from internet speeds up to ten times higher than today.
The commitments entered into by Wyre, Telenet, Proximus and Fiberklaar towards the BCA provide for clear rules governing both the terms of their cooperation and conditions for accessing their respective networks, thereby providing a stable long-term framework for all stakeholders.
Information campaign on the collaboration
To ensure all relevant stakeholders are properly informed about the scope and implementation of that partnership, Wyre and Fiberklaar will soon be launching an information campaign focused on cities and municipalities.
Micha Berger, CEO of Wyre
This approval is good news for Flanders' digital future. By intelligently combining fiber and our upgraded HFC network, we can provide more households and businesses with access to connectivity of up to 10 Gbps more quickly. At the same time, we are building open networks on which multiple operators can offer their services, giving consumers and businesses across a large part of Flanders greater freedom of choice. In this way, we are creating a future-proof digital infrastructure with maximum impact for customers, while minimizing the disruption caused by the rollout.
John Porter, Chairman of the Board Wyre
This is a landmark moment for customers across Flanders. By joining forces, we can bring next-generation connectivity to more homes and businesses faster, while reducing disruption for local communities. It means more people will be able to enjoy the benefits of ultra-fast, reliable connectivity sooner. We are excited to take this important step forward and help build the digital infrastructure that will power Flanders for decades to come.
