Belgium Implements Free Modem Choice Policy: Boosting Competition in Telecom Market

The Belgian Institute for Postal Services and Telecommunications has decided that telecom providers must allow free modem choice from November 1, 2024. From then on, users can choose their own modem and router without the provider being allowed to prohibit this.

BIPT writes that after this policy change comes into effect, Belgian users are no longer obliged to use their telecom provider’s modem or router when purchasing an internet subscription. According to the watchdog, this makes it easier for customers to switch operators on the same network infrastructure, which should promote competition in the telecom market.

For this decision, BIPT has determined the location of the network connection point for fixed networks as the point from which the user becomes responsible for the ‘telecommunications terminal equipment’. From that point on, users have free control over their internet connection. The location of this point is in line with the European BEREC guidelines. For connections to a copper and fiber optic network, the location of the network connection point is determined on the wall socket to which the modem is connected, according to the watchdog. For coaxial network connections, this concerns the black network distributor to which the modem is connected.

TV set-top boxes are excluded from this decision, so users will not have any free say over them after the policy change takes effect. This is because the future of such boxes is ‘limited’ and the development of a universal STB is therefore ‘probably not economically feasible’. ‘Classic telephone connections and services with higher quality levels (typical for business services)’ are also not covered by this rule.

The decision will come into effect on November 1, 2023, although operators will then have twelve months to implement the technical adjustments that make it possible for end users to connect their own modems and routers to their network. Previously has BIPT has already published a document stating what exactly is considered the network connection point, and which technical specifications of their routers and modems providers must provide.

Free modem choice has already been introduced in other European countries. This also happened in the Netherlands at the beginning of 2022. Tweakers then wrote a background article about what exactly that means and what end users benefit from it.

2023-10-12 07:20:18
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