On Monday, the Atomium in Brussels became the millionth building in Belgium to be connected to 'fibre', a broadband connection for super-fast internet.
In 2016, Proximus launched its plan to give at least 70% of the population access to a broadband connection via fibre optics by 2028 – an investment of more than €5 billion in total.
"When we announced our target of 70% by 2028 a few years ago, people called us crazy because it would be too fast," Proximus CEO Guillaume Boutin said on Monday. "But we have proven it. Every 15 seconds, there is a new fibre connection."
So far, more than a million homes, businesses and buildings in over 50 cities and municipalities in Belgium can be connected to fibre – making the super-fast internet available in 17% of homes and businesses in Belgium. By the end of the year, this figure will have risen to 22%. In time, the aim is to provide such a network for the entire population.
Public infrastructure
For households, fibre technology ensures that everyone can (tele)work, surf, video stream and game online at the same time, without delay or loss of quality. For companies, fibre is a huge advantage for the digitalisation of operations.
"In general, it can be said that broadband networks such as fibre are now an essential part of the public infrastructure, just like water or electricity," Boutin added, adding that as the network is completely open, meaning that any operator can use it to offer its services, not just Proximus.
Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo praised the "substantial investment" of Proximus – more than half of which is owned by the state – and its "extremely high return" for the Belgian economy.
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"We have to invest in what we have," he said. "We have very little raw materials and we do not have gas, but what we do have are our people, our talent, our ambition, our creativity and our innovation power."
Federal Telecom Minister Petra De Sutter praised the fact that this fast roll-out will ensure that "no one is overlooked, including digitally" adding that high-speed internet is "indispensable in today's society."
"And the new network is also a step in the right direction from an ecological point of view, a true win-win," she said.
