The combined Belgian regulators have published their final decisions regarding the Telenet, Tecteo, Brutélé and Coditel (Numéricable) reference offers for opening up of the country’s cable networks.
The Conference of Regulators for the electronic Communication sector (CRC), consisting of BIPT (telecommunications) and media regulators CSA, VRM and Medienrat, have set the rules for opening of the networks that are dominant in their markets.
The four cable operators are now required to open their networks for a resale offer of the analogue TV product, access to the digital TV platform and resale of the broadband access product.
The CRC has now asked the operator to make a number of amendments to their reference offers including allowing alternative operators to offer VOD services over broadband.
The six-month implementation period can start running as soon as a first alternative operator files a letter of intent and pays an “advance payment” to each individual cable operator (EUR 600.000 euro per cable operator to obtain all cable services).
The offer could be operational by the second quarter 2014. The final decision on pricing is expected in November 2013.