The BIPT has warned that proposed reforms could harm market competition and might fail to address the existing problem of low uptake
The proposed tariff reforms would considerably increase the minimum download speeds and data allowances
On 15 April 2026, the Belgian Institute for Postal Services and Telecommunications (BIPT) published its opinion on the Minister of Telecommunications’ proposed reforms of the current social tariff, which aims to provide internet access to those facing socio-economic vulnerability. The current tariff was introduced in March 2024 in order to replace the “old scheme”, which is no longer accepting new applications, although those already using it can continue to do so. So far few people have switched to the new, improved tariff, with only 25,000 households (4.58% of those eligible) having done so as of 30 January 2026. In comparison, 130,000 households were using the old tariff at that time. Take-up of either social tariff stood at around 29% of eligible households overall. As a result of this, the Minister proposed an amendment to the Royal Decree of 20 September 2023 to make the following changes to the current tariff:
Increase the minimum download speed from 30Mbps to 100Mbps;
Increase the minimum data volume from 150GB to unlimited; and
Eliminate installation fees entirely from a previous discount of 50%.
The BIPT has raised concerns that these changes to the current tariff, which must be offered for a maximum price of €20 (£17.34) per month, could weaken market competition and do not align with the European legal framework with regards to universal service.
The BIPT highlights other factors that may explain the lack of interest in social tariffs
While the BIPT acknowledged that a tariff with faster speeds and unlimited data could be attractive, it also suggested that the actual adoption rates depend on awareness of the available offers. For example, in a BIPT consumer survey published in January 2026, 20% of respondents claimed to be unaware of the existence of social tariffs, with a further 20% saying that they didn’t know where to find relevant information about the offers. The BIPT also pointed to general consumer behaviour as a potential factor in low uptake. This includes consumer inertia, the prevalence of bundled offers, and the perception that the benefit of switching providers does not justify the effort involved.
The BIPT ultimately warns that the proposals are unjustified and could distort competition
The BIPT raised concerns regarding the proposed increases to both minimum download speeds and data volumes for the social tariff. It highlighted that current entry-level plans from major operators (such as Base, Telenet, Proximus, and Scarlet) typically offer speeds between 30 and 100Mbps and capped data volumes between 50 to 300GB. While some smaller operators offer unlimited data, introducing an unlimited data social internet offer would exceed the data allowances of entry-level packages of major operators and directly compete with certain smaller operators. Given that the main operators already hold over 90% of the fixed broadband market, the BIPT has concluded that such a move could lead to distortions of competition. The regulator has instead suggested adjusting the social tariff’s minimum data allowance to 300GB, aligning it more closely with the average monthly consumption of 289GB seen in Belgium. This increase is considered unlikely to significantly impact competition with existing entry-level offers. Belgium is also one of only a handful of countries to legally mandate social tariffs, among EU member states including Portugal, Spain, and Italy, according to our Social Tariffs benchmark in the Consumer Protection Tracker. Based on comparisons with social tariffs in other countries, the BIPT noted that current minimum download speeds vary from 2 to 30Mbps, making the suggested increase to 100Mbps seem disproportionate. As a result, the regulator recommended maintaining the minimum download speed at 30Mbps.
