Stephanie Schockaert

As the first operator in Belgium, we are introducing Wi-Fi 6E technology 💥 Not a surprise that Wi-Fi technology plays a crucial role in the daily lives of our customers. Did you know that 95% of our customers connect to the Internet via Wi-Fi at home or at work, and the number of devices connected to the Wi-Fi network increases every year: this year, on average, our customers have already 7 Wi-Fi devices at home! WiFi6E will bring to our customers: ✅ up to 2x faster Wi-Fi when multiple devices are connected simultaneously ✅ more reliable connection with less impact by other connected devices ✅ optimal security with the latest standards The introduction of this brand new Wi-Fi 6E #technology is another step in our ambition to deliver great customer experience thanks to network and product leadership 🚀 We will offer WiFi6E first to our Ultra Fiber customers. The perfect complement to our #fiber internet that has been awarded the fastest internet in Belgium by Ookla. A big shoutout to all teams who made this new milestone possible for our customers! 👏 Josselin Wildemeersch More info in our press release: https://lnkd.in/e6AkbEcW #Innovation #bold2025  

105

7 Comments

Proximus is looking to acquire spectrum from NRB who has decided to embrace the MVNO model instead The NRB Group, one of the biggest ICT firms in Belgium, acquired a 20 MHz slot on the 3600 MHz frequency band to provide #5G services in 2022. Now the Belgian company has decided against rolling out its own mobile network, but intends to continue offering 5G services to customers as an mobile virtual network operator (#MVNO) Belgium’s former incumbent, Proximus, it now looking to acquire NRB's 5G licence and the two companies are discussing a possible #wholesaleagreement. The agreement between Proximus and NRB was submitted to BIPT, the federal telecoms regulator, who has approved the transaction, subject to the effective transfer of rights taking place after the publication of a new call for applications for the 3410-3430 MHz band. The call for applications will be accompanied by an increase in the spectrum cap from 100MHz to 120 MHz to enable Proximus to acquire NRB’s 20 MHz. https://lnkd.in/gQuV652r

13

During Beltug latest webinar "Connected devices and the networks enabling their deployment" I shared Telenet Business view on the forces and evolutions (re)shaping the IoT landscape. First page of the topics touched... there is more that meets the eye. #2Gsunset #3Gsunset #NB-IoT #LTE-M #5GRedcap #MPN #NetworkSlicing #MEC #Naas #esim #LPWAN #IoT

16

at one point automotive OEM's need to monetize connectivity as connected cars are about to scale. This is our focus at Freeeway AG. Check our co-operation with KPN IoT below

19

Mobile operators and GSMA unveil a pioneering Mobile Industry Manifesto for Europe: "New Rules for a New Era: Connecting Europe to 2030." A must-read for the future of our sector in Europe: 👉 Connectivity is the backbone of a competitive digital and green economy. It is the lifeblood of technologies, such as AI and big data, cloud, quantum computing, and the metaverse. The mobile sector’s importance as a strategic asset for Europe’s resilience should be recognized, and its value should be enhanced. 👉 Europe is lagging behind other global players. Excessive market fragmentation, spectrum costs, and an outdated regulatory framework have caused the telecom sector’s revenues to decrease. A paradigm shift is urgently needed. 👉 With over 100 operators present in the EU, European telcos have an average customer base of approximately 5 million subscribers each. By comparison, operators in China and the U.S. have 450 million and 110 million subscribers per company, respectively. 👉 A more pro-investment approach to EU spectrum policy can be an essential driver of Europe’s connectivity goals. 👉 There is a regulatory imbalance in the digital ecosystem between the largest tech companies and the telecom operators that needs to be addressed so that all market players benefiting from the digital transformation assume their social responsibilities and make a fair and proportionate contribution to the costs of infrastructures, for the benefit of all Europeans. https://lnkd.in/dVmJJfhn

100

Our Dominique Verhulst explains how #utilities can accelerate electrification with #substation automation powered by IEC 61850 virtualization. Read the blog to find out more. Read the blog: https://lnkd.in/ebdntapm

6

How do #telecom companies stay relevant in an ever-evolving industry? This was a key topic at the prestigious Telecom Insights Congress organized by Telecompaper close to Amsterdam, the Netherlands.    As a guest speaker, I was honored to showcase our vision on Proximus+ and how it creates value for our customers and for Proximus. With Proximus+, we want to be relevant in the daily digital life of our customers – beyond the presence we have today in the video-space with our Pickx TV platform. We want to help our users to discover how all the new capabilities of the digital world can improve their daily life. We make it #simple by facilitating account creation through the Proximus id and Itsme, by enabling payment on the Proximus bill and by focusing on customer journeys. We make it safe and #secure by working with strong local and international partners. Proximus+ is already being used by more than 1 million Proximus telco customers, and also available to non-telco users 💡 This week, Proximus+ also launched a new feature, our “beta” toggle. This allows every user to decide whether to participate or not in testing the latest functionalities. I’m extremely proud that first beta feature we launch, is the “Wallet” including a very compelling cash-back program with strong local partners. If you haven’t tested it yet, you don’t know what you are missing out on! 💰 My take-aways from the conference? 👉 While we invest in additional network capacity with 5G and fiber, applications that consume this capacity are needed in order to create the appetite to pay for the connectivity, which will allow to fuel future investments 👉 Jan-Piet Nelissen and Deloitte co-created with the audience a possible future for our industry: reliability of telco networks will become even more important, we are confident that applications will arrive that consume the available network capacity, while OTT pressure on bundling services like video will continue  👉 As we are moving to energy-intensive cloud computing and generative AI, Menno van Leeuwen highlighted the need to continue our road for a sustainable industry 👉 Wouter Stammeijer ran us through KPN's "connect, activate and grow" strategy   Thank you Ed Achterberg and Erik Compter for inviting me to share our experiences with the Dutch telco community. Thank you Tina Hernalsteen and our #EcosystemTribe for developing an amazing Proximus+ application 🙏 And for the Belgians among us, have you downloaded Proximus+ yet? How do you use it? Happy to read you in comments.  #bold2025 

170

5 Comments

Interesting fact. Many property owners think their site is safe because it has always been there, but there isn’t a banker in the world who will lend against an individual mobile site lease because of the lease termination clause. Termination and rent reduction risks are real. Mobile telecommunications are the only area of commercial real estate where the tenant rather than the landlord acts like they’re in charge, asking for rent reductions, capping escalators, selling billions of Euros of masts to tower companies and sponsoring sports teams while convincing governments that the only way to provide coverage is to disenfranchise property owners even more than they already have. The attempts at government-sponsored taking from literally hundreds of thousands of property owners across Europe would be unconstitutional in the United States, where property rights are respected. Meanwhile, 5G coverage in the United States has reached 95% while in Europe it hovers around 80%; less than 50% in the UK! The problem in Europe is that markets are inefficient. Regulation will not solve this problem. Europe has a patchwork of bloated operators (inefficient labour is in fact a much greater expense than site rents) and operator-sponsored tower companies do not solve this problem. Everyone knows that operator-sponsored tower companies will favour their parent. Meanwhile, in the U.S. there is a clear focus among participants: operators focus on data (voice and data are now just data); tower companies focus on steel, and dozens of land aggregators focus on land. Everyone wins. That’s how you achieve 95% coverage — not by seeking favours from governments that harm hundreds of thousands of property owners, depriving economies of billions of Euros of potential investment, all to protect a few executives and their shareholders. If operators want to be protected like utilities then they should be regulated like utilities. Their profits should go to their ratepayers (the customers) rather than their shareholders. But they don’t want to do that. Instead, they want their inefficient operations to be propped up by governments while maintaining their pay packages and stock prices. Naive government bureaucrats can be much more easily convinced than markets — the invisible hand tends to arrive at the truth. Hence 95% 5G coverage in the United States — along with greater specialisation among market participants (data, steel, land). A functioning ecosystem. Meanwhile 81% coverage in Europe (less in the UK). Regulation is not the solution. It’s the problem. Europe should welcome market specialisation, not stifle it. MANY parties would help fund 5G rollouts — if allowed. At TIP we seek to partner with tower companies and operators alike and will infuse markets with billions of Euros of investments. Why not let us? Because, Marco, the bankers are right! Lease aggregation promotes market efficiency because banks will lend only to portfolio owners, not individual owners.

36

3 Comments

With connectivity becoming an increasingly important vector for businesses to operate effectively, #5G is one part of that infrastructure. Private wireless networks are one component of that integrated infrastructure (alongside WAN, LAN, WiFi) delivering secure connectivity for business. #5G #integratedinfrastructure #privatenetworks

17

1 Comment

Imagine you replace your network’s sim card with a wildcard that works everywhere no matter the network coverage. 1NCE is your wildcard which ensures connectivity everywhere all the time.

7

📱 Exciting news: Proximus unveils enhanced mobile offerings! 🚀 Our #customers not only deserve the best mobile network in Belgium, but also solutions that allow them to maximally enjoy everything the digital world has to offer us. As of May 2nd, we will update our Proximus mobile offering with more #data at the same price for some of our tariff plans. As our customers’ data needs are constantly evolving, we’re committed to meeting and exceeding those needs every step of the way, by investing in the capacity of our mobile network, and in the solutions that we offer to our customers. And with our recently launched Proximus+ application, we also educate our customers that might be less digital-savvy on some of those digital experiences by bringing best in class local and international digital partners at their fingertips. Curious to learn more about our enhanced mobile offerings? Dive into our latest press release to discover how they're set to redefine the way you experience mobile #connectivity:  https://lnkd.in/d6SK-GAe     #bold2025 

95

EuCNC & 6G Summit Antwerp Edition brings together not only all the relevant European stakeholders in the telecom sector, but also worldwide players in various domains, including verticals where 5G/6G improve their operations and efficiency. Come and join us in this celebration of innovation!

45

3 Comments

Our latest episode of BICS Tech in 20 is live! Join us as we dive into the world of EV charging infrastructure and IoT technology with Gabriel Salvate, Head of Customer Solutions and Pre-sales at BICS. Discover the synergies, challenges, and benefits driving this innovative space. Tune in now and stay ahead in tech! #BICS #BICSConnects #BICSInnovates #IoT #EVCharging #TechInnovation #Podcast #TechTrends

12

𝐂𝐥𝐨𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝟓𝐆-𝐁𝐥𝐮𝐞𝐩𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐭 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐣𝐞𝐜𝐭: 𝐂𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐛𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐬𝐮𝐜𝐜𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐈𝐧𝐧𝐨𝐯𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 The 5G-Blueprint project [https://lnkd.in/e4TPTZCM] has reached its completion! Last month, the project partners convened in Antwerp, Belgium, for the final review. It's been a journey filled with collaboration, innovation, and dedication as we worked towards designing and validating a technical architecture, business, and governance model for seamless cross-border teleoperated transport powered by 5G connectivity. Our contribution to this project centered on the techno-economic analysis of 5G-based teleoperation. We're proud to have played a role in the success of this project. Dive into the details of our work here: [https://lnkd.in/eMia2hk8] 𝐃𝐞𝐥𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐨 𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐤𝐞𝐲 𝐟𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬: • No single most cost-effective network deployment approach for all scenarios. • We recommend reducing use case requirements for uplink capacity to optimize costs. • Utilizing efficient video compression and network prediction algorithms can slash TCO by 26%-40%. • Smart deployment of small cells alongside macro cells boosts uplink capacity effectively. • However, deploying numerous small cells may incur greater costs, potentially outweighing benefits. • Implementing cost-saving strategies like network sharing can substantially cut down deployment expenses. These insights pave the way for strategic decision-making in telecommunications and network deployment. As we reflect on the success of this project, we're reminded of the power of collaboration and innovation in driving meaningful change. #technoeconomics #5G #5GBlueprint #TeleoperatedTransport #Innovation Asma chiha Sofie Verbrugge Didier Colle Johann M. Marquez-Barja Nina Slamnik - Kriještorac 5G-Blueprint Project

20

Our Dominique Verhulst explains how #utilities can accelerate electrification with #substation automation powered by IEC 61850 virtualization. Read the blog to find out more. Read the blog: https://lnkd.in/gtNpzg4E

7

Sometimes people ask me what it means to be an Internal Communication Manager. Is it just communicating to employees? And if so, what am I communicating and why? Yesterday, my team and I organized an Extended Leadership Meeting within NBU. An event that brought together nearly 120 leaders managing all of our 1500 collaborators. The organization of this event reminds me why I love my job: I enjoy bringing positive emotions & feelings to the teams to help them be at their best. How? By giving them an experience that allows them to feel: ·       More comfortable in their understanding of the strategy and can better explain it themselves within their teams. ·       Listened to through moments of interactivity with top management. ·       Connected with their colleagues by sharing warm moment. So in one word : engaged ! Special thanks to our CEO Guillaume Boutin, Antoine Haarscher, Geert Standaert, Vincent Licoppe, Steve Vandyck and Ariane Langrand ! #LifeAtProximus #ThinkPossible

48

Spectrum sharing announcements are always welcome. Recently in Spain, three MNOs have agreed to share spectrum, marking a step in the right direction though I have not seen tangible details or build-out commitments. Resource sharing among MNOs is becoming increasingly compelling due to flat ARPU, rising customer usage, the deployment of more spectrum with related equipment (antennas, RRUs, BBUs, power supplies, etc.), and the undeniable need for more coverage and capacity. Cellular sites will continue to proliferate for these reasons. We see deployments in-building, on campuses, for private networks, as small cells in populated areas, and macros in more rural locations. Rural applications include expanded coverage for basic connectivity, 911/Public Safety via programs like FirstNet, and Fixed Wireless Access. However, funding expansion for these use cases remains a challenge. Exclusive spectrum licensing places deployment in the hands of a few MNOs in the US, who are primarily accountable to Wall Street. These MNOs are tied up with their own pressing matters and lack (have not built in) the capacity to collaborate with smaller providers on innovative spectrum sharing or resource sharing via neutral host options. Historically, there has been little incentive to work with smaller providers, but this may be changing. CBRS has provided some relief, though power levels are extremely limited compared to the adjacent C-Band. Without a CBRS PAL channel, small providers face the power and interference constraints of GAA and unlicensed bands. The MNOs and their organization, the CTIA, call for more exclusive mid-band spectrum. However, this only extends the runway for FWA capacity growth and avoids addressing the fundamental issues of financial viability for deployments and practical means to deploy more sites through partnerships. Spectrum sharing, infrastructure sharing, and Open RAN are potential solutions. While each comes with significant operational challenges, it's clear that we cannot meet future needs by continuing with the status quo.

34

2 Comments

Our business is about innovation and technology...

35

3 Comments

The Netherlands has finalized its long-awaited 5G spectrum auction, raising €174.4 million and awarding licenses to KPN, Odido (formerly T-Mobile and Tele2 Mobiel), and VodafoneZiggo. This is a significant milestone for the country's digital infrastructure development. Key takeaways: Strong Competition: The auction structure ensures competition in the telecom market, benefiting consumers and businesses with better quality, innovation, and fair prices. Improved Mobile Coverage: Dutch citizens can expect high-quality mobile coverage with an average speed exceeding 100 Mbps nationwide. Private Network Opportunities: Unsold spectrum remains available for companies and organizations to set up private local 5G networks for innovative applications. Focus on Innovation: The increased bandwidth will pave the way for advancements in healthcare, manufacturing, logistics, and other sectors. Public Health Considerations Addressed: The auction comes after a court ruling confirming the government's adherence to strict safety regulations regarding health aspects of mobile communication technologies. This auction positions the Netherlands for a future powered by robust and future-proof connectivity. #5G #Netherlands #Telecom #DigitalInfrastructure #Innovation

3