Belgium's Proximus, Wyre, Telenet, and Fiberklaar have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for potential future collaboration to accelerate fiber network deployment in Flanders. This collaboration aims to bring high-speed gigabit networks to approximately 2.7 million homes, particularly in areas with intermediate to low population density. The collaboration would ensure that more consumers benefit from high-speed gigabit networks, leading to broader and faster fiber deployment while reducing civil works, Proximus said in a joint statement on Thursday.
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Fiber-to-the-Home Network Construction
The joint effort will see Wyre and Fiberklaar constructing fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) networks for around 2.0 million homes in medium-density areas, with Wyre covering 60 percent and Fiberklaar 40 percent. Proximus and Telenet will gain reciprocal wholesale access to this infrastructure, promoting a more efficient rollout and reducing civil construction works.
For the most sparsely populated zones, Proximus plans to utilise Wyre's Hybrid Fiber Coax (HFC) network to serve about 0.7 million homes, offering gigabit speeds across the region. In densely populated urban areas, each operator will continue to deploy its own networks.
This collaboration is contingent on final agreements and obtaining necessary regulatory and antitrust approvals. Constructive discussions have been ongoing, influenced by the Belgian Institute for Postal Services and Telecommunications (BIPT) and the Belgian Competition Authority (BCA), which are open to such cooperative efforts, the official release said.
The formal signing of the cooperation agreement is anticipated in the fourth quarter of this year, and the companies said no further details will be communicated until the cooperation agreement is formally signed.
Also Read: Fiberklaar Doubles Fiber Network Coverage to Over 2,200 Kilometers
Proximus Acquires Full Ownership of Fiberklaar
In another related development, Proximus said it has reached an agreement with EQT Infrastructure on the acquisition of its majority stake in Fiberklaar for a purchase price of EUR 246 million. Fiberklaar was founded as a joint venture in 2021, following an agreement between Proximus and EQT Infrastructure. With this, Proximus acquires full ownership of Fiberklaar.
Proximus today holds 49.67 percent of Fiberklaar's shares. With the acquisition of the remaining shares for EUR 246 million, Proximus becomes 100 percent owner of Fiberklaar, the official release said. Fiberklaar will continue its operations as a standalone entity within the Proximus Group, and the close of this transaction is expected in the coming days.
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Wyre
Wyre is a newly formed infrastructure company that is a joint venture between Telenet and Fluvius. Wyre is responsible for building and managing the underlying network infrastructure. By creating Wyre, Telenet and Fluvius aim to optimize their operations, accelerate fiber deployment, and improve network quality in Belgium.
