Orange Belgium and Proximus signed a term sheet recently to enter into a mobile access network sharing agreement by the end of the year.
This agreement aims to allow the two companies to meet customers’ growing demand in terms of mobile network quality and indoor coverage.
Mobile access network sharing between Orange Belgium and Proximus includes 2G, 3G and 4G technologies. This network sharing will also allow quicker and more comprehensive 5G roll-out in Belgium. Although they will share their mobile access networks, the two companies will retain full control over their own spectrum resources, and they will continue to independently operate their core networks to offer a separate customer experience and service.
In financial terms, Orange Belgium expects this agreement to deliver cumulative opex and capex savings of €300m over 10 years. Orange Belgium will spend €130m over the next three years to implement this agreement.
Subject to a definitive agreement, the shared mobile access network will be planned, built and operated by a new equally-owned joint venture starting in Q1 2020.
