Belgian telecoms regulator BIPT and the local media watchdogs CSA, Medienrat and VRM have proposed opening up the cable networks to competition. The four draft decisions would see dominant cable operators required to open up their digital platforms and offer wholesale versions of their analogue TV and broadband services. Together, the decisions cover the various commercial activities included in triple-play offerings. The proposal is based on an analysis of the broadcast transmission market, which the four regulators have been working on since January. The affected cable operators include AIESH (only resale of its analogue TV), Brutele, Numericable, Tecteo and Telenet. Telenet said it was surprised by the decision given the dominance of incumbent telecom operator Belgacom on the market. The cable operator noted the prevalence of technologies on the market already (DSL, satellite, cable and DTT), as well as the EU's stated preference for infrastructure-based competition. Telenet said it was convinced no further regulation of the Belgian TV and internet market was needed, and will respond as such in the consultation on the proposals, which is open until 18 February 2011. BIPT also issued a draft decision on the broadband market, which would formalise some of the earlier requirements for Belgacom, including unbundling the access network and providing bitstream access. The proposal also introduces a requirement for providing access to multicast functionality. This would allow alternative operators to offer triple-play services, including TV, broadband and telephony.
