Belgian telecoms regulator BIPT will auction the country's fourth 3G licence on 6 June. Telenet is one of the possible candidates for the licence, although the cable operator has threatened to not participate due to BIPT and other government agencies working on plans to up the cable networks to competition. Currently, Belgacom, Mobistar and KPN unit Base hold 3G licences, obtained in 2001. At the time, a fourth license was offered but no buyer was found. BIPT board chairman Luc Hindryckx expects the arrival of a fourth mobile operator to give an impulse to the market dynamics and bring down prices for services such as mobile internet. If again no fourth candidate applies for the 3G licence, then it will go to one of the three other operators. Belgium is expected to hold its 4G licence auction in October.
