This year, the BIPT has decided to split its national benchmarking studies into 3 parts. Following the mobile benchmarking published in July, this second publication concerns fixed services, and more specifically standalone internet and 2-play bundles combining internet and television. A third part dedicated to convergent bundles will be published in autumn.
In light of the development of VHCN (Very High Capacity Networks) internet offers and the rise of cord-cutters, we felt it was appropriate to review the profiles in order to take account of changing consumer needs, whilst ensuring that the profiles were sufficiently representative of all sections of the population.
To help consumers see more clearly, the BIPT has created 9 profiles which were subject to consultation with the sector in Q1 2026. These profiles were designed to reflect the reality of society and developments in the telecoms market. These profiles take into account a wide variety of internet usage patterns (download speeds of minimum 100 Mbps, minimum 300 Mbps and minimum 1 Gbps), whether these relate to people with standard needs or to more rapidly growing user groups such as cord-cutters.
The rankings of the cheapest offers matching these profiles show different categories of offers and brands (primary, secondary and alternative brands) as well as technologies (xDSL, cable, fibre, satellite, mobile internet).
The telecoms solutions considered to meet the needs studied may include:
- An internet access service marketed as a standalone service;
- An internet + television combination, classic TV with set-top box or via an app.
Given the practical options offered by the sector to facilitate ‘do-it-yourself’ installation (products delivered to a collection point, step-by-step instructions, free of charge), coupled with consumers’ ever-increasing digital literacy, the BIPT now solely focuses on structural costs in its national benchmarking studies. This also ensures greater methodological consistency between national and international benchmarking studies published by the BIPT.
Given their temporary nature, promotions have not been taken into account in this study.
- FR: Download document "Communication du 11 août 2026 concernant la comparaison des tarifs des services fixes en Belgique [Tarifs appliqués au 2ème trimestre 2026]"
- NL: Download document "Medeling van 11 augustus 2026 over de vergelijking van de tarieven voor vaste diensten in België [tarieven in het tweede kwartaal van 2026]"