Belgium may delay rollout date
October 28, 2002
The Belgian government is likely to delay for a second time the
launch of 3G mobile services after operators said they have problems
setting up their networks, Belgian Telecommunications Minister Rik
Daems said Friday.
Operators across Europe are delaying rolling out 3G services and
are heavily indebted after spending billions of euros on 3G licenses.
They're also worried that the lack of new handsets will hamper consumers'
interest in the new technology, designed to bring Internet, video
and other services to mobile devices.
Daems said the Belgian telecom regulator, the Post and Telecommunications
Institute, had accepted a request by the country's three mobile
phone operators to delay the launch by 15 months to December 2004.
Daems is likely to follow the regulator's advice.
Last February, the government granted its first delay to September
2003. The services was originally slated to begin last month.
The Belgian regulator agreed with Belgacom unit Proximus, France
Telecom's Mobistar NV and KPN's Base unit that another delay is
merited. The operators said 3G handsets aren't available and they
have problems obtaining building permits for tower masts, Daems
said.
Daems said he'll discuss a proposal for European-wide coordination
for postponing 3G services at a meeting with telecom ministers Dec.
4, said a Belgian official.
Currently, each E.U. government sets its policies for 3G licenses
and postponements. Some governments are reluctant to give up their
authority overseeing 3G licenses.
But E.U. Commission spokesman Per Haugaard said "a European approach
would be good to avoid market fragmentation."
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