Scrapping the universal service for telephone booths and telephone books did not have any negative consequences for end users, Belgian regulator BIPT concluded after a study. Belgacom/Proximus started removing telephone booths in 2013 after the legal obligation was lifted. Fixed and mobile telephony are available and affordable alternatives to the payphone, and a telephone directory is no longer required with the internet. Various companies offer a website, a number service and/or a paper guide, with advertising. BIPT will therefore not reestablish the universal service obligation.
Until end July 2013, there was a universal service for connecting to the fixed network. Proximus had to provide a connection throughout the country that was suitable for fixed calls, faxes and functional internet access at 1 Mbps. BIPT conducted research into coverage, quality and rates. The regulator found that 99.9 percent of all households can get 1 Mbps or higher, even without that being mandatory. Also, the quality of customer service, for example, is well above 90 percent. However, BIPT concludes that some rates are higher than in neighbouring countries, such as in France, the Netherlands and the UK.Social rate
Amended social rate
Belgium still has a universal service obligation for the social rate, aimed at groups with the lowest incomes. Larger providers (with more than EUR 50 million in revenue) must give a 40 percent discount on fixed subscriptions to these groups. In 2016-2017, the social tariff had to be provided by Proximus, Telenet, Voo, Orange and Scarlet. The social rate does not apply to mobile telephony and mobile internet. On 3 December 2017, the universal service obligation for the social rate was applied to 238,443 subscribers. Not everyone is entitled to receive this discount. BIPT said people should see if they can get the discount automatically.
Negotiations on the Electronic Communications Code in 2018 are likely to lead to adjustments in the European directive for the universal service, but that is not yet definitive. BIPT will follow the negotiations and then advise whether the law needs to be amended.
Source: https://www.telecompaper.com/news/belgian-regulator-finds-no-problems-with-end-to-payphones--1226389