In the course of the third regional development concept "Zukunft Digitalisierung", the Ministry for the German-Speaking Community in Belgium has set a fibre roll-out as one of the main priorities in the coming years. The decision to roll-out fibre networks to residential and business customers (Fiber to the Home - FTTH ) is intended to develop and secure high economic and social standards.
No commercial fibre roll-out by existing market participants is expected in the German speaking part of Belgium. This is confirmed by the results of our business case and cost modelling. These show that while there are relatively densely populated areas in this part of the country that could be developed economically, but a full coverage fibre roll-out can only be achieved with public funding, even if the less profitable clusters are cross-subsidized by the more profitable ones.
Against this backdrop we study how an engagement of the public sector could be designed which
We recommend to roll-out passive infrastructure by means of a wholesale-only passive-layer-open model, which is characterised by a separation of the passive network infrastructure from active network operations and retail business.
This would create a high performance FTTH infrastructure open to all those interested in offering their services and offerings.
The study (in German language) is available for download.
