Mobistar suspends broadband, landline & internet products

Belgian operator Mobistar has said it will suspend its internet, fixed telephony and TV services on the residential market from next week while awaiting more favourable regulation, reports Broadband TV News. Mobistar will, however, ensure the continuity of internet and fixed telephony services for existing residential customers. The services of Mobistar TV will cease on September 15. All customers affected will be contacted between now and the end of the month to provide them with more information about an alternative satellite TV package negotiated by Mobistar with the M7 group, owners of providers TéléSat and TV Vlaanderen. In a statement Mobistar said it “regrets the lack of reciprocity of conditions for competition between the fixed and mobile markets in Belgium. While competition is very significant on the mobile market, as shown by the presence of over 40 players on this market, many signs demonstrate that the Belgian residential fixed market is in fact a closed market, dominated by a historical operator-cable operators duopoly. The rate study performed recently by the BIPT at the request of minister Vande Lanotte highlighted that the cost of ‘triple play’ offers in Belgium is particularly high compared to their cost in neighbouring countries.”