- Digi failed to meet safety and planning rules in fibre deployment, court finds
- Case reflects growing pressure from incumbents as new entrant disrupts pricing
What happened: Court halts Digi’s fibre build over rule breaches
A Brussels commercial court has sided with Proximus, Belgium’s largest telecom provider, in a legal case against newcomer Digi over its fibre deployment practices. According to BruxellesToday, the court ordered Digi to stop certain construction activities after it failed to follow key planning and safety regulations. The court found that Digi did not display proper signage at work sites and did not secure the required permits for installing fibre cables via overhead lines.
Digi, a Romanian telecom group, entered the Belgian market in late 2024, launching low-cost mobile and broadband offers. It started its network rollout earlier that year, aiming to gain quick ground in a competitive environment. However, the recent ruling could slow its infrastructure build and increase costs, as any future breaches could now lead to a €3,000 fine per violation, up to a €1.5M cap.
Also read: Proximus Global unveils AI-driven SMS fraud protection solution
Also read: AWS to power Proximus Group’s cloud transformation
Why it’s important
Although the court decision may not result in significant financial damage, it marks a critical moment in Belgium’s telecom competition. Digi’s entrance has already shaken the market. Last week, Belgium’s regulator, the BIPT, confirmed in its tariff study that Digi’s arrival triggered lower prices and new offers, especially among secondary brands. The regulator credited Digi with reigniting competitive pressure in a market long dominated by four players: Proximus, Orange, Telenet/Base, and VOO.
Digi now stands as the fourth mobile network operator in Belgium—a status the European Commission has encouraged in markets across the EU to preserve facilities-based competition. But with this growth comes scrutiny. Digi has already faced financial rumours and was forced to deny liquidity concerns earlier this year. Its parent company Digi Communications reported 53,000 mobile subscribers (RGUs) in Q1 2025, a modest but notable figure for a new player.
The court ruling highlights not just regulatory oversight but also the broader pushback Digi faces from established operators watching its every move.