Didier Bellens (9 June 1955 – 28 February 2016) was a Belgian businessman. Until 15 November 2013, he was the CEO of Belgacom , the leading telecommunications company of Belgium. He was married and had three children. He died on 28 February 2016.
114-670: The Proximus Group is a provider of digital services and communication solutions operating in Belgium and international markets. In Belgium , the company offers its main products and services under the brands Proximus, Scarlet , and Mobile Vikings . The Group also operates in Luxembourg as Proximus Luxembourg SA, with the brands Tango and Telindus Luxembourg, and in the Netherlands as Telindus Netherlands . Internationally, activities are carried out by BICS and Telesign. Proximus Accelerators
228-586: A federal constitutional monarchy with a parliamentary system . Its institutional organization is complex and is structured on both regional and linguistic grounds. It is divided into three highly autonomous regions : the Flemish Region (Flanders) in the north, the Walloon Region (Wallonia) in the south, and the Brussels-Capital Region in the middle. Brussels is the smallest region but also
342-463: A balanced budget, some tax reforms , a labor-market reform, scheduled nuclear phase-out and instigated legislation allowing more stringent war crime and more lenient soft drug usage prosecution. Restrictions on euthanasia were reduced, and in 2003, Belgium became one of the first countries in the world to legalise same-sex marriage . The government promoted active diplomacy in Africa and opposed
456-668: A carrier and wholesale department called Belgacom International Carrier Services (BICS) was born. With the complete liberalisation of the telecom market on 1 January 1998, Belgacom acquired Skynet, the first internet access provider in Belgium and one of the largest web portals in the country. Its internet activities were integrated into the Belgacom brand, which launched ADSL in the Belgian market. In 2000, BICS opened offices in Asia/Oceania, America, and
570-608: A centre of excellence focused on artificial intelligence and cybersecurity. Proximus has achieved recognition as the first BEL20 company to receive scientific validation for its environmental objectives through the SBTi (Science Based Targets initiative), aligning with its new 'Net-Zero Standard'. Belgium – in Europe (light green & dark grey) – in the European Union (light green) Belgium , officially
684-473: A collaborative initiative aimed at creating a Belgian mobile payment solution named Sixdots. The objective was to promote the use of smartphones for payments instead of traditional bank cards and card readers. Despite efforts, the project faced challenges and was halted in 2015. On 9 January 2014, Dominique Leroy was appointed as the new CEO and chairwoman of the executive committee of the Proximus Group for
798-657: A company limited by shares under public law. On 1 July 1994, Belgacom launched the Proximus mobile network, entrusted to a subsidiary, Belgacom Mobile. Belgacom remained a 75% shareholder, with the remaining 25% owned by Air Touch (which became Vodafone in 1999). In 1996, the Belgian government sold 50% minus 1 Belgacom share to the ADSB Telecommunications consortium. This consortium consisted of Ameritech (SBC), Tele Danmark, and Singapore Telecom, along with three Belgian financial institutions: Sofina, Dexia, and KBC. In 1997,
912-828: A decade after the other regions) is included in both the Flemish and French Communities, and the territory of the German-speaking Community lies wholly within the Walloon Region. Conflicts about jurisdiction between the bodies are resolved by the Constitutional Court of Belgium . The structure is intended as a compromise to allow different cultures to live together peacefully. The Federal State's authority includes justice, defense, federal police, social security, nuclear energy, monetary policy and public debt, and other aspects of public finances. State-owned companies include
1026-449: A few incidents (accusation of conflict of interest, derogatory comments about the government, alleged covert promotion of confidante) the government decided in 2013 the relationship of trust was seriously damaged and Didier Bellens' position was no longer justifiable. He was dismissed on the basis of serious professional misconduct. Bellens was a member of the Board of Directors of Belgacom ICS,
1140-668: A large semi-independent enclave. The Eighty Years' War (1568–1648) was triggered by the Spanish government's policy towards Protestantism , which was becoming popular in the Low Countries. The rebellious northern United Provinces ( Belgica Foederata in Latin , the "Federated Netherlands") eventually separated from the Southern Netherlands ( Belgica Regia , the "Royal Netherlands"). The southern part continued to be ruled successively by
1254-715: A market where competition with triple-play packages (television, telephony, and internet) like IPTV was intensifying. In 2005, Belgacom and Swisscom Fixnet signed an agreement to merge their international carrier activities to consolidate their position in the international market. Belgacom TV was launched in the Belgian market, acquiring broadcasting rights for Belgian football for three seasons. Belgacom introduced Belgium's first digital TV service via ADSL, expanding its services to include fixed telephony, mobile telephony, high-speed internet, and television. This move aimed to diversify revenue streams amidst declining profit margins in its other activities. Additionally, in 2005, Proximus became
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#17330934931781368-539: A new government . By 30 March 2011, this set a new world record for the elapsed time without an official government, previously held by war-torn Iraq . Finally, in December 2011 the Di Rupo Government led by Walloon socialist Prime Minister Elio Di Rupo was sworn in. The 2014 federal election (coinciding with the regional elections ) resulted in a further electoral gain for the Flemish nationalist N-VA, although
1482-553: A number of colonies , notably the Belgian Congo and Ruanda-Urundi . These colonies gained independence between 1960 and 1962. The second half of the 20th century was marked by rising tensions between the Dutch-speakers and French-speakers, fueled by differences in political culture and the unequal economic development of Flanders and Wallonia. This continuing antagonism has led to several far-reaching state reforms , resulting in
1596-510: A partner. After several incidents, CEO Didier Bellens was fired in 2011. Ray Stewart and Stefaan De Clerck were appointed temporary CEOs until a new CEO was found. In 2011, Belgacom introduced Belgacom TV Everywhere, enabling customers to access Belgacom TV across various devices such as TV, PC, tablet, and smartphone through Wi-Fi and 3G connectivity. Additionally, Belgacom established an exclusive partnership with Deezer to enhance its content library with music streaming services. BICS initiated
1710-678: A period of 6 years. Leroy focused on enhancing the company's offerings and prioritised growth through her Fit for Growth strategy. In 2014, it was decided to gradually phase out the Belgacom brand name. Starting from autumn 2014, Proximus became the new commercial name for all fixed, mobile, and IT products, while other brands such as Scarlet remained intact. During the same year, Belgacom introduced Personal Cloud, enabling customers to securely store their documents with access from various devices including PC, laptop, tablet, smartphone, or Proximus TV. This facilitated easier sharing of content with family and friends and on social media platforms. TV Replay
1824-839: A policy of mediation. The Belgians have been strong advocates of European integration . The headquarters of NATO and of several of the institutions of the European Union are located in Belgium. The Belgian Armed Forces had 23,200 active personnel in 2023, including 8,500 in the Land Component , 1,400 in the Naval Component , 4,900 in the Air Component , 1,450 in the Medical Component , and 6,950 in joint service, in addition to 5,900 reserve personnel. In 2019, Belgium's defense budget totaled €4.303 billion ($ 4.921 billion) representing .93% of its GDP. The operational commands of
1938-934: A roaming hub contract with MTN Group, the largest mobile operator in Africa and the Middle East. Concurrently, Telindus launched the Telindus Telecom brand, focusing on providing connectivity and data centre solutions for the business and professional sectors. In 2012, Proximus inaugurated Belgium's first 4G network, while Tango replicated the same in Luxembourg. Belgacom introduced Internet Everywhere, an integrated solution catering to both home and mobile internet needs. Belgacom Group also acquired The Phone House chain of stores that year. In 2013, Proximus unveiled new mobile pricing plans tailored to different types of phones: Smart for smartphone users and Easy for customers using classic mobile phones. Belgacom acquired significant spectrum for
2052-408: A smart retail platform supporting the local economy and facilitating closer interaction between merchants, shoppers, and local governments. In December 2016, Proximus announced Fibre for Belgium, a three billion euro investment plan aimed at delivering high-speed internet to residents and businesses. Proximus also introduced HD voice calls via 3G and 4G on mobile phones and conducted successful tests for
2166-440: Is around 23% of the total land area, equivalent to 689,300 hectares (ha) of forest in 2020, up from 677,400 hectares (ha) in 1990. In 2020, naturally regenerating forest covered 251,200 hectares (ha) and planted forest covered 438,200 hectares (ha). For the year 2015, 47% of the forest area was reported to be under public ownership , 53% private ownership and 0% with ownership listed as other or unknown. The territory of Belgium
2280-477: Is based on civil law and originates from the Napoleonic code . The Court of Cassation is the court of last resort, with the courts of appeal one level below. Belgium's political institutions are complex; most political power rests on representation of the main cultural communities . Since about 1970, the significant national Belgian political parties have split into distinct components that mainly represent
2394-495: Is divided into three Regions, two of which, the Flemish Region and Walloon Region , are in turn subdivided into provinces ; the third Region, the Brussels Capital Region , is neither a province nor a part of a province. Belgium is a constitutional , popular monarchy and a federal parliamentary democracy . The bicameral federal parliament is composed of a Senate and a Chamber of Representatives . The former
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#17330934931782508-658: Is lowest in January at 3 °C (37.4 °F) and highest in July at 18 °C (64.4 °F). The average precipitation per month varies between 54 mm (2.1 in) for February and April, to 78 mm (3.1 in) for July. Averages for the years 2000 to 2006 show daily temperature minimums of 7 °C (44.6 °F) and maximums of 14 °C (57.2 °F) and monthly rainfall of 74 mm (2.9 in); these are about 1 °C and nearly 10 millimeters above last century's normal values, respectively. Phytogeographically , Belgium
2622-493: Is made up of 50 senators appointed by the parliaments of the communities and regions and 10 co-opted senators . Prior to 2014, most of the Senate's members were directly elected. The Chamber 's 150 representatives are elected under a proportional voting system from 11 electoral districts . Belgium has compulsory voting and thus maintains one of the highest rates of voter turnout in the world. The King (currently Philippe )
2736-639: Is more than double that of Flanders, which boomed after the Second World War. Belgium is a developed country , with an advanced high-income economy . The country is one of the six founding members of the European Union , and its capital, Brussels, is the de facto capital of the European Union itself, hosting the official seats of the European Commission , the Council of the European Union , and
2850-608: Is now the Benelux, the so-called Burgundian Netherlands . "Burgundy" and "Flanders" were the first two common names used for the Burgundian Netherlands which was the predecessor of the Austrian Netherlands, the predecessor of modern Belgium. The union, technically stretching between two kingdoms, gave the area economic and political stability which led to an even greater prosperity and artistic creation. Born in Belgium,
2964-698: Is shared between the Atlantic European and Central European provinces of the Circumboreal Region within the Boreal Kingdom . According to the World Wide Fund for Nature , the territory of Belgium belongs to the terrestrial ecoregions of Atlantic mixed forests and Western European broadleaf forests . Belgium had a 2018 Forest Landscape Integrity Index mean score of 1.36/10, ranking it 163rd globally out of 172 countries. In Belgium forest cover
3078-614: Is the head of state , though with limited prerogatives . He appoints ministers, including a Prime Minister, that have the confidence of the Chamber of Representatives to form the federal government . The Council of Ministers is composed of no more than fifteen members. With the possible exception of the Prime Minister, the Council of Ministers is composed of an equal number of Dutch-speaking members and French-speaking members. The judicial system
3192-465: Is the ecosystem of IT partners Be-Mobile, ClearMedia, Codit, Davinsi Labs, Proximus Spearit and Telindus . Since 31 December 2023, 53.51% of the Proximus Group is owned by the Belgian State. Proximus owns 4.56% of its own shares, and the remaining 41.93% are free tradable on the market. The Belgian telegraph services installed a telephone line in parliament in 1879, marking the start of telephony in
3306-492: The Belgian Post Group and Belgian Railways . The Federal Government is responsible for the obligations of Belgium and its federalized institutions towards the European Union and NATO. It controls substantial parts of public health, home affairs and foreign affairs. The budget—without the debt—controlled by the federal government amounts to about 50% of the national fiscal income. The federal government employs around 12% of
3420-550: The East Cantons . The Brussels-Capital Region is officially bilingual in French and Dutch, although French is the majority language and lingua franca . Belgium's linguistic diversity and related political conflicts are reflected in its complex system of governance, made up of six different governments . In 55 BC the region around Belgium was dominated by the Belgae , and became part of
3534-682: The European Council , as well as one of two seats of the European Parliament (the other being Strasbourg ). Belgium is also a founding member of the Eurozone , NATO , OECD , and WTO , and a part of the trilateral Benelux Union and the Schengen Area . Brussels also hosts the headquarters of many major international organizations, such as NATO . According to Julius Caesar , the Belgae were
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3648-715: The Habsburg Emperor Charles ;V was heir of the Burgundians, but also of the royal families of Austria , Castile and Aragon . With the Pragmatic Sanction of 1549 he gave the Seventeen Provinces more legitimacy as a stable entity, rather than just a temporary personal union . He also increased the influence of these Netherlands over the Prince-Bishopric of Liège , which continued to exist as
3762-524: The Holy Roman Empire . The lordships and bishoprics along the "March" (frontier) between the two great kingdoms maintained important connections between each other. For example, the county of Flanders expanded over the Scheldt into the empire, and during several periods was ruled by the same lords as the county of Hainaut . In the 13th and 14th centuries, the cloth industry and commerce boomed especially in
3876-643: The Kingdom of Belgium , is a country in Northwestern Europe . The country is bordered by the Netherlands to the north, Germany to the east, Luxembourg to the southeast, France to the south, and the North Sea to the west. It covers an area of 30,689 km (11,849 sq mi) and has a population of more than 11.7 million, . With 383 people/km2 (990/sq mi), Belgium's population density ranks 22nd in
3990-785: The Michel Government . It was the first time N-VA was part of the federal cabinet, while the French-speaking side was represented only by the MR, which achieved a minority of the public votes in Wallonia. In May 2019 federal elections in the Flemish-speaking northern region of Flanders far-right Vlaams Belang party made major gains. In the French-speaking southern area of Wallonia the Socialists were strong. The moderate Flemish nationalist party
4104-412: The Netherlands ( 450 km ). Its total surface, including water area, is 30,689 km (11,849 sq mi). Before 2018, its total area was believed to be 30,528 km (11,787 sq mi). However, when the country's statistics were measured in 2018, a new calculation method was used. Unlike previous calculations, this one included the area from the coast to the low-water line, revealing
4218-456: The Port of Antwerp signed a Memorandum of Understanding for the project "The Digital Schelde" to prepare the port's digital transformation by developing a private 5G network. In March, CEO Guillaume Boutin presented his new strategy #inspire2022.The long-term plan is based on four strategic pillars: the deployment of fixed and mobile gigabit technologies, the transformation into a digital native company,
4332-670: The Roman Empire . In the Middle Ages , the region was part of the Carolingian Empire , and much of it was later part of the Holy Roman Empire , and subsequently the Burgundian Netherlands . Belgium's central location has kept it relatively prosperous and connected both commercially and politically to its bigger neighbours. The country as it exists today was established following the 1830 Belgian Revolution , when it seceded from
4446-722: The Spanish ( Spanish Netherlands ) and the Austrian House of Habsburgs ( Austrian Netherlands ) and comprised most of modern Belgium. This was the theatre of several more protracted conflicts during much of the 17th and 18th centuries involving France, including the Franco-Dutch War (1672–1678), the Nine Years' War (1688–1697), the War of the Spanish Succession (1701–1714), and part of
4560-667: The United Kingdom of the Netherlands occurred at the dissolution of the First French Empire in 1814, after the abdication of Napoleon. In 1830, the Belgian Revolution led to the re-separation of the Southern Provinces from the Netherlands and to the establishment of a Catholic and bourgeois, officially French-speaking and neutral, independent Belgium under a provisional government and a national congress . Since
4674-584: The United Kingdom of the Netherlands , which had incorporated the Southern Netherlands (which comprised most of modern-day Belgium) after the Congress of Vienna in 1815. Belgium has been called "the Battlefield of Europe", a reputation reinforced in the 20th century by both world wars . Belgium was an early participant in the Industrial Revolution , and during the course of the 20th century, possessed
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4788-399: The War of the Austrian Succession (1740–1748). Following the campaigns of 1794 in the French Revolutionary Wars , the Low Countries – including territories that were never nominally under Habsburg rule, such as the Prince-Bishopric of Liège – were annexed by the French First Republic , ending Austrian rule in the region. A reunification of the Low Countries as
4902-425: The Western Roman Empire , the Roman provinces of Belgica and Germania were inhabited by a mix of a Romanized population and Germanic -speaking Franks who came to dominate the military and political class. During the 5th century, the area came under the rule of the Frankish Merovingian kings, who initially established a kingdom ruling over the Romanized population in what is now northern France, and then conquered
5016-399: The war against the Islamic State , and in eastern Europe for the NATO presence there. Didier Bellens Bellens graduated in 1978 as a commercial engineer at the Solvay Business School of the Université Libre de Bruxelles ( Brussels ). Bellens started his career in 1978 as an auditor at Deloitte Haskins & Sells . During his time at Deloitte he was engaged on the audits of
5130-436: The #shifttodigital strategy, aimed at expediting transformation efforts to ensure the company's continued relevance in the Belgian market and safeguard its future. The strategy encompassed both operational enhancements and a social component, which sparked strikes and protests among some members of the workforce. Following extensive negotiations, an agreement was reached between management and trade unions, subsequently approved by
5244-422: The 19th century were the Catholic Party and the Liberal Party , with the Belgian Labour Party emerging towards the end of the 19th century. French was originally the official language used by the nobility and the bourgeoisie , especially after the rejection of the Dutch monarchy. French progressively lost its dominance as Dutch began to recover its status. This recognition became official in 1898, and in 1967,
5358-455: The 800 MHz frequency band to advance its 4G capabilities. Through Home&Care, the company provided security solutions enabling customers to remotely monitor their homes via smartphones or tablets. Meanwhile, Scarlet introduced TRIO, a triple-play package combining fixed telephony, broadband internet, and TV services. In the same year, Belgacom, along with other telecommunications operators and Belgian banks, formed Belgian Mobile Wallet NV,
5472-474: The Ardennes are more rugged and rocky with caves and small gorges . Extending westward into France, this area is eastwardly connected to the Eifel in Germany by the High Fens plateau, on which the Signal de Botrange forms the country's highest point at 694 m (2,277 ft). The climate is maritime temperate with significant precipitation in all seasons ( Köppen climate classification : Cfb ), like most of northwest Europe. The average temperature
5586-441: The Belgian coast and major cities, including Brussels. In April 2015, shareholders approved changing the company name from Belgacom to Proximus, effective from 22 June. In 2016, Proximus established a unique Smart Mobility company named Be-Mobile. Commercial offerings were revamped with the introduction of new all-inclusive products: Tuttimus for residential customers and Bizz All-in for small businesses. Proximus invested in Citie,
5700-428: The Belgian state to assume responsibility for the government of the colony, henceforth called the Belgian Congo . A Belgian commission in 1919 estimated that Congo's population was half what it was in 1879. Germany invaded Belgium in August 1914 as part of the Schlieffen Plan to attack France , and much of the Western Front fighting of World War I occurred in western parts of the country. The opening months of
5814-405: The Belgian subsidiary of General Motors . In 1981 he became financial director of the Compagnie Brussel Lambert holding (GBL). He managed the investment portfolio and prospected potential investments. He became Deputy Manager of the Pargesa Holding in Geneva in 1985, where he was responsible for the management of holdings, mergers and acquisitions. Didier Bellens managed the participations of
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#17330934931785928-428: The Communities and Regions were created in 1980, Flemish politicians decided to merge both. Thus the Flemings just have one single institutional body of parliament and government is empowered for all except federal and specific municipal matters. The overlapping boundaries of the Regions and Communities have created two notable peculiarities: the territory of the Brussels-Capital Region (which came into existence nearly
6042-490: The County of Flanders and it became one of the richest areas in Europe. This prosperity played a role in conflicts between Flanders and the king of France . Famously, Flemish militias scored a surprise victory at the Battle of the Golden Spurs against a strong force of mounted knights in 1302, but France soon regained control of the rebellious province. In the 15th century, the Duke of Burgundy in France took control of Flanders, and from there proceeded to unite much of what
6156-548: The European Union, for which Belgium hosts major administrations and institutions, including the European Commission , the Council of the European Union and the extraordinary and committee sessions of the European Parliament . In the early 1990s, Belgium saw several large corruption scandals notably surrounding Marc Dutroux , Andre Cools , the Dioxin Affair , Agusta Scandal and the murder of Karel van Noppen . Belgium shares borders with France ( 620 km ), Germany ( 162/167 km ), Luxembourg ( 148 km ), and
6270-491: The Flemings refused to do so and succeeded progressively in making Dutch an equal language in the education system. Following World War II, Belgian politics became increasingly dominated by the autonomy of its two main linguistic communities. Intercommunal tensions rose and the constitution was amended to minimize the potential for conflict. Based on the four language areas defined in 1962–63 (the Dutch, bilingual, French and German language areas), consecutive revisions of
6384-460: The GBL group in the company. In 1992 Didier Bellens came back to the Groupe Bruxelles Lambert as Managing Director, taking charge of the group's strategic participations in companies such as Royale Belge , the BBL, and the CLT. He played an instrumental role in the merger between AXA and Royale Belge, and the change and the negotiations leading to the merger between CLT ( Compagnie Luxembourgeoise de Télédiffusion ) and UFA. He also participated in
6498-400: The Latin name of a large Roman province covering most of Northern Gaul, including the Belgae and Treveri. However, areas closer to the lower Rhine frontier, including the eastern part of modern Belgium, subsequently became part of the frontier province of Germania Inferior , which continued to interact with their neighbours outside the empire. At the time when central government collapsed in
6612-522: The Middle East. In 2001, it launched its mobile offering. In 2001, the BeST plan was introduced with the aim of restructuring the company by dividing it into four business units. Belgacom also divested certain activities, such as Belgacom France, Ben, its security activities, and the French activities of Infosources. The consequences of the BeST plan for the staff became apparent in 2002: a lot of employees were offered options to quit, work part-time, or retrain. In an increasingly open market where competition
6726-458: The N-VA remained the largest party in parliament. In July 2019 prime minister Charles Michel was selected to hold the post of President of the European Council . His successor Sophie Wilmès was Belgium's first female prime minister. She led the caretaker government since October 2019. The Flemish Liberal party politician Alexander De Croo became new prime minister in October 2020. The parties had agreed on federal government 16 months after
6840-453: The RTL Group on the stock market. In March 2003, Didier Bellens was appointed Belgacom's president and chief executive officer as the successor to John J. Goossens . In March 2009 his mandate at Belgacom was renewed in March for a six-year term. His position at the head of Belgacom almost ended in 2011 after a strong dispute with the company board and the Belgian federal minister for Civil Service and Public Enterprises, Inge Vervotte . After
6954-493: The RTT launched a major reorganisation to solve certain structural issues of the company. In 1987, another player entered the scene: the European Commission introduced its Green Paper on the development of the common market for telecommunications services and equipment, focusing on market liberalisation. This Green Paper formed the basis of the Belgian Law of 21 March 1991, which created a new type of government-owned company with greater autonomy. The Belgian telecommunications sector
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#17330934931787068-426: The Regions' and Communities' Governments is the broadest of all the Federating units of all the Federations all over the world. Because of its location at the crossroads of Western Europe , Belgium has historically been the route of invading armies from its larger neighbors. With virtually defenseless borders, Belgium has traditionally sought to avoid domination by the more powerful nations which surround it through
7182-401: The Telindus Group, Proximus, Scarlet SA, and Tango. He was also a member of the Board of Directors of AXA Belgium, VOKA (the Flemish Chamber of Commerce and Industry) and was on the steering committee of the FEB (Federation of Commerce in Belgium). In addition, he served as independent Chairman of the Appointments and Remuneration Committee, and as independent Director of the Board of Directors of
7296-434: The board of directors. The brand promise "Think possible" was also launched in 2019, and the digital TV platform Proximus TV was rebranded as Proximus Pickx. Proximus and Orange Belgium collaborated under the name MWingz. In September 2019, Proximus announced that Dominique Leroy had decided to leave the company on 1 December due to international career plans. CFO Sandrine Dufour temporarily took over as CEO. Guillaume Boutin
7410-399: The cabinet to the king, as no progress in constitutional reforms had been made. In December 2008, Leterme once more offered his resignation after a crisis surrounding the sale of Fortis to BNP Paribas . At this juncture, his resignation was accepted and Christian Democratic and Flemish Herman Van Rompuy was sworn in as Prime Minister on 30 December 2008. After Herman Van Rompuy
7524-731: The civil servants. Communities exercise their authority only within linguistically determined geographical boundaries, originally oriented towards the individuals of a Community's language: culture (including audiovisual media), education and the use of the relevant language. Extensions to personal matters less directly connected with language comprise health policy (curative and preventive medicine) and assistance to individuals (protection of youth, social welfare, aid to families, immigrant assistance services, and so on.). Regions have authority in fields that can be broadly associated with their territory. These include economy, employment, agriculture, water policy, housing, public works, energy, transport,
7638-466: The company could independently design and implement an investment program. However, by imposing its employment policy, the government directly contradicted the basic principle of the law. This led to a structural problem at the RTT soon after the war. Immediately after World War II, the RTT faced significant damage and partial dismantling of its networks. To quickly revive the sector, the government decided to provide financial assistance. During this period,
7752-415: The country in May 1940 , and 40,690 Belgians, over half of them Jews, were killed during the subsequent occupation and the Holocaust . From September 1944 to February 1945 the Allies liberated Belgium. After World War II , a general strike forced King Leopold III to abdicate in 1951 in favour of his son, Prince Baudouin , since many Belgians thought he had collaborated with Germany during
7866-409: The country to be 160 km (62 sq mi) larger in surface area than previously thought. Its land area alone is 30,494 square kilometers. It lies between latitudes 49°30' and 51°30' N, and longitudes 2°33' and 6°24' E. Belgium has three main geographical regions; the coastal plain in the northwest and the central plateau both belong to the Anglo-Belgian Basin, and the Ardennes uplands in
7980-407: The country's constitution in 1970, 1980, 1988 and 1993 established a unique form of a federal state with segregated political power into three levels: The constitutional language areas determine the official languages in their municipalities, as well as the geographical limits of the empowered institutions for specific matters. Although this would allow for seven parliaments and governments when
8094-453: The country. Subsequently, private entrepreneurs applied to operate telephone networks in various Belgian cities, leading to the establishment of a legislative framework by the government to regulate telephony. By 1896, the entire telephone sector came under government ownership. By 1913 the most railway stations and post/telegraphoffices had a public telephone booth. During World War I, telecommunications in Belgium came to an abrupt end due to
8208-459: The demand for telecommunication services increased rapidly. The number of subscribers grew immensely: from about 350,000 in 1946 to 522,000 in 1951, to over a million in 1965. This growth in the customer base led to a high pace of investment, making RTT a leader in technological and social development by the end of the 1960s. However, this expansion policy also had a downside. From the late 1960s, debts began to accumulate. The economic crisis gripping
8322-527: The development of partnerships and ecosystems, and a strengthened focus on sustainable and digital business operations. Simultaneously, the company announced its intention to significantly accelerate the rollout of the fibre optic network through joint venture agreements with EQT and Eurofiber. It was deployed in sixteen cities in December 2020: Aalst, Antwerp, Brussels, Charleroi, Ghent, Hasselt, Kortrijk, Knokke-Heist, Leuven, Liège, Mechelen, Namur, Ostend, Sint-Niklaas, Roeselare, and Vilvoorde. Proximus launched
8436-633: The elections. Following a usage which can be traced back to the Burgundian and Habsburg courts, in the 19th century it was necessary to speak French to belong to the governing upper class, and those who could only speak Dutch were effectively second-class citizens. Late that century, and continuing into the 20th century, Flemish movements evolved to counter this situation. While the people in Southern Belgium spoke French or dialects of French, and most Brusselers adopted French as their first language,
8550-675: The environment, town and country planning, nature conservation, credit and foreign trade. They supervise the provinces, municipalities and intercommunal utility companies. In several fields, the different levels each have their own say on specifics. With education, for instance, the autonomy of the Communities neither includes decisions about the compulsory aspect nor allows for setting minimum requirements for awarding qualifications, which remain federal matters. Each level of government can be involved in scientific research and international relations associated with its powers. The treaty-making power of
8664-562: The exchange of shares between RTL and Bertelsmann , which gave RTL a minority participation in Bertelsmann, and the change of ownership of the BBL. He joined the RTL Group in 2001, which was created through the merger of CTL-UFA and Pearson Television (now FremantleMedia), as its CEO , where he focused on the group's international expansion. He concluded the merger with Pearson Television and launched
8778-409: The executive committee. BICS entered into new partnerships with Microsoft Azure and Google Cloud and was further expanding existing partnerships with Amazon Web Services. Telesign, in turn, announces its intention to go public and launches its Messaging API. The anti-fraud capabilities of its Score product have been enhanced, resulting in improved fraud detection accuracy and a significant decrease in
8892-523: The fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) and pharmaceutical sectors. In April 2007, Proximus and Belgacom introduced their initial bundled offerings, referred to as 'packs'. Furthermore, Belgacom focused on advancing its digital television services during this period. In 2008, Belgacom initiated the acquisitions of Scarlet and Tele2 Luxembourg. Belgacom acquired Scarlet NV,. In June 2008, the provider also acquired Tango from Tele2, an operator active in Luxembourg and Liechtenstein. In 2010, Belgacom Group completed
9006-516: The financial dependence of the state-owned company. The damage and dismantling of networks during the war required massive investments. On 19 July 1930, the RTT was founded, the Belgian national telegraph and telephone company. Increasingly, people started using telephones at home. Through the RTT, the government invested huge sums in the Belgian telephone network. A growing portion of the population, from various social classes, now had access to telephony. At
9120-423: The first 5G network in Belgium and also introduced "Flex" to the market, a new range of packages. An agreement was reached with Eurofiber and DELTA Fiber to expand and accelerate the rollout of the fibre optic network in Belgium. In June 2020, Proximus entered into a strategic partnership with Belfius to establish a neobank - a fully digital internet bank named Banx. Proximus Codit and Unbrace merged and an agreement
9234-409: The first mobile telephony provider in Belgium to offer 3G services to the public. In 2006, Belgacom acquired Telindus, enhancing its range of ICT services and network integration solutions tailored for businesses and professionals. Belgacom also completed the acquisition of the remaining 25% stake in Proximus from Vodafone and acquired Euremis, a provider of mobile CRM solutions catering to companies in
9348-767: The four components are subordinate to the Staff Department for Operations and Training of the Ministry of Defense , which is headed by the Assistant Chief of Staff Operations and Training , and to the Chief of Defense . The Belgian military consists of volunteers (conscription was abolished in 1995), and citizens of other EU states, Iceland, Norway, Switzerland, or Lichtenstein are also able to join. Belgium has troops deployed in several African countries as part of UN or EU missions, in Iraq for
9462-487: The full integration of its subsidiaries Belgacom Mobile SA/Proximus, Telindus NV, Telindus Sourcing SA, the activities of Belgacom Skynet SA, and the Belgian activities of Telindus Group NV into Belgacom SA to form a single legal entity. Partnerships were also signed with Jinni, In3Depth, Blinkx, and OnLive to further develop the Belgacom TV entertainment platform. Additionally, FON, the largest Wi-Fi community worldwide, became
9576-535: The government, and on 26 April 2010 King Albert officially accepted the resignation. The Parliamentary elections in Belgium on 13 June 2010 saw the Flemish nationalist N-VA become the largest party in Flanders, and the Socialist Party PS the largest party in Wallonia. Until December 2011, Belgium was governed by Leterme's caretaker government awaiting the end of the deadlocked negotiations for formation of
9690-554: The incumbent coalition (composed of Flemish and French-speaking Social Democrats, Liberals, and Christian Democrats) maintains a solid majority in Parliament and in all electoral constituencies. On 22 July 2014, King Philippe nominated Charles Michel (MR) and Kris Peeters (CD&V) to lead the formation of a new federal cabinet composed of the Flemish parties N-VA, CD&V, Open Vld and the French-speaking MR, which resulted in
9804-518: The inhabitants of the northernmost part of Gaul . They lived in a region stretching from Paris to the Rhine , which is much bigger than modern Belgium. However, he also specifically used the Latin word " Belgium " to refer to a politically dominant part of that region, which is now in northernmost France. In contrast, modern Belgium, together with neighbouring parts of the Netherlands and Germany, corresponds to
9918-463: The installation of Leopold I as king on 21 July 1831, now celebrated as Belgium's National Day , Belgium has been a constitutional monarchy and parliamentary democracy , with a laicist constitution based on the Napoleonic code . Although the franchise was initially restricted, universal suffrage for men was introduced after the general strike of 1893 (with plural voting until 1919) and for women in 1949. The main political parties of
10032-467: The invasion of Iraq . It is the only country that does not have age restrictions on euthanasia. Verhofstadt's coalition fared badly in the June 2007 elections . For more than a year, the country experienced a political crisis . This crisis was such that many observers speculated on a possible partition of Belgium . From 21 December 2007 until 20 March 2008 the temporary Verhofstadt III Government
10146-607: The lands of the most northerly Belgae – the Morini , Menapii , Nervii , Germani Cisrhenani , and Aduatuci . Caesar found these peoples particularly warlike and economically undeveloped, and described them as kinsmen of the Germanic tribes east of the Rhine. The area around Arlon in southern Belgium was a part of the country of the powerful Treveri , to whom some of them paid tribute. After Caesar's conquests, Gallia Belgica first came to be
10260-536: The majority shareholder with 50% + 1 of all shares, while the ADSB consortium sold all its shares. The IPO enabled the Belgian operator to release significant resources to finance its ambitions: offering fixed internet access via broadband or fibre optic (through the Broadway project). 2004 also saw the operator conducting the first tests of digital television in a few hundred households, aiming to tap into new revenue streams in
10374-533: The most densely populated and the richest by GDP per capita . Belgium is also home to two main linguistic communities: the Flemish Community ( Dutch -speaking), which constitutes about 60 percent of the population, and the French Community ( French -speaking), which constitutes about 40 percent of the population. A small German-speaking Community , making up around one percent of the population, exists in
10488-436: The next generation mobile networks (4.5G and 5G). Fibre for Belgium was deployed in 2017 for the first time in seven cities. Proximus extended its partnership with Vodafone for Belgium and Luxembourg, and acquired Davinsi Labs, enhancing its presence in the cybersecurity market. Starting from 12 June 2017, Proximus customers were able to surf, call, and text within the European Union without additional charges. The MyProximus app
10602-405: The occurrence of false positives. In 2022, approximately 1.28 million households and businesses have access to fibre connectivity. Proximus has forged partnerships with Odoo to support small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in their digitalisation efforts, as well as with Microsoft to collaborate on the development of sovereign cloud solutions. Additionally, Proximus has established Proximus Ada,
10716-635: The other Frankish kingdoms. During the 8th century, the empire of the Franks came to be ruled by the Carolingian dynasty , whose centre of power included the area which is now eastern Belgium. Over the centuries, it was divided up in many ways, but the Treaty of Verdun in 843 divided the Carolingian Empire into three kingdoms whose borders had a lasting impact on medieval political boundaries. Most of modern Belgium
10830-823: The parliament accepted a Dutch version of the Constitution . The Berlin Conference of 1885 ceded control of the Congo Free State to King Leopold II as his private possession. From around 1900 there was growing international concern for the extreme and savage treatment of the Congolese population under Leopold II , for whom the Congo was primarily a source of revenue from ivory and rubber production. Many Congolese were killed by Leopold's agents for failing to meet production quotas for ivory and rubber. In 1908, this outcry led
10944-504: The political and linguistic interests of these communities. The major parties in each community, though close to the political center, belong to three main groups: Christian Democrats , Liberals , and Social Democrats . Further notable parties came into being well after the middle of last century, mainly to represent linguistic , nationalist, or environmental interests, and recently smaller ones of some specific liberal nature. A string of Christian Democrat coalition governments from 1958
11058-423: The same time, another phenomenon emerged, which soon became a heavy burden for the company. During the economic crisis of the 1930s, the government used RTT in its industrial and employment policies. By forcing complete automation of the Belgian telephone network, the government tried to reduce the high unemployment rate in the sector. This strongly restricted the autonomy of the RTT. The 1930 law clearly stated that
11172-523: The southeast to the Hercynian orogenic belt . The Paris Basin reaches a small fourth area at Belgium's southernmost tip, Belgian Lorraine . The coastal plain consists mainly of sand dunes and polders . Further inland lies a smooth, slowly rising landscape irrigated by numerous waterways, with fertile valleys and the northeastern sandy plain of the Campine ( Kempen ). The thickly forested hills and plateaus of
11286-448: The transition from a unitary to a federal arrangement between 1970 and 1993. Despite the reforms, tensions have persisted: there is particularly significant separatist sentiment among the Flemish ; language laws such as the municipalities with language facilities have been the source of much controversy; and the government formation period following the 2010 federal election set a world record at 589 days. Unemployment in Wallonia
11400-704: The war were known as the Rape of Belgium due to German excesses. Belgium assumed control of the German colonies of Ruanda-Urundi (modern-day Rwanda and Burundi ) during the war, and in 1924 the League of Nations mandated them to Belgium. In the aftermath of the First World War, Belgium annexed the Prussian districts of Eupen and Malmedy in 1925, thereby causing the presence of a German-speaking minority. German forces again invaded
11514-676: The war. The Belgian Congo gained independence in 1960 during the Congo Crisis ; Ruanda-Urundi followed with its independence two years later. Belgium joined NATO as a founding member and formed the Benelux group of nations with the Netherlands and Luxembourg. Belgium became one of the six founding members of the European Coal and Steel Community in 1951 and of the European Atomic Energy Community and European Economic Community , established in 1957. The latter has now become
11628-558: The world and 6th in Europe . Belgium is part of an area known as the Low Countries , historically a somewhat larger region than the Benelux group of states, as it also included parts of northern France. The capital and largest metropolitan region is Brussels ; other major cities are Antwerp , Ghent , Charleroi , Liège , Bruges , Namur , and Leuven . Belgium is a sovereign state and
11742-413: The world from 1973 onwards did not help. Furthermore, the company was caught up in a corruption scandal: the RTT scandal. The company's financial situation only worsened and, from the mid-seventies, the RTT was forced to cut costs. Throughout the 1980s, the conviction grew that the telecommunications sector would become one of the key development poles of the late twentieth century. Thus, from 1981 onwards,
11856-735: Was also acquired to invest in the emerging Benelux Managed Security Market. Proximus successfully completed the acquisition of CODit and secured a commercial Fibre-to-the-Business wholesale deal with telecom operator Destiny. 2018 saw the first successful 5G outdoor trial in Belgium with Huawei, and the launch of the NB-IoT network for connecting digital gas and electricity meters for Fluvius. Meanwhile, major Belgian banks and mobile operators, including Proximus, introduced Itsme. This digital identification app enables Belgian citizens to log in and verify their identities with government agencies, banks, insurers, and other private companies. In 2019, Proximus unveiled
11970-461: Was appointed as the new CEO on 1 December 2019. He had been with Proximus since August 2017 as Chief Consumer Market Officer. Together with DPG Media and Rossel , Proximus launched a digital press offering called My e-Press and entered a partnership with construction firm Besix for smart buildings. The first 5G demonstrations focused on live video streaming, industrial robots, drones, virtual reality, and cloud gaming. In February 2020, Proximus and
12084-410: Was becoming more aggressive, Belgacom decided in 2003 to radically change its image. A new logo, new colours, and a desire to be closer to the customer were intended to bring a new momentum. These radical changes in the company's philosophy foreshadowed the operator's initial public offering (IPO). On 22 March 2004, Belgacom was listed on the stock market for the first time. The Belgian government remained
12198-554: Was broken in 1999 after the first dioxin crisis , a major food contamination scandal. A "rainbow coalition" emerged from six parties: the Flemish and the French-speaking Liberals, Social Democrats and Greens. Later, a " purple coalition " of Liberals and Social Democrats formed after the Greens lost most of their seats in the 2003 election . The government led by Prime Minister Guy Verhofstadt from 1999 to 2007 achieved
12312-534: Was designated the first permanent President of the European Council on 19 November 2009, he offered the resignation of his government to King Albert II on 25 November 2009. A few hours later, the new government under Prime Minister Yves Leterme was sworn in. On 22 April 2010, Leterme again offered the resignation of his cabinet to the king after one of the coalition partners, the OpenVLD , withdrew from
12426-524: Was in office. This was a coalition of the Flemish and Francophone Christian Democrats , the Flemish and Francophone Liberals together with the Francophone Social Democrats . On that day a new government , led by Flemish Christian Democrat Yves Leterme , the actual winner of the federal elections of June 2007 , was sworn in by the king. On 15 July 2008 Leterme offered the resignation of
12540-531: Was in the Middle Kingdom , later known as Lotharingia , but the coastal county of Flanders , west of the Scheldt , became the northernmost part of West Francia , the predecessor of France . In 870 in the Treaty of Meerssen , modern Belgium lands all became part of the western kingdom for a period, but in 880 in the Treaty of Ribemont , Lotharingia came under the lasting control of the eastern kingdom, which became
12654-416: Was launched, allowing customers to rewind up to 36 hours on popular linear TV channels. Through partnerships with companies like Apple and Samsung, customers gained access to a wide range of mobile devices. Additionally, a partnership with Netflix enabled customers to stream Netflix directly through Proximus TV. The company also pioneered innovative 4G technology deployment in Belgium, starting with roll-outs at
12768-448: Was launched, and Proximus acquired application developer Unbrace. Additionally, BICS completed the acquisition of Telesign, a communication platform and service company in the US. On 29 December 2017, Proximus discontinued its telegram service after over 150 years. In 2018, Proximus acquired Umbrio to bolster its position in the expanding IT, network, and analytics market. The Dutch company ION-IP
12882-565: Was reached with Disney+. In 2021, Proximus provided COVID-19 vaccination centres with connectivity, IT support and advanced IoT solutions to monitor vaccine temperatures. Proximus also acquired Mobile Vikings while Banx, the digital sustainable banking app, entered the Belgian market. The teleconsultation app Doktr was launched, and DigitAll members signed the Digital Inclusion Charter. Antonietta Mastroianni, Chief Digital & IT Officer, and Mark Reid, Chief Financial Officer, joined
12996-515: Was reorganized, and in 1992, the RTT was replaced by Belgacom PLC, an autonomous public-sector company. The company and the state entered into a management contract that ensured the provision of certain public services and granted the company more autonomy than was stipulated in the 1930 Act. From 1994 onwards, European convergence processes were accelerated. The European Commission stated in a new Green Paper that network operation and telephony should also be open to competition. Belgacom PLC evolved into
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