Belgian telecom minister working on compensation rules for outages

Belgian telecom minister Alexander De Croo is working on a legal framework concerning compensation for telecom interruptions. He is basing his work on the legal framework that has been in effect in the Netherlands since 1 July. Belgium does not yet have a compensation obligation.

A legally compulsory compensation regime has been in effect in the Netherlands since July, in case of telecoms failures. The Dutch telecom providers have determined a minimum level in the regulation. They must offer the obligatory compensation in cash, with a minimum amount per disturbance day. The rules also offer the possibility of offering compensation in kind, but operators do not opt ​​for this.

Minister De Croo is now working on a similar arrangement. He hopes to have the draft proposal approved by the Council of Ministers at first reading in February. This will be followed by a mandatory period of public consultation and consultation with the federal states before the parliament can definitively approve the legal obligation.