Agoria warns Brussels radiation rules slowing 5G roll-out

Brussels will not be the first city in Belgium to get 5G, according to tech industry group Agoria. The standards of the Brussels Region for antenna radiation are too strict and that is limiting operator plans. Agoria believes Antwerp and Liege will get 5G sooner. The European Commission wants every country to have at least one city with 5G in 2020. Agoria said Brussels will not be part of that network and that it may even become a 'white spot'.

At the beginning of this month, the seven largest telecom operators in the country and Agoria called for a "New Deal" for the sector, Agoria said that the telecom sector is prepared to continue investing in digital networks and services, but was calling on the government to create a supportive framework for this.

A spokesman for Bianca Debaets, the Brussels state secretary for digitisation, said the capital region is on track for the roll-out of a 5G network by 2021. The government is already working on ways to shorten the period for obtaining mobile site permits, reports local TV channel BX1. Environment minister Celine Fremault told the channel Bruzz that the government was working to support the roll-out of 5G, but would not be held to a fixed deadline.