Orange Belgium Partners Proximus to Co-develop Shared 5G Access Network

Two Telecom companies, Orange Belgium and Proximus, have collaborated to develop shared mobile access network for 5G deployment in Belgium. It was reported by Reuters on Thursday.

According to the companies, operators can boost efficiency and invest correctly in 5G technologies by sharing parts of the mobile network access infrastructure.

The joint venture will aim to enhance the coverage in the region, making the 5G rollout process faster alongside with the combined number of mobile sites likely to be high by 20 percent then the existing separate radio access network.

The agreement is likely to be closed by the end of 2019 and according to the final signings, the network will be collectively planned, developed, and operated on a partnership basis.

Orange Belgium said: “Initially, the establishment cost for the development would be 130 million euros over three years. With that, a cumulative operating and capital expenditure savings of $337 million over 10 years will be delivered by the joint venture.”

Orange Belgium was incorporated in 1996 by Telinfo and France Télécom (now Orange S.A.). The company was formed by building a GSM 900 network and then founding a complementary DCS 1800 network.

Proximus is the largest telecom in Belgium.It was incorporated in 1930 and is headquartered in the capital city, Brussels.The company is controlled by the government.