The last communication from BIPT – IBPT is an important moment for customer protection and tariff transparency in Belgium. Link to Press Release

With its decision of 28 January 2026, the Regulator clarifies how Articles 108, 109 and 110 of the Electronic Communications Act must actually be applied. In doing so, it brings more order and structure to provisions that existed in the Law but were not always implemented in a consistent way.

Belgium now stands out in Europe. It is currently the only EU country requiring operators to proactively inform customers every year about their most advantageous tariff plan. Other Member States have transparency obligations, but not with this level of recurring, structured requirement.

So what does this mean in practice?
Any operator offering more than one standardised tariff plan must:
Inform each customer at least once per year about the best tariff plan
Base this tariff recommendation analysis using 3 months of usage data
Apply the same logic at contract renewal
Be able to explain and justify the calculation methodology if audited
Be fully compliant within 9 months

This concerns large and small operators alike
And it also applies to B2B customers served through standardised offers

Two things really matter here :
1⃣ Methodology. It’s not enough to say a tariff is “better”. Operators must define how they calculate that, apply it consistently and be able to document it.
2⃣ Timing. Nine months may sound comfortable, but when data flows, internal processes and possibly IT systems are involved, the clock moves fast.

The legal framework is now clearer. Expectations are more structured. The countdown has started.

If you’d like to exchange views on what this means in practice, feel free to contact AskGreg

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Why Vonage Was Fined ?

Ofcom’s investigation concluded that Vonage lacked adequate change management, testing, and oversight processes within its VoIP network. These weaknesses left business customers unable to dial emergency numbers for nearly two weeks.

Analysis: The Vonage case highlights the risks of reactive compliance. Ofcom provides early signals through consultations and draft regulations, yet Vonage acted only after a failure occurred. That approach left customers vulnerable, regulators dissatisfied, and the company exposed to sanctions.

Belgium: Proximus and Nationwide Failures

In April 2019, Belgium’s incumbent operator Proximus suffered a nationwide outage that disrupted access to emergency services 100, 101, and 112. The regulator BIPT investigated the incident, published a report, and in 2023 launched a public consultation on introducing a redundancy system for emergency calls. This shows regulators are moving from sanctioning after failures to designing structural safeguards to ensure resilience nationwide.

Australia: Optus, Fines and Renewed Concern

In Australia, the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) investigated Optus after its nationwide outage in November 2023 disrupted access to Triple Zero (000). The outage was directly linked to the deaths of several people who were unable to reach emergency services.

Following its inquiry, ACMA fined Optus A$12 million for breaching emergency call rules — one of the largest telecom penalties in Australia.

More recently, in September 2025, ACMA announced it was deeply concerned after reports of another disruption to Triple Zero. The regulator launched a new official inquiry, warning: “Australians must be able to contact emergency services whenever they need help.”

Lessons for Operators

Across the UK, Belgium, and Australia, the message is consistent:

1. Anticipate early — consultations and draft rules are advance warnings.
2. Engineer redundancy — resilience must be built into networks, not bolted on later.
3. Test and monitor rigorously — ongoing testing and change management prevent catastrophic failures.
4. Communicate transparently — during outages, timely updates sustain public trust.

Turning Compliance into Leadership

Emergency call obligations are not regulatory checkboxes — they are lifelines. The Vonage fine, the Proximus outage, and the Optus penalty demonstrate that regulators across continents are tightening standards and demanding accountability.

Operators who anticipate regulation, invest in resilience, and engage proactively will position themselves as leaders in trust and reliability. Those who wait until enforcement arrives risk financial, reputational, and — in the worst cases — human costs.

At @AskGreg, I help operators across Europe navigate regulation, secure interconnections, and build agile go-to-market strategies that protect both business momentum and public safety.

The post Emergency Calls and Telecom Regulation: Lessons from the Vonage Case appeared first on AskGreg.

The Telecom Angle – Updated Description

Welcome to The Telecom Angle, a space where real-world telecom experience meets fresh perspective. Here, I share insights, field notes and reflections shaped by more than two decades inside the industry’s most complex environments.

If you’re curious about how interconnect really works behind the scenes, why number portability still keeps operators awake at night, or how regulatory decisions quietly reshape business models, you’re in the right place.

This isn’t a place for generic trends or recycled buzzwords. It’s a blog built for people who want clarity, context and practical takeaways — with a touch of candid commentary from someone who has sat on both sides of the table.

Whether you are an operator, a challenger, a partner or just telecom-curious, stay tuned. You might discover angles you didn’t even know existed.

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