In order to serve the large business segment alternative operators use Proximus wholesale offers that may fall under the product definition of either Market 3b1/2014 or Market 4/2014.
On both markets Proximus has significant market power and therefore both in the CRC Decision of 29 June 2018 regarding the analysis of the broadband and television broadcasting markets and in the BIPT Decision of 13 December 2019 on the analysis of the high-quality access market the BIPT forbade Proximus to practise margin squeeze.
We talk of price squeeze or margin squeeze when the margin between all relevant revenues and the wholesale costs is not sufficient to cover the proper network and retail costs, including a reasonable return on capital.
Margin squeeze can severely disrupt competition, jeopardising the possibilities of choice for the end-customer (in this case, wholesale customers) in the end.
As for the large business segment the BIPT carried out a margin squeeze test for the first time in 2021 on the entire business portfolio of Proximus.
As discussed in its communication of 7 December 2021, the BIPT could not find at the time any margin squeeze practices at the portfolio level based on this test.
In that communication the BIPT also pointed out this does not exclude the possibility that in individual cases competitive problems may occur in that segment and that in view of that the BIPT will monitor the competition situation in that segment by performing systematic tests at the level of individual contracts.
The BIPT has now carried out a third margin squeeze test on a selection of Proximus contracts concluded between 1 July 2024 and 1 July 2025. The test analysis identified four contracts with a negative margin prima facie.
Those four contracts have been analysed further.
Additional information showed that there was no negative margin for three of the contracts. As for the fourth contract, the second analysis also points to a possible infringement. However, the BIPT considers that there is insufficient justification for initiating infringement proceedings.
- FR: Download document "Communication du 28 janvier 2026 concernant l’application d’un test de compression de marge pour le segment des grandes entreprises au niveau des contrats individuels"
- NL: Download document "Mededeling van 28 januari 2026 betreffende het toepassen van een margin squeeze-test voor het grootzakelijke segment op het niveau van individuele contracten"