In Belgium, the dynamics of the mobile virtual network operators (MVNO) market experienced a notable slowdown in 2025. Despite the arrival of new players, intense competition limited progress, raising questions about the future of this sector. Discover the details of this evolution and the prospects ahead.
Key points to remember
The Belgian mobile virtual network operators market was marked by the arrival of Digi in December 2024. This new player intensified competition, affecting the growth of MVNOs. Although some providers managed to retain their customer base, the competitive environment hindered the overall market expansion.
At the end of the third quarter of 2025, the Belgian MVNO market had nearly 2.7 million SIM cards, representing just over 21% of the total SIM card market. Independent MVNOs maintained a market share of 6%, while the sub-brands of major operators such as Proximus and Orange represent more than 15%.
This relative stability highlights the difficulty for independent MVNOs to compete with sub-brands that benefit from larger marketing and distribution resources.
According to Telecompaper, sub-brands are expected to grow faster than independent MVNOs in the coming years. An annual growth of 2.1% is expected by 2029, which would bring the total number of SIM cards to 2.9 million.
This forecast is based on increased marketing efforts and improved distribution channels of sub-brands, which will continue to strengthen their market position.
Mobile virtual network operators have always played a crucial role in the Belgian telecom landscape. Offering telecommunication services using the infrastructure of other operators, MVNOs have the particularity of offering often more competitive rates. Historically, this model has allowed many consumers to access mobile services at lower costs, while energizing the mobile telephony market in Belgium.
Over time, the sub-brands of major operators have managed to capture a significant share of the market thanks to aggressive marketing strategies and attractive offers, which posed additional challenges to independent MVNOs. The future of these operators will largely depend on their ability to innovate and adapt to market and consumer demands.