Setting up internet, TV, and home phone in Belgium

Setting up internet, TV, and home phone in Belgium costs €30-80 monthly through major providers like Proximus, Orange, Telenet, and Scarlet, with most offering bundled packages including 100+ TV channels, unlimited landline calls, and broadband speeds up to 1 Gbps. Whether you're moving to Brussels or the Flemish countryside, getting connected typically takes 7-14 days from application to installation.

Whether you're renting an apartment in Brussels or buying a family home in the Flemish countryside, one of the first things to do when you move in is to get yourself connected. Setting up your television, landline telephone, and broadband is a great way to make your new house feel like home.

Getting Connected in a New Home

Whether you're buying or renting, it's highly likely that you'll need to set up your own TV, phone, and internet connection when you move to Belgium. If you're renting, it's possible that your new home will already have these services and the cost will be included in your monthly payments. Make sure to clarify these charges with your landlord prior to signing any rental contract.

Generally speaking, serviced apartments in Belgium come with communications services included as standard. If you're staying long-term, you can then choose to either disconnect and find your own provider or continue using the existing connections.

Communications in Belgium

If you need to set up TV, home phone, and internet in your new home, Belgium has a whole host of options to choose from. The biggest TV, internet, and phone providers in Belgium include:

• Orange
• Proximus
• Scarlet
• Telenet

Providers will often offer discounted packages that include television, landline telephone, and broadband connections. Some also include discounts for mobile phone subscriptions, so it's best to shop around. The easiest way to do this is with a comparison site like Aanbieders.

Setting Up TV in Belgium

Television in Belgium is generally good quality and widely accessible. Both Flemish and French public TV networks are available digitally, alongside a range of other national and international channels.

Belgians love their cable TV, and the country has one of the most extensive networks in Europe. Through cable TV, residents in each region (Dutch-speaking, French-speaking, and German-speaking areas) can enjoy popular TV channels from across the border.

Most providers offer a basic package that comes as standard with their internet service, including expat-friendly channels like BBC One, BBC Two, CNN, and MTV alongside local and Dutch/French/German channels. Additional packages typically include international sports and movie channels, on-demand movies and TV series, and interactive TV for pausing and recording live television.

How Do I Set Up TV in Belgium?

Setting up your new TV connection is relatively straightforward. Once you've chosen your provider and preferred package, you'll receive a package in the mail with all the cables, boxes, and connections needed. This will come with an instruction booklet (likely in French, Dutch, and maybe German). Most providers also offer an installation service for first-time subscribers.

Getting a Landline Telephone in Belgium

While some expats will be happy with just a mobile phone, others enjoy having a home phone. A landline can be particularly useful if you plan to speak to friends and family back home a lot, as they can often work out cheaper than mobile phone calls.

Proximus (formerly Belgacom) is the biggest provider of home phone connections and remains part-owned by the Belgian state. Phone calls are generally cheap in Belgium. You may want to register with a dedicated international specialist if you plan on calling friends and family overseas.

How Do I Set Up a Landline Phone in Belgium?

Setting up your home phone in Belgium is fairly straightforward. Once you've signed up and your phone line has been connected (if necessary), you'll probably need to simply plug in your phone.

Setting Up an Internet Connection in Belgium

Belgium has a widespread and accessible broadband network that ranks highly compared to other European countries. The most common form of connection is cable, although an increasing number of users are opting for fiber-optic. Not all areas can support fiber-optic, so check with your provider.

When choosing a provider, most offer packages priced according to download speed and extras like TV channels and on-demand subscriptions. If your kids spend a lot of time gaming, you'll need a higher download speed. If your family enjoys Netflix or other streaming services, a lower download speed should suffice.

How Do I Set Up the Internet in Belgium?

Connecting to home broadband is fairly easy. Providers will either offer an installation service or send you a DIY installation kit with instructions. If you're connecting to TV, internet, and home phone at the same time, you may prefer the installation service.

Getting a VPN in Belgium

When moving abroad, it's important to ensure your privacy and security while surfing online. A Virtual Private Network (VPN) can help you browse with more anonymity and unblock online content. VPNs available in Belgium include:

• Atlas VPN
• ClearVPN
• CyberGhost VPN
• ExpressVPN
• NordVPN
• Surfshark
• VyprVPN

Paying for Your Bills in Belgium

Paying for your TV, internet, or landline phone bills is usually done on a monthly basis through direct debit or bank transfer. If you take out a package deal, services will be billed together. Depending on your provider, you may need a Belgian bank account to set up these payments.

Making a Complaint About a Telecoms Company

Every telecommunications provider in Belgium has its own complaints process. Should you want to complain about the company itself, you can contact the Belgian Institute for Postal Services and Telecommunications. They have an English language page where you can submit your complaint and all relevant supporting documentation.