Belgium must double its workforce in the Information and Communications Technology (ICT) sector by 2030 and urgently address infrastructure gaps, particularly in fibre optic coverage, to meet European digitalisation goals, according to a new report published Monday by the Federal Public Service (FPS) Economy.
Currently, only 5.7% of the Belgian workforce is employed in ICT—a figure that needs to rise to at least 10% within the next six years to align with the European Commission’s Digital Decade targets.
The report highlights a growing concern that without significant investment and policy reforms, Belgium risks falling behind its EU neighbours in the global digital race. In addition to the workforce shortfall, Belgium ranks at the bottom of the EU in fibre optic internet availability.
Just 30.7% of the population has access to fibre connections, far below the EU average of 69.2%. Although the figure represents a 6% improvement over the previous year, the pace of deployment is still not fast enough to close the gap.
Fibre optic connections are widely regarded as essential for high-speed, stable internet access. The slow expansion in Belgium is attributed to the complexity and cost of laying fibre, particularly in densely populated or historically preserved urban areas.
Proximus remains the leading player in fibre deployment, while joint ventures such as Wyre (Telenet/Fluvius) and DIGI are also working to expand the network. However, the projects are labour-intensive and time-consuming.
Despite the weak fibre figures, Belgium is not entirely at a disadvantage. The report notes that fixed internet with very high capacity—combining coaxial cable and fibre optics—is accessible to 93.8% of the population, which is significantly higher than the EU average of 82.49%.
On the mobile front, Belgium has made remarkable progress. As of 2024, 96.87% of households are in areas with 5G coverage, marking a dramatic 56% increase in just one year. This places Belgium ahead of the EU average of 94.35% and reflects the country’s rapid catch-up in next-generation mobile technology.
Industry analysts caution, however, that strong mobile and coaxial broadband networks cannot fully substitute for robust fibre optic infrastructure. “Fibre is the backbone of any advanced digital economy,” said a spokesperson for the FPS Economy. “Without it, we risk bottlenecks that hinder innovation, teleworking, and economic competitiveness.”
The report calls for an accelerated rollout of fibre optics, targeted ICT education and training programs, and closer collaboration between government, telecom operators, and educational institutions.
As Belgium aims to meet the EU’s 2030 digital targets, bridging the workforce and infrastructure gap will be crucial. The clock is ticking—and the country must act fast to stay competitive in an increasingly digital Europe.
This article was created using automation technology and was thoroughly edited and fact-checked by one of our editorial staff members
