Core Points - Orange Belgium and Proximus have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to collaborate on expanding fiber deployment and improving access to gigabit networks in Wallonia [1][3] - The collaboration aims to benefit approximately 1.4 million homes and businesses in medium-to-low population density areas, while maintaining independent network rollouts in densely populated areas [3][5] - The partnership will enable around 70% of homes in Wallonia to be covered by Fiber-to-the-Home (FTTH) networks [5] Fiber Deployment Strategy - Proximus will continue to roll out FTTH to 600,000 homes and businesses in medium-density areas through its joint venture Unifiber [4] - In less densely populated areas, both companies will work together to make FTTH networks accessible to about 200,000 homes and businesses, using cost-efficient deployment methods [5] - Proximus will utilize Orange Belgium's Hybrid Fiber Coax (HFC) network to offer services to approximately 600,000 homes in sparsely populated zones, providing gigabit speeds [6] Benefits of Collaboration - The joint approach will minimize construction disruptions, accelerate deployment, and improve coordination with local authorities, leading to better cost control [7] - The MoU is a result of discussions following announcements from the Belgian Institute for Postal Services and Telecommunications (BIPT) and the Belgian Competition Authority (BCA) regarding potential collaborations [8] Future Developments - Further details on the cooperation agreement will be communicated after formal signing, expected in the fourth quarter [9] - Both companies emphasize the importance of collaboration for enhancing digitalization in Belgium, aiming for a win-win situation for citizens, businesses, and operators [11]