Innovation
Innovator in Digital Communication
Innovation in digital communication means constantly finding smarter, more efficient, and more sustainable ways to connect people — and that’s exactly where Belgian Tower Company makes a difference. As an early adopter of emerging technologies, we continuously invest in progress and actively shape the future of digital broadcasting.
Sustainability plays a central role in this journey. We invest in energy-efficient broadcast technologies and have often been among the first to introduce major innovations. In 2012, we pioneered the transition from DVB-T to DVB-T2 in Belgium and Europe — enabling more channels, better quality, and lower energy consumption. In 2015, we launched Belgium’s first commercial DAB+ radio network, and in 2017, we were the first to upgrade the public broadcaster’s DAB network to DAB+. Each step marks a milestone in modernizing and making digital broadcasting more sustainable.
Today, we’re shaping the future with 5G Broadcast — the next-generation technology set to eventually replace DVB-T2 and DAB+. It allows users to receive radio and TV broadcasts directly on their smartphones, without streaming over traditional 4G or 5G networks. Built on a one-to-many principle, the signal is transmitted once and reaches everyone simultaneously, no matter how many viewers or listeners there are. That makes 5G Broadcast not only scalable and energy-efficient but also ideal for emergency communications — where traditional mobile networks often fail under heavy load, broadcast remains reliable.
Following a successful pilot project in Flanders (2022–2023), we are now preparing new tests and a commercial rollout starting in 2027, together with our shareholder Cordiant and technology partner Rohde & Schwarz. Belgian Tower Company is also part of the international 5G Broadcast Strategic Task Force, driving the rollout of this technology on a European scale.
Constantly Evolving to Shape the Future
From phasing out AM to rolling out 5G Broadcast — we keep driving innovation in digital communication.
AM Phase-Out
2011 - 2012
By shutting down AM technology, we deliberately embraced modern digital alternatives — a major step toward more efficient and sustainable radio broadcasting.
Transition from DVB-T to DVB-T2
2012 – 2013
As one of the first in Europe, we completed the full switch from DVB-T to DVB-T2 — the improved standard for digital television. The result: sharper image quality, more efficient frequency usage, and greater capacity for channels and services.
Launch of Commercial DAB+
2015
With the launch of Belgium’s first commercial DAB+ platform, we gave digital radio a powerful boost. For the first time, commercial broadcasters could step into a modern, energy-efficient, and interference-free technology. This marked a turning point in radio distribution, offering better sound quality and more channel capacity to the commercial sector.
Switch from DAB to DAB+
2017 – 2018
The public broadcaster also made the transition from DAB to DAB+. The old network was shut down and replaced simultaneously with a brand-new DAB+ infrastructure — marking the definitive end of DAB in Flanders.
5G Broadcast
2020 – 2025
In 2022 and 2023, we carried out our first test broadcasts, followed by new pilot projects planned from late 2025 onward. Unlike traditional mobile networks, 5G Broadcast uses a ‘one-to-many’ principle: a single signal effortlessly reaches an unlimited number of users. This makes the technology not only more efficient and sustainable for large-scale content distribution but also highly reliable. Even during major events or emergencies, 5G Broadcast remains stable and unaffected by network overload.
Commercial Rollout of 5G Broadcast
2027-2029
The rollout of 5G Broadcast in Belgium is planned for the coming years. After the successful test broadcasts in 2022–2023 and new pilot projects in 2025, this marks the logical next step forward.
