Title: Internet in Belgium: Fiber, Cable, DSL & 4G Explained (2025 Guide)

Summary:

Choosing the right internet plan in Belgium means understanding the technology behind it. You've probably heard of the main options: fiber internet, coaxial cable, DSL, and 4G/5G home internet. In this guide, we explain how each technology works, compare internet plans by speed and coverage, and help you find the best solution for your home.

Internet Technologies in Belgium: Fiber, Cable, DSL, and 4G/5G Home Internet

When choosing an internet plan in Belgium, it's always good to check the technology used by the provider. It helps you evaluate the signal quality and whether you have the right installation at home to support it. Different providers rely on different technologies to deliver their internet service - mainly fiber, coaxial cable, DSL, and 4G/5G home internet.

Understanding how each internet technology works and what it means in terms of connection quality helps comparing more efficiently the offers available on the market. In this guide, we explain each of the four internet technologies in Belgium, go over their pros and cons, clear up common misconceptions, and compare their performance. After reading the article you should have a better understanding of what are the best internet technologies in Belgium for your use case.

1. Fiber Internet in Belgium

What is fiber internet?

Fiber optic internet uses extremely thin strands of glass or plastic to transmit data at the speed of light. Unlike copper-based technologies, fiber can carry enormous amounts of data without interference, making it the most advanced internet solution in Belgium today. It supports ultra-high-definition streaming, cloud gaming, video conferencing, and other data-heavy uses with ease.

How it works:

Fiber cables send information as pulses of light, which travel nearly as fast as light itself. Because light signals don't degrade over long distances, fiber provides consistent speeds regardless of how far you live from the provider's central hub. Unlike cable or DSL, the line is dedicated to your home, so you don't share bandwidth with neighbors. Another important advantage is that fiber technology allows the same high capacity in both directions, meaning upload and download speeds are equal (symmetrical). Download speed affects activities such as streaming, browsing, and online gaming, while upload speed is essential for sharing files, using the cloud, and conducting high-quality video conferences.

Pros of fiber internet:

• Ultra-fast speeds (up to 1 Gbps and beyond).
• Extremely stable and reliable connection.
• Equal upload and download speeds (symmetrical).
• Future-proof technology.

Cons of fiber internet:

• Limited availability, mostly in cities and some urban areas.
• Installation may require new wiring in your home.
• Plans are often slightly more expensive than DSL or cable.

2. Cable Internet (Coaxial) in Belgium

What is cable internet?

Coaxial cable internet uses the same type of cable that has long been used for television. In Belgium, providers like Telenet and Orange rely on this network to deliver broadband internet. Cable is one of the most widespread technologies in the country, covering both cities and many smaller towns.

How it works:

A coaxial cable has a solid copper core, insulation, and metal shielding that allows it to transmit both TV and internet signals simultaneously. Internet providers allocate a portion of the bandwidth on this cable for internet traffic. Since several households in a neighborhood share the same line, the available capacity is distributed among them, which can lead to slower speeds during peak hours when many people are online.

Pros of cable internet:

• Wide coverage across Belgium.
• Historically offered faster speeds than DSL when it was first introduced.
• Easy installation if you already have cable TV.

Cons of cable internet:

• Bandwidth is shared with neighbors, which can reduce speed at busy times.
• Upload speeds are much lower than download speeds.
• Technology is being phased out in favor of fiber or coaxial fiber.

2b. Coaxial Fiber Internet (HFC) in Belgium

What is coaxial fiber internet?

Coaxial fiber, often called hybrid fiber-coax (HFC), is a mix of two technologies. Fiber optic cables are used to bring the signal very close to your home, usually up to a local street cabinet. From there, a coaxial cable completes the connection into your home. This combination allows providers to deliver faster speeds than DSL while relying on existing coaxial infrastructure.

How it works:

The heavy data load travels through fiber optic lines until it reaches your neighborhood. Then, the last stretch from the street cabinet to your house runs on coaxial cable. This “last mile” design makes coaxial fiber faster than traditional DSL but not as future-proof as full fiber. Because the final connection is coaxial, bandwidth is still shared between households in the same area. Also, while this technology offers very high download speed, the upload speed remains fairly low compared to full fiber.

Pros of coaxial fiber:

• Faster than DSL and more stable than traditional coaxial cable.
• Already widely deployed in Belgium, especially by providers like Telenet and Orange.
• Uses existing coaxial connections, so installation is usually straightforward.

Cons of coaxial fiber:

• Not as fast or future-proof as full fiber.
• Shared bandwidth can cause slower speeds at peak times.
• Upload speeds are usually lower than download speeds.

3. DSL Internet in Belgium

What is DSL internet?

DSL (Digital Subscriber Line) uses the traditional copper telephone network to deliver internet access. It was one of the first broadband technologies widely adopted in Belgium and remains in use because of its broad coverage, particularly in rural areas.

How it works:

Telephone lines carry voice signals at low frequencies. DSL takes advantage of higher frequencies on the same copper wire to transmit internet data, allowing internet and phone services to run simultaneously. However, the further your home is from the local telephone exchange, the weaker the signal gets, which directly affects your internet speed.

Pros of DSL internet:

• Available almost everywhere in Belgium.
• Affordable compared to newer technologies.
• Works with existing telephone lines, no new infrastructure needed.

Cons of DSL internet:

• Limited speeds (usually between 10 and 150 Mbps).
• Performance decreases with distance from the exchange.
• Technology is outdated and less suited for heavy internet use.

4. 4G/5G Home Internet in Belgium

What is 4G/5G home internet?

4G (or 5G) home internet uses the mobile network to provide broadband access at home. In Belgium, this solution is offered by operators like Tadaam. They target users looking for flexibility and those living in remote areas where fiber, cable, or DSL are not available.

How it works:

A special modem or router connects to the 4G (or 5G) mobile network and distributes the signal in your home via Wi-Fi. Unlike wired technologies, you can move this modem around easily. For example, you can use it in your apartment, take it with you to your garden for outdoor internet, or even bring it to a second residence in the countryside. This makes it a portable solution for people who value mobility.

Pros of 4G/5G internet:

• Works wherever there is mobile coverage.
• Very easy to install - just plug it in.
• Flexible: can be used at home, outdoors, or in another residence.

Cons of 4G/5G internet:

• Speeds and stability depend on mobile network quality.
• The performance is lower than fiber or cable.
• Plans may come with data limits.

Misconceptions About Internet in Belgium

1. Fiber and cable are the same.

   Not true. Fiber uses light while cable uses electricity. Fiber is much faster and more stable.

2. DSL in the city is just as good as fiber.

   Wrong. DSL speeds depend on your distance from the exchange, so even in urban areas it can be slow.

3. 4G is only for mobile phones.

   False. Dedicated 4G routers can provide full home internet.

4. All providers offer the same technology everywhere.

   Incorrect. Availability depends on infrastructure, which varies by region.

5. Fiber is always available if the provider offers it.

   Wrong. Even if your provider advertises fiber, it may not yet be rolled out in your specific street or building.

How to Check Which Technology You Can Access

Not all technologies are available in every location in Belgium. To know what's possible for you:

1. Use your provider's online coverage checker. Most providers automatically check the availability of the product at your address before letting you subscribe
2. On our comparison website, filter plans by technology (fiber, cable, DSL, or 4G/5G) to instantly see only the offers available at your address.

Comparison of Internet Technologies in Belgium

In the table below we compared for you the key differences between technologies which you should keep in mind when comparing offers:

Conclusion: Understanding Internet Technologies in Belgium

When you choose an internet provider in Belgium, you're also choosing the technology behind it—whether that's fiber, cable, DSL, or 4G/5G. Each comes with its own strengths and limitations: fiber offers the fastest speeds, cable provides wide coverage, DSL remains available almost everywhere, and 4G/5G offers maximum flexibility.

By understanding these differences, you can better evaluate offers and ensure your chosen plan matches your needs. Don't forget—you can filter by technology on our comparison website to quickly find the right plan for your home.