Spirit
How much value really stays in Belgium ?
Spirit measures what no price comparison site looks at: jobs, governance, local presence and network investment by an operator in Belgium. A local-roots score, not a quality rating.
01
What this criterion measures
Jobs in Belgium
30 %Direct jobs + partners, resellers and network works.
Belgian governance
25 %The nationality of the group that makes decisions, its history and its management in Belgium.
Local presence
20 %Own shops, points of sale, presence on the ground.
Network investment
15 %Money invested in Belgian infrastructure: fibre, antennas, 5G.
Belgian shareholding
10 %Who ultimately pockets the profits.
02
A real criterion, never imposed
Your choice, not an obligation
Spirit rewards the operators that keep the Belgian economy alive. This is a deliberate stance taken by BLOXI.
Like the other four criteria, it carries a minimum weight 11 % in the ranking — never zero. In the questionnaire, you can give it more weight if local roots matter to you, or leave it at the minimum. It's your call.
03
The Spirit ranking
Score out of 10. Click an operator for the detail.
1ProximusProximus network10.0
Fully Belgian roots: the State as shareholder, ~9 500 jobs, the densest network and shop network. Unbeatable on this criterion.
Jobs in Belgium30 %
9 489 direct + massive reseller network
10
Belgian governance25 %
Belgian State 53.51% · since 1879 · management in Brussels
10.00
Local presence20 %
121 own shops — nationwide coverage
10
Network investment15 %
~1.3 bn€/year · 9 bn€ fibre plan · own 5G · open network
10
Belgian shareholding10 %
Belgian State 53.51% — reference shareholder
10
2TelenetTelenet network7.7
Strong jobs and network investment in Flanders, but financial control is American (Liberty Global).
Jobs in Belgium30 %
3 530 direct + Wyre/Fluvius fibre works
8
Belgian governance25 %
Controlled by Liberty Global (USA, financial) · founded BE 1996
6.50
Local presence20 %
90 shops Flanders/BXL + BASE brand in Wallonia
10
Network investment15 %
~1 bn€/year · Wyre 2 bn€ fibre Flanders · own 5G
9
Belgian shareholding10 %
100% Liberty Global (USA) — outside the EU, but financial
3
3OrangeOrange network7.0
Own network and 94 shops, but a French operating group — direct competitor, hence the governance penalty.
Jobs in Belgium30 %
~3 000 direct + call centres brought back from Tunisia → Herstal
7
Belgian governance25 %
Orange SA Paris operational 69.6% · Mobistar 1994
5.80
Local presence20 %
94 own shops — nationwide coverage
8
Network investment15 %
VOO takeover 1.8 bn€ · own 5G · cable Wallonia/BXL
8
Belgian shareholding10 %
Orange SA France 69.6% (EU operational) + Nethys BE 11%
6
4BASETelenet network5.3
Decent partner presence, but 0 own network investment (uses Telenet) and American control.
Jobs in Belgium30 %
~400 direct + 116 Belgian partner points
5
Belgian governance25 %
Telenet subsidiary → Liberty Global (USA)
6.00
Local presence20 %
Partner network — gradual closure of direct shops
7
Network investment15 %
Uses the Telenet network — 0 own investment
4
Belgian shareholding10 %
100% Telenet → Liberty Global (USA)
3
5ScarletProximus network5.0
100% Belgian chain (Proximus) that saves the governance score, but few jobs and a leased network.
Jobs in Belgium30 %
~150 direct + authorised resellers
4
Belgian governance25 %
Proximus subsidiary (Belgian) · founded in Belgium 2006
7.60
Local presence20 %
Authorised independent resellers
4
Network investment15 %
Pure MVNO — network leased from Proximus
1
Belgian shareholding10 %
100% Proximus → 100% Belgian chain
9
6VOOOrange network4.8
Genuine Walloon cable network, but jobs transferred to Orange and French control.
Jobs in Belgium30 %
Jobs transferred to Orange · Walloon cable network
5
Belgian governance25 %
Orange SA via Orange Belgium · former inter-municipal companies 2004
5.30
Local presence20 %
Corners transitioning to Orange
3
Network investment15 %
Walloon cable network (now Orange NetCo)
6
Belgian shareholding10 %
100% Orange Belgium → Orange SA France
5
7Mobile VikingsProximus network4.1
Belgian chain (Proximus) and good governance, but a digital MVNO: few jobs, no network and no shops.
Jobs in Belgium30 %
~250 direct · digital-first, little indirect
3
Belgian governance25 %
Proximus subsidiary (Belgian) · founded in Leuven 2008
7.90
Local presence20 %
Purely digital — floor
1
Network investment15 %
Pure MVNO — network leased from Proximus
1
Belgian shareholding10 %
100% Proximus → 100% Belgian chain
9
8DIGIown network + Proximus3.5
The only newcomer building a real Belgian network (FTTH + 5G). But overall roots are still weak (few jobs, no shops, Romanian JV) → stays low, which is fair.
Jobs in Belgium30 %
~50 direct + network works (growing)
3
Belgian governance25 %
JV Citymesh (BE) + DIGI (Romania) · 2023
4.30
Local presence20 %
Purely digital — floor
1
Network investment15 %
CORRECTED 4→6: building its own FTTH + 4G/5G network · >114 M€ in BIPT frequencies · the only newcomer building infrastructure
6
Belgian shareholding10 %
JV Citymesh (BE) + DIGI Romania — mixed EU
4
9YoinProximus network3.1
Belgian chain, but the fewest jobs in the panel and no physical presence at all.
Jobs in Belgium30 %
<100 directs · quasi aucun indirect
1
Belgian governance25 %
Proximus subsidiary · Dutch origin (Youfone 2012)
6.60
Local presence20 %
Purely digital — floor
1
Network investment15 %
Pure MVNO — network leased from Proximus
1
Belgian shareholding10 %
100% Proximus since 2024
8
10hey!Orange network2.7
Recent Orange digital brand: few jobs, leased network, French control. Last on Belgian roots.
Jobs in Belgium30 %
~150 direct · fixed internet growth 2023
3
Belgian governance25 %
Orange SA via Orange Belgium · brand created 2020
3.90
Local presence20 %
Purely digital — floor
1
Network investment15 %
Pure MVNO — network leased from Orange
1
Belgian shareholding10 %
100% Orange Belgium → Orange SA France
5
04
Sources & transparency
Crossroads Bank for Enterprises (jobs) · operators' annual reports (investment, headcount) · public shareholding structure · IBPT frequency allocations · branch count.
An operator can contest its score with supporting data: connect@bloxi.be — reply within 30 days. The calculation details are public.