Belgium

General information
There are 3 (physical) network operators in Belgium: About 40 virtual operators (MVNOs) are in the country, mostly on Base, some on Mobistar network.
 * Proximus (owned by Belgacom)
 * Base (owned by the Dutch KPN Group)
 * Mobistar (owned by Orange, France Telecom)

2G and 3G coverage
The whole country is covered by all three networks on 900 and 1800 Mhz in 2G. On 900 and mostly 2100 Mhz Proximus has the best 3G coverage for most of the country, Mobistar has good 3G coverage in the north with less coverage in the south and Base has good alround 3G coverage but still not as good as Proximus..


 * Proximus Coverage


 * Base Coverage


 * Mobistar Coverage

4G/LTE coverage and accessibility
As in 3G Proximus has the best 4G/LTE coverage reaching already 70% of population, though just starting in Brussels. Base reaches around 50% on 4G and Mobistar started in March 2014 in 270 communities with LTE. All 3 providers use the 1800 Mhz band only and offer 4G where available free to their own prepaid costumers and some of their MVNOs.

BASE
Base has a good coverage all over the country in 2to4G and is home to the most MVNOs. In 2G their EDGE is faster than Proximus or Mobicom.

Startup cost
Their prepaid product called "B-prepaid+" is sold in a Base shop store locator for € 15 or get it online for € 5 to a Belgium address. This amount is fully converted into credit. 4G/LTE is included without a surcharge. For recharges you are limited to vouchers called Easy Card sold all over the country or directly at Base shops, as online top ups require a Belgium bank card.

Default data rate
0.50 EUR per MB

Data feature packs
The option "Surf & mail" must be booked on the cards to get cheap internet: To activate, text SURF5 or SURF10 to 1914. For overuse or after 30 days you will surf on the default rate. The packs can be booked as many times as you like.
 * Surf & mail 5: 100 MB in 30 days for 5 EUR
 * Surf & mail 10: 1 GB in 30 days for 10 EUR

SIM sizes
Mini SIM, Micro SIM, Nano SIM

More info
Below is a selection of MVNOs operation on the Base network:
 * APN: gprs.base.be
 * Username and Password: base
 * using Blackberrys only suitable from OS 10
 * their website in english online

Aldi Talk (by Medionmobile)
Aldi Talk is the prepaid card of one of the big discounter supermarket chains in Belgium on Base network. It is sold exclusively in their markets ALDI store locator. It may not be on display in the market but you have to ask for it at check out / cash register for it.

Start up cost
They sell it for 9.99 EUR including 10 EUR of credit. It has a standard PIN code of 1111. Then you have to place one call for activation. Top ups are by vouchers of 10 or 20 EUR available there.

Default data rate
pay as you go rate without pack is 0.25 EUR per MB

Data feature packs
Activate Internet Bund by sending "BUNDLE BUY DATA###" to "1966". ### stands for the package size of 400 or 1000. Send "BUNDLE USAGEALL" to check consumed traffic. When the bundle is used up by volume or time, you surf on the default rate or buy another bundle anytime.
 * 1 GB  in 30 days for 9.50 EUR
 * 400 MB in 30 days for 4.00 EUR

Technical info

 * APN: web.be
 * User and Password: web
 * not for Blackberrys
 * website in german, dutch or french only

Allo RTL
Allo RTL is another MVNO on the Base network. You can only get their SIM in the French-speaking part of Belgium including Brussels.

Availability and start up costs
In Base stores and Allo Telecom shops [http://www.allortl.be/page/allo-rtl-ou-nous-trouver/525.aspx? store locator] in the frenchspeaking part only. The SIM costs 10 € and comes with 10 € of credit. Top ups can by made with BASE vouchers of 5, 15 and 20 € sold all over the country.

Default data rate
0.50 EUR per MB. Activation by texting SURF to 1957

Data feature packs
The following data packs are available and must be activated by texting the code to 1957
 * 25 MB in 30 days: 3 EUR, activation code: DATA3
 * 450 MB in 30 days: 9 EUR, activation code. DATA9
 * 1 GB in 30 days: 15 EUR, activation code: DATA15
 * 1 GB in 30 days for Blackberrys: 15 EUR, activation code: BB

Technical details

 * APN: gprs.base.be
 * Username and Password: base
 * more info online only in French

JIM MobileJIM-MOBILE-ft.jpg
JIM Mobile is a MVNO on the Base network, which is sold only in the dutch speaking part of Belgium including Brussels.

Availability
You can get a prepaid SIM card online for free to be sent to a Belgium address or telecom shops in the dutch speaking part of Belgium store locator. The electronics shop at the Eurostar terminal sells prepaid 15 Euro SIM cards. They speak English and will be the first point of purchase for many Brits. Top ups can be made by Base vouchers sold all over the country.

Activation
You must call the operator to activate your SIM card. They answer in either Dutch or French, I found that choosing French will allow you to ask for an English speaking operator. They will then register your account in either English, French or Dutch. Beware: If your account is registered in English, the MEGASURF bolt on will not work. Insist the operator registers you in French or Dutch. When you SMS "MEGASURF", make sure you get a txt back confirming that it is operating.

Data feature packs
Default rate is 0.50 EUR per MB. They have the following packs available which must be activation by sending the code to 1984.
 * 500 MB in 30 days: 5 EUR, activation code: MEGASURF
 * 1 GB in 30 days: 10 EUR, activation code: SURFMAX
 * 1 GB for Blackberrys in 30 days: 15 EUR, activation code: BB

Technical info

 * APN: see Base or Allo RTL above
 * Website available in dutch and french only

Mobile Vikings MV.jpg
Mobile Vikings is another MVNO on the Base network.

Availability
Mobile Vikings is a online-only operator, the only way to get a sim is to order one on their website, usually takes 2-3 working days. If you are not in Belgium, you need to send an email to info@mobilevikings.com to order a SIM card, as their online form only accepts Belgian addresses.

If you order a SIM with a new number, what most non-Belgians will do, you have to pay an extra 15 Euros for it. If you use it for data only, 12 EUR or 2 GB (see below) will be credited to your account.

As they deliver a SIM card abroad you can order before you enter the country and know your number already. Being in the country it's not so useful as they don't have offline shops and it needs to be sent to a Belgium address by mail.

All packs are for 30 days and include 300 SMS and 60 mins per day to other Vikings.
For data only they have a 2 GB pack for 12 EUR in 30 days.

The packet is automatically booked according the size of the topup you make.

Top Up
Foreigners without Belgian credit cards can top up their SIM by using one of the following methods:
 * online bank transfer (this kind of top-up takes up to 3 business days)
 * Paypal (an online payment system with Visa and Mastercard.)
 * Viking Points (you can top up your SIM card by using Viking Points you bought earlier)
 * Bitcoins

Sim sizes
Combined micro and mini SIMs. Nano SIMs are also available.

Further info

 * APN: web.be
 * Username and Password: web
 * Website available in english

=Proximus network=

Network
2G: 900MHz/1800MHz  GPRS/EDGE  (up to 236 Kbit/s down)

3G: 900MHz/2100MHz  UMTS/HSPA/HSPA+/DC-HSPA  (up to 42 Mbit/s down and 5.76 Mbit/s up)

4G: 1800MHz  LTE  (up to 100 Mbit/s down and 50 Mbit/s up)

Note this are 'up to' speeds, real life speeds are affected by network load and signal strenght. Real life speeds are generally less than half the theoretical speed.

4G is only available in large cities (Antwerpen, Gent, Hasselt, Leuven, Luik, Bergen, Waver,Namen,...)

NOTE: Brussel DOES NOT have 4G coverage. Proximus 3G coverage is the best amongst the three providers.

4G availablie for compatible devices including tablets, not (yet) available on iPhone. All customers are granted access to the 4G network.

Startup Costs
Sim cards are free, you do have to pay the first topup when buying the card. Price depending on the package.

Sim sizes

 * Mini/Micro-sim - Normal (2FF) with a push-out mechanism for micro-sim (3FF); be careful not to break it if you want a full-size sim!


 * Nano-sim - (4FF) available on request

Packages:
Bonus is received after an additional top up in 31 days after topping up.All packages are valid for 31 days, credit is valid for a year (1 month for €5 topup)

Mobile: Pay&Go
Credit can be checked with the #121# combination, bonus with #120#. Hello! app, gives an overview of credit, bonus and rates.

Generation Connect - Credit, Internet and unlimited texts E urope = Austria, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovak Republic, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and United Kingdom.
 * Topup that can be used as credit or to order a Pay&Surf-package.
 * Data automaticaly blocked if ammount is exceeded.
 * Bonus: €20, 25, 50: 2GB data and unlimited texts.
 * Automatic monthly topup available for €20, €25 & €50. Extra bonus of 10 MB data in Europe accumulating up to 100MB (unlimited validity)
 * €20 topup only available online.

Generation Connect can only be ordered online.

Pay&Go Easy - Credit


 * Topup that can be used as credit or to order a Pay&Surf-package.
 * Bonus
 * €10: 30 min. free calls to Belgian mobile- and landline numbers.
 * €15: 60 min. free calls to Belgian mobile- and landline numbers.
 * €25: 90 min. free calls to Belgian mobile- and landline numbers.
 * €50: 200 min. free calls to Belgian mobile- and landline numbers.
 * Automatic monthly topup available for €15, €25 & €50.

Pay&Go Smart - Credit, Internet and unlimited texts


 * Topup that can be used as credit or to order a Pay&Surf-package.
 * Bonus
 * €10: 10 MB data and unlimited texts after 4pm and weekends.
 * €15: 100 MB data and unlimited texts.
 * €25 or 50:  500 MB data and unlimited texts.
 * Automatic monthly topup available for €15, €25 & € 50.

Pay&Go Max - Calls, Internet and unlimited texts


 * Topup of €5 or €10 will result in standard credit, transfered to the next period. Topups above will result in a bonus and credit that only last 31 days and is not transfered to the next period.
 * Bonus
 * €15: 250 MB data, 90 min. free calls to Belgian mobile- and landline numbers & unlimited texts.
 * €25: 500 MB data, 150 min. free calls to Belgian mobile- and landline numbers& unlimited texts.
 * €50:  2 GB data, 360 min. free calls to Belgian mobile- and landline numbers & unlimited texts.
 * Automatic monthly topup available for €15, €25 & € 50.

Extra
Pay&Surf (pre-paid for mobile phones):


 * 50MB for €4.99? (#152*1# to order)
 * 500MB for €9.99 (#151*1# to order)

Laptop & Tablet: Pay&Surf
Data-only, works on yablet (including iPad) and laptops (trough seperate dongle). A utomatically blocked if ammount is exceeded
 * 500MB for €10 + 250MB bonus
 * 750MB for €15 + 375MB bonus
 * 1250MB for €25 + 625MB bonus
 * 2500MB for € 50 + 1250MB bonus

Availability
Every Proximus/Belgacom shop and most other shops where they cell mobile phones (including FNAC, Media Markt, ...)

Top ups can be done online (5, € 10, € 15, €20, € 25 or € 50 - €5 and €20 not available for Pay&Surf), in most stores (Belgacom Center, supermarkets, gasstations etc. - €15, €25, €50 - not for Pay&Surf) or trough an ATM (only Belgian Banccontact/MisterCash cards, look for the 1-2 bank option. - €15, €25, €50).

=Mobistar network=

Network
2G: 900MHz/1800MHz  GPRS/EDGE  (up to 236 Kbit/s down)

3G: 2100MHz  UMTS/HSPA/HSPA+  (up to 21.6 Mbit/s down and 5.76 Mbit/s up)

4G: 1800MHz LTE (up to 100 Mbit/s down and 50 Mbit/s up)

(4G Coverage only in Antwerp)

Note this are 'up to' speeds, real life speeds are affected by network load and signal strenght. Real life speeds are generally less than half the theoretical speed.

Mobistars 3G network is on par with Base but is not as good as Proximus. Some data plans are capped at 3.6Mbit/s down.

Colruyt Mobile
http://www.colruytmobile.be/

Startup costs
10 EUR with 10 EUR credit included, only available in Colruyt shops. (Colruyt Shops)

Available on Ebay, search 271152609211

Reload
10, 15, 25 and 40 EUR, only availble in Colruyt shops

Cost
The standard data cost is € 0,25/MB
 * € 6.75/150MB
 * € 8,75/250 MB
 * € 9,99/500 MB

The data is valid for 3 months.

Pre-paid for phones
'Internet on Mobile' This is a online only prepaid deal.

Mobistar - Internet on Mobile

Mobistar en français - Internet on Mobile

Normal SIM, micro SIM and Nano SIM are available.
 * 15€ Topup = 125min + 1000sms + 2GB data
 * 25€ Topup = 166min + 5000sms + 2GB data

Laptop
Base price: 59€ for modem + 275MB of data

After that you have to reload for:


 * 5€ for 50MB


 * 10€ for 100MB


 * 15€ for 275MB


 * 25€ for 500MB


 * 50€ for 1GB

The package after the reload is valid for 1 month (30 days)

Availibility
Every Mobistar shop