The BIPT is the federal regulatory body responsible for regulating the electronic communications market, the postal market, the electromagnetic spectrum of radio frequencies as well as the audiovisual media services and the video-sharing platform services in the bilingual Brussels-Capital Region.
In practice, BIPT is notably empowered to:
- foster competition;
- contribute to developing the domestic market;
- protect the users’ interests in general and to verify the right to the social tariff;
- as the regulator of the postal market, monitor the rates and the quality of the services of bpost and grant licences to new entrants in the postal market;
- distribute radio frequencies in order to ensure an efficient use and to continuously monitor radio waves to put an end to harmful interference. BIPT also organises examinations for certified users (such as radio amateurs);
- ensure compliance with the imposed legal framework (in the bilingual Brussels-Capital Region) regarding audiovisual media services (e.g. interdiction to broadcast content harmful to minors or endangering public health or safety) and video-sharing platform services (e.g. implementation by the provider of procedures to report illegal content).
BIPT can take decisions, impose sanctions, and launch consultations and studies. The Institute cooperates with national and European regulatory bodies.
BIPT also cooperates with the Office of the Ombudsman for the Postal Sector and the Office of the Ombudsman for Telecommunications, whose mission is to assist users in case of problems.
Status
The Belgian Institute for Postal Services and Telecommunications (BIPT) was established in 1991 as a parastatal agency and was invested with its own status by the Act of 17 January 2003 (only available in French or Dutch).