Guido Pouillon

BIPT (Belgian Institute for Postal services and Telecommunications) has been the Belgian regulator of the postal and telecommunications sectors since 1991. It was given an independent statute of its own in 2003. BIPT has a regulatory task in the following areas that fall within its jurisdiction: - the electronic communications market; - the postal market; - the electromagnetic radio frequency spectrum; - network security; - and radio and television broadcasting in the Brussels Capital Region. Within each of these areas of jurisdiction BIPT has to achieve a range of objectives directly resulting from the Belgian and European regulatory frameworks. In the electronic communications domain for instance, BIPT has a task to promote competition, to contribute to the development of the internal market and to ensure that the consumer’s interests are protected. In order to achieve these objectives BIPT has a number of legal instruments at its disposal: it can take decisions, impose sanctions, launch consultations and investigations or act as a mediator.