Scarlet
Scarlet Belgium is Proximus Group's value-oriented Belgian telecommunications brand, offering bundled internet, telephony, mobile and television services.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
Scarlet Belgium is the Belgian low-cost telecommunications brand within the Proximus Group. Its roots date to 1992, when Scarlet was established in the Netherlands by Paul Gelderloos as an independent internet service provider and telephony company. The business initially operated within the orbit of the United States-based Telegroup before becoming independent in 1999 with backing from investors including NeSBIC CTE Fund, associated with Fortis, and Egeria. Although the original company was Dutch, the Scarlet brand entered Belgium in 1997 and subsequently developed into a significant Belgian consumer telecommunications proposition. Scarlet expanded in Belgium partly through acquisitions. It acquired KPN Belgium in 2002, Planet Internet Belgium in 2003 and Tiscali Belgium in 2004. These transactions helped broaden its customer base and infrastructure position while the Belgian market was moving from traditional fixed-line telephony toward broadband internet and bundled communications. In 2004, Scarlet introduced Scarlet One, a package combining ADSL internet with voice telephony delivered over the internet. The offer was described as the first dual-play package of its kind in the market and helped establish the brand's reputation for straightforward, price-conscious bundles. On 15 February 2008, the Belgacom Group acquired Scarlet. Belgacom was renamed Proximus in 2014, and Scarlet became a value-focused commercial brand within the wider Proximus portfolio. The Dutch and Belgian operations were separated in 2011. The Dutch business was later sold through a management buy-out in June 2014, subsequently adopting the name Stipte and later becoming part of Fiber Nederland. The Belgian business remained associated with Proximus. From 1 October 2022, Scarlet was fully integrated into Proximus NV while continuing to operate in Belgium as a commercial trademark rather than as a separate corporate group. Scarlet's Belgian offering has generally centered on simple, lower-priced packages. Depending on the package and current commercial terms, services include fixed broadband internet, mobile telephony, fixed-line telephony and digital television. Television is supplied through an IPTV platform connected with Proximus infrastructure and is available in selected bundles, including packages that combine internet, television and a fixed line or mobile subscription. The brand's product logic is to reduce complexity and emphasize the relationship between price and core connectivity rather than compete primarily through premium features or high-end entertainment positioning. Scarlet has also been associated with early moves on international mobile pricing. It was reported as the first operator to remove roaming charges in European Union countries, more than a year before EU-wide rules formally abolished intra-EU roaming surcharges. This supported the brand's consumer-friendly, cost-conscious identity. In Belgian price-comparison and affordability assessments published by the Belgian Institute for Postal Services and Telecommunications, Scarlet ranked among the strongest value choices across many user profiles in both 2024 and 2025, including standalone internet and complete bundles. Today, Scarlet remains active in Belgium under Proximus ownership. It is best understood as a mass-market challenger and value brand operating alongside, rather than independently from, Proximus's broader telecommunications business. Its market proposition combines access to the parent group's network and service infrastructure with simpler packaging and lower-price positioning. The brand's historical expansion, integration into Proximus and continuing emphasis on price-quality make it a notable part of Belgium's telecommunications landscape.
History
Scarlet began in the Netherlands in 1992, founded by Paul Gelderloos as an internet service provider and telephony business. In its early period it was connected with Telegroup, a US-based telecommunications company. The business became independent in 1999 after attracting investment from parties including NeSBIC CTE Fund, associated with Fortis, and Egeria. Scarlet entered Belgium in 1997, where it gradually became the more durable and strategically important part of the brand's operations. The Belgian operation expanded during a period of rapid change in European telecommunications. Broadband internet was replacing dial-up access, internet telephony was becoming commercially practical and operators were increasingly using acquisitions to build scale. Scarlet acquired KPN Belgium in 2002, Planet Internet Belgium in 2003 and Tiscali Belgium in 2004. These deals strengthened its presence in the Belgian consumer market and added customers, services and operational capabilities. Scarlet's 2004 launch of Scarlet One was an important product milestone. The package combined ADSL broadband with voice telephony delivered over the internet, creating a dual-play proposition before bundled communications became standard across the sector. The offer helped the company present itself as an innovative but affordable alternative to incumbent-style telecommunications packages. The next major turning point came on 15 February 2008, when Belgacom Group acquired Scarlet. Belgacom, the predecessor of today's Proximus Group, brought the Belgian brand into a larger national telecommunications organization. The Dutch and Belgian operations were separated in 2011. The Dutch operation was sold through a management buy-out in June 2014, later rebranded Stipte and subsequently acquired by Fiber Nederland. In Belgium, Scarlet remained within the Belgacom structure, which adopted the Proximus name in 2014. Under Proximus ownership, Scarlet continued as a distinct commercial brand focused on affordable communications. Its Belgian portfolio developed around fixed broadband, mobile services, fixed telephony and digital television. Television is provided through IPTV using the parent group's service environment. Fixed telephony and television are generally sold together with internet in bundled offers, including selected Trio packages that may also include a mobile subscription. Scarlet has also had a notable position in mobile pricing history. It was reported to have eliminated roaming charges in EU countries before the European Union's mandatory removal of intra-EU roaming surcharges. The move reinforced its identity as a consumer-oriented challenger focused on reducing the cost and complexity of telecommunications. The brand's corporate structure changed again on 1 October 2022, when Scarlet was fully integrated into Proximus NV. It continued to operate in Belgium as a commercial trademark, using the broader group's infrastructure and capabilities while preserving a separate market proposition. Recent BIPT rate studies in 2024 and 2025 continued to place Scarlet among the strongest value options for a range of Belgian user profiles. Its current role is therefore that of a Proximus-owned value brand: operationally integrated with the parent company, but commercially oriented toward straightforward, lower-cost connectivity and bundles.
- 2022
Scarlet is integrated into Proximus NV
[1]From 1 October, Scarlet is fully integrated into Proximus NV and continues as a Belgian commercial trademark.
- 2014
Belgacom adopts the Proximus name
[1]The parent group is renamed Proximus, while Scarlet remains a commercial brand within the group.
- 2011
Dutch and Belgian operations are separated
[1]The Netherlands and Belgium businesses are reorganized as separate operations.
- 2008
Belgacom acquires Scarlet
[1]On 15 February, Belgacom Group acquires Scarlet and brings the Belgian brand into the group that later becomes Proximus.
- 2004
Scarlet One launches
[1]Scarlet introduces a dual-play package combining ADSL internet and voice telephony over the internet.
- 2004
Acquisition of Tiscali Belgium
[1]Scarlet acquires Tiscali Belgium, further consolidating its Belgian telecommunications position.
- 2003
Acquisition of Planet Internet Belgium
[1]Scarlet continues Belgian expansion by acquiring Planet Internet Belgium.
- 2002
Acquisition of KPN Belgium
[1]Scarlet expands its Belgian customer and service base through the acquisition of KPN Belgium.
- 1999
Scarlet becomes independent
[1]The Dutch business separates from its earlier Telegroup association and receives investment from NeSBIC CTE Fund and Egeria, among others.
- 1997
Scarlet enters Belgium
[1]The Scarlet brand begins operating in the Belgian telecommunications market.
Products and positioning
A Belgian value telecommunications brand emphasizing simple bundles, accessible pricing and price-quality, supported by Proximus infrastructure.
Dual-play telecommunications bundle · 2004
Scarlet One
Introduced in 2004, Scarlet One combined ADSL broadband internet with voice telephony delivered over the internet. It was presented as an early dual-play offer and became an important expression of Scarlet's strategy of packaging core communications services in a simple, lower-cost proposition.
Fixed internet
Scarlet broadband internet
Scarlet provides fixed broadband connectivity for Belgian households. Internet access is sold both as a standalone service and as the foundation of broader bundles. The offer supports the brand's value positioning by emphasizing practical home connectivity and accessible package pricing.
Mobile telecommunications
Scarlet mobile telephony
Scarlet's Belgian portfolio includes mobile subscriptions, which can be combined with fixed internet and other services. The brand has historically emphasized transparent and cost-conscious mobile pricing, including an early move to remove roaming charges within European Union countries.
Digital television
Scarlet digital television
Scarlet offers digital television through an IPTV service associated with Proximus infrastructure. Television is generally available as part of selected internet bundles rather than as a standalone product, including packages that combine internet, television and telephony services.
Triple-play telecommunications bundle
Scarlet Trio packs
Trio packs combine fixed internet, digital television and fixed-line telephony, with selected configurations also incorporating a mobile subscription. They represent Scarlet's continuing use of bundled services to offer a complete household communications proposition at a value-oriented price.
Brand decisions
2022
Full integration into Proximus NVStrategyBackground
Proximus had maintained Scarlet as a separate commercial brand while increasingly coordinating its telecommunications operations within the wider group.
Action taken
From 1 October 2022, Scarlet was fully integrated into Proximus NV.
Aftermath
Scarlet remained active in Belgium as a commercial trademark, retaining its value-oriented market positioning while operating within Proximus's corporate structure.
2011
Separation of the Dutch and Belgian operationsStrategyBackground
Scarlet's Dutch and Belgian businesses were operating in different corporate and market contexts after the Belgacom acquisition.
Action taken
The two national operations were separated.
Aftermath
The Dutch business was later sold through a management buy-out in 2014, while the Belgian brand remained with Belgacom and subsequently Proximus.
2008
Belgacom acquisition of ScarletM&ABackground
Scarlet had built a substantial Belgian position through organic development and acquisitions, while Belgacom was expanding its position across the national telecommunications market.
Action taken
Belgacom Group acquired Scarlet on 15 February 2008, bringing the brand into the group that later became Proximus.
Aftermath
Scarlet continued as a distinct Belgian commercial brand within the parent group's portfolio. The Dutch and Belgian operations were separated in 2011.
2004
Launch of Scarlet OneProduct launchBackground
Consumers were increasingly adopting broadband internet and internet-based voice services, creating demand for integrated communications packages.
Action taken
Scarlet launched Scarlet One, combining ADSL internet access with voice telephony over the internet.
Aftermath
The package strengthened Scarlet's identity as an early dual-play provider and a challenger focused on combining services simply.
Recent events
- 2025
Scarlet again performs strongly in BIPT rate studies[1]
Other
BIPT's 2025 comparisons again placed Scarlet among the strongest options for price-conscious Belgian telecommunications users across several usage profiles.
- 2024
Scarlet ranks strongly in Belgian telecom value assessments[1]
Other
The Belgian Institute for Postal Services and Telecommunications identified Scarlet as a leading value choice across numerous consumer profiles, including standalone internet and bundled services.
- 2022
Scarlet is fully integrated into Proximus NV[1]
M&A
From 1 October 2022, Scarlet was fully integrated into Proximus NV while continuing as a commercial trademark in Belgium.
Sources1 sources
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